American WEG Team bronze medallist Leslie Morse has retired her 17-year old Swedish warmblood stallion Tip Top 962 from competition to stand him at stud. The beautiful dark bay licensed stallion has been one of America's most successful dressage horses in the past five years.
The 1994 born Swedish warmblood stallion is by Master out of Hortensia (by Chagall x Figaro x Sombrero). He is bred by Poul Erik Lang in Sweden.
As a youngster he competed in Sweden under legendary trainer Kyra Kyrklund and was the first horse ever to win the Swedish Young Horse Championships (Breeder's Trophy) three years in a row. As an 8-year old the stallion sold to American Leslie Morse who trained him to Grand Prix level.
Tip Top and Morse started competing at small tour level in 2003 and kept a fixed spot in the spotlight at Grand Prix level from 2004 until 2010. In 2004 they had a fantastic first season at Grand Prix, earning top placings in Europe at events such as the CDI Hagen, CDI Lingen, and CDN Wickrath. On home turf they also won the 2004 U.S. Dressage Championships at PSG/Intermediaire I level.
As of 2006 Morse and Tip Top made it to the big time, competing at the 2006 World Cup Finals in Amsterdam (11th place) and 2007 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas (12th place). They were members of the American team that earned bronze at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. In 2009 they became U.S. Grand Prix Champions and travelled to Europe for a training stint with Kyra Kyrklund. They competed at the prestigious World Dressage Masters and won the Special at the 2009 CDI Hickstead and at the 2010 CDI Palm Beach.
Colic surgery in March 2010 brought Tip Top's career to a brief halt but the vigourous and energetic stallion returned to full health and went on to compete at the 2010 U.S. Dressage Championships and trials for the 2010 World Equestrian Games.
Tip Top "Gave at the Office"
Morse and Tip Top's eight place at the 2010 Festival of Champions was their final ranking in an extensive career. "I have owned Tip Top for 9 years and he has had a very large and long competitive career close to 14 years in top competition along with his breeding duties," Morse explained. "Now I feel he has earned a rest."
Morse is extremely proud of her time together with Tip Top. "I have learned so much from him. Without Tip Top I would not only be the rider I am today, but I also have the super youngsters I have. In America we have a saying 'I gave at the office'. Well, Tip Top gave big."
His incredible heart made Tip Top such an incredible dressage horse. "He is a very inner horse. He is even a bit shy you can say, but at the same time he can enter a very large event stadium and be bold," said Morse. "He filled up the ring with his sparkle. For me this shows how special he was as a dressage horse."
Morse is seeking stallion owners interested in leasing Tip Top for the 2012 breeding season so she can continue to focus on training Tip Top's and Kingston's offspring.
Interested stallions stations can inquire via email or by visiting Morse's official website www.lesliemorsedressage.com
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Link
Eurodressage Photo Database: Tip Top
Leslie Morse's Tip Top Underwent Colic Surgery
Euro-Tour of Duty for Leslie Morse and Tip Top
Morse and Tip Top Win Grand Prix at the 2009 U.S. Dressage Championships
Viva Las Vegas - Leslie Morse and Tip Top Going For for Freestyle!
Kyra Kyrklund's Tip Top Sold to Leslie Morse