Spanish team rider Jordi Domingo has lost his number one Grand Prix horse Prestige. The 15-year old Dutch warmblood gelding was euthanized this morning 8 June 201 following acute neurological attack complicated by recumbency and secondary myopathy.
A necropsy as well as blood pathology will be carried out soon to find out the exact cause of death.
Domingo noticed that something was wrong with his horse a few days ago during his normal routine. Each morning Prestige would be taken out of his stall to be walked, but the horse stumbled more than normal. Initially it was nothing to worry about when when the black gelding started to show undeniable signs of discordination, the vets were called immediately. Prestige's condition deteriorated severely despite medical help and 24 hour medical surveillance. At the end the horse could no longer get up. It was decided in Prestige's best interest to humanely put him down.
The 30-year old Jordi discovered Prestige (by Ferro x Farmer) as a young stallion at his breeder's Adriaan van der Goor in The Netherlands. The pair made its Grand Prix debut in 2006 at the Sunshine Tour and became fixed members on the Spanish dressage Team as of 2007.
They were members of the Spanish team at the 2007 European Championships in Turin. They showed at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong and 2009 European Championships in Windsor. An injury sidelined Prestige in 2010 which made them miss the World Equestrian Games, but they made it back on the team for the 2011 European Championships.
The pair was aiming for a Spanish team spot at the 2012 Olympics in London and returned to the show ring in 2012 at the CDIO Saumur after a break. In France they finished third in the Grand Prix (71.362%) and fourth in the Special (70.956%). It was their only international show in 2012.
Prestige was 15 years old.
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: Prestige
Jordi Domingo Leads Spanish Dressage Riders' Ranking of 2011
Spanish Olympic Dressage Team Selected at 2008 CDIO Aachen
Adriaan van de Goor Passed Away