French Grand Prix rider and national champion Arnaud Serre has officially retired his mount Helio II from international competition after winning the Grand Prix Kur to Music at the 2012 CDI Vidauban on Sunday 11 November 2012.
Serre and Helio II scored 71.375% to win the Vidauban freestyle. After the class a special moment was inserted into the program to untack Helio II in the arena as official gesture for retirement.
The story of Helio II is one filled with strong emotions for the people involved with this now 17-year old grey Andalusian stallion (by Flamenco XII x Viva II). Helio's breeder and co-owner Dominique Rozière made the decision to retire the stallion.
Helio II rose to stardom under Sylvie Corellou. Sylvie started him as a four year old and took him all the way to international Grand Prix level. She competed the horse at many CDI's and French National Dressage Championships. The partnership between Helio II and Corellou came to a tragic end when the rider died in a horrible car crash in February 2010.
After Corellou's tragic passing, Helio II moved to the stables of Arnaud and Anne Sophie Serre where the stallion matured into a force to be reckoned with on the French dressage scene. Serre and Helio became the 2010 and 2011 French Grand Prix Championships and were selected on the French team that competed at the 2011 European Dressage Championships in Rotterdam.
Serre and Helio II started their competition career as a combination in Vidauban and have now ended their partnership at the same show.
Photo © Rui Pedro Godinho
Related Links
Scores 2012 CDI Vidauban
Arnaud Serre Renews Title at 2011 French Dressage Championships
Arnaud Serre Captures 2010 French Grand Prix Title on Corellou's Helio II
Sylvie Corellou Died in Car Accident