Belgian pony champion and now junior rider Lavinia Arl has lost her Under 25 Grand Prix schoolmaster Don't Forget last week. The 16-year old chestnut had to be euthanized due to an unrecoverable injury.
Don't Forget fractured his splint bone and was immediately operated on. Unfortunately a scan last week showed that the horse was not recovering well and his future would not be promising. It was decided in the best interest of the horse to put him down.
"I'm devastated to lose Don't Forget," Lavinia told Eurodressage. "He was an amazing horse. He was sensitive to ride, knew all the exercises and he really gave me the feeling of the Grand Prix movements. He taught me what real collection feels like and what I could dream of in the future."
Don't Forget was a 1998 born Oldenburg gelding bred by Gerd Pigge and sired by De Niro out of Weniga II (by Andiamo x Waldhorn x Carolus). He was started in the young horse classes in 2001 by Burkhard Wahler and Elmar Schmiehusen. In 2005 German Olympian Anabel Balkenhol took over the ride and competed the gelding at small tour level.
By 2007 Don't Forget has reached Grand Prix level in the professional training of Klaus and Anabel Balkenhol. He returned to Wahler's Klosterhof Medingen where Theresa Wahler took over the ride and successfully competed him at Grand Prix level. Between 2007 and 2009 the combination booked several placings and an international victory in the Under 25 division at the 2008 CDI Hagen.
Don't Forget's amazing rideability was proven by the string of riders able to produce outstanding scores with this horse. In 2011 he was campaigned by Norbert van Laak and Marcus Hermes before coming into Jochem Arl's ownership in 2012. The horse was then ridden by Patrik Kittel and Henri Ruoste before Arl's daughter Lavinia took over the reins to gain experience at Grand Prix level in the saddle of such a valuable Grand Prix professor.
The 16-year old Lavinia will now continue her dressage career with Equestricons Walküre, a 9-year old Oldenburg mare by Romanov.
"It's the best horse I have ever ridden," Lavinia admitted. "She is super talented but a very sensitive mare so I will definitely be taking my time with her to become a combination. She is a real challenge to ride and I know I can learn much from her."
While Lavinia plans to compete Walküre internationally in 2015, younger sister Antonia is going full blast with her two top FEI dressage ponies. Aboard Equestricons Defilee de Mode she won the national show in Moorsele last weekend, scoring approximately 74%. With Equestricons Epiascer she competed at the 2014 CDI Nieuw en St Joosland at the beginning of the month, after which she won several national classes with over 70% marks in preparation of the 2014 CDIO Saumur on 1 - 4 May 2014.
Photos © Astrid Appels - Barbara Schnell
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