Valentina Truppa's Don Rico Passed Away

Mon, 01/29/2018 - 13:19
Italy
Valentina Truppa and Don Rico in 2004

Valentina Truppa's first international competition horse Don Rico has passed away at age 27 on 28 January 2018.

"He was my first partner for international adventure and for a first historical medal for Italian dressage (at the EU-JR-CH)," said Truppa. "Everything began with him. I'm thankful for this professor."

my first partner of international adventures and first historical medal for Italian dressage

Don Rico was a Baden Wurttemberger bred dark bay gelding by Don Rico out of Hella (by Helikon).

Truppa and Don Rico started their career together in 1999 and they rode their first CDI together in Bilzen, Belgium, at junior riders level.

The pair won the consolation class at the 2000 European Junior Riders Championships, was sixth at the 2001 Euro Junior Championships, fifth in 2002, fourth in 2003 and then they got silver at the 2004 European JR Championships in Denmark. At the 2005 European Young Riders Championships they won the bronze medal. The career highlight for Don Rico was winning the first Final of the FEI World Cup Dressage for Young Riders in Frankfurt in 2005. The Italian duo scored a winning 75,650% in the Kür ahead of Jessica Werndl (GER) on Duchess and Emma Kanerva (FIN) on Atoftens Volanti.

In 2002 they were Italian small tour kur champions and in 2004 they became the Italian Junior Riders Champions. 2005 was their last international year together.

Related Links
Valentina Truppa Wins First FEI Young Riders World Cup Finals
Scores 2005 Young Rider World Cup Finals
Scores: 2005 European Young Riders Championships
Scores: 2004 European Junior Riders Championships
Scores: 2003 European Junior Riders Championships
Scores: 2002 European Junior Riders Championships
Scores: 2000 European Junior Riders Championships
James Connor and Highflyer, 2002 Italian Kur Champion