Fabienne Lutkemeier's D'Agostino Retired from Sport

Dressage

Germany

German team rider Fabienne Lutkemeier has retired her number one Grand Prix horse D'Agostino from competition sport. A special retirement ceremony will be held at the CDI-W Stuttgart in November.

D'Agostino is an 18-year old Hanoverian gelding by De Niro out of XX (by Shogun xx x). The long legged chestnut is named after the world famous Italian DJ Gigi D'Agostino.

He was started as a young horse by Martin Waldvogel

The Lutkemeier family acquired D'Agostino as an 8-year old in November 2008 at Waldvogel's yard. He was initially a stallion but due to his complicated behaviour the family soon decided to geld him.

In 2009 Fabienne planned to ride her first show at a small local event in Greven in order not to attract too much attention, but paradoxically all the big names were there. She won her first test ever and the same year got selected on the German team for the 2009 European Young Riders Championships in Ermelo, where they won Kur gold. In 2010 Fabienne rode a World Record score at the 2010 CDI Wiesbaden in the young riders kur to music, claimed triple gold at the 2010 European Young Riders Championships in Kronberg and won the Young Rider World Cup Final in Frankfurt.

In 2011 the pair made its international Grand Prix debut at the CDI Vidauban in France. They went on to represent Germany and win team gold at the 2013 European Dressage Championships in Herning and at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, France. They also won kur bronze at the 2013 German Championships and Special bronze at the 2014 German Nationals. They were 6th in the 2016 World Cup Final in Gothenburg.

"Daggi is my once-in-a-lifetime horse. I'm grateful for ten wonderful years of competition sport. I owe him everything, what he has taught me, and what he made me experience. I thank him very every moment and look forward to every single other day with him," said Lutkemeier.

The now 28-year old Lutkemeier will continue her Grand Prix career with Fabregaz.