Most of the dressage lovers know what it is to be struck by horses performing in other disciplines than dressage. The beauty and strength of a horse might be highlighted best in classical dressage, but in showjumping, eventing and in freedom the horse rays out magic as well.
The first horse I was totally crazy about in my youth was Black, aka Shetan, in The Black Stallion. Yet, the magic of the show ring offers temperamental show jumping mares an easy place in my heart. They stand out by their strong character when confronting obstacles (cf. Pialotta). The eventers that dazzled me the most were Murphy Himself and Jaybee.
It was was great sadness that I read in Horse and Hound that Jaybee was put down at the CCI Pau. Jaybe stole my heart when the super young bay TB won the 1999 CCI Badminton with much courage and bravery.
Horse and Hound reported the following:
Ian Stark's great event horse Jaybee has been put down after fracturing his sesamoid bone during the steeplechase phase of the Pau three-day event.
Jaybee was assessed by team vet Jenny Hall at the French event before being transferred to Newmarket, where the injury was found to be beyond repair.
Owned by Lady Hartington, the 12-year-old brown gelding won Badminton and team gold at the European Championships in Lumühlen in 1999 and team silver at the Sydney Olympics with his regular rider.
"Jaybee was a great little horse with enormous character. He will be much missed by all of us," said a devastated Ian.
--Astrid Appels
info@eurodressage.com