Anky van Grunsven's former Grand Prix dressage horse Gestion Idool died unexpectedly on Monday April 21, 2003. The chestnut gelding was playing in the pasture when he was struck by a heart attack and dropped dead instantly.
Gestion Idool was only recently sold to young rider Danielle van Aalderen. Idool's death was a complete shock for Stable van Grunsven.
Gestion Idool was a 12-year old KWPN bred gelding by Maykel out of Carla (by Tolbert). Idool was first owned by Ad van Straaten. Van Grunsven trained the gelding up to Grand Prix and partially purchased the horse with Sjef Janssen. The combination collected several Grand Prix victories with him, but the horse never very much appealed the international panel of judges. In 2002, Van Grunsven pulled Idool out of the Dutch selection trials for the World Equestrian Games.
When Van Aalderen's junior rider horse Festivo died unexpectedly in December 2002, Anky offered the Van Aalderen's to buy Idool, which they did in February 2003. The pair was bound to make their debut at the show of April 20, 2003, but the competition was cancelled due to the aviary influenza in The Netherlands.
Image copyrighted: Dirk Caremans
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Gestion Idool sold to Dutch Young Rider Danielle van Aalderen