Kirsty Mepham's former British Olympic team horse Dikkiloo has passed away on Sunday morning 31 October 2010 due to a colic attack. The 25-year old chestnut Gelderlander gelding was euthanized
after a bout of colic struck him on Saturday night caused by a loop in his intestine.
Dikkiloo was bred by G.J. van 't Hof in Laag Zuthem, The Netherlands, in 1985. He was by Tourist out of Tomieka (by Monarch x Fameus). Dikkiloo came to the Mepham family as a 6-year old before, previously having served on Peter Munts' international driving team. Dane Rawlins discovered the chestnut gelding and recommended him to Kirsty. The horse's passion was not driving, as he "was the rebel in Peter's team," Marie Mepham told Eurodressage.
The partnership between Kirsty and Dikkiloo was successful and the pair became a prominant combination representing Great Britain internationally in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He qualified for the British National Championships at every level culminating in a team selection for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
"Dikkiloo retired from competition in 2002 and became a wonderful but cheeky schoolmaster to Kirsty’s working pupils until 2006 when he retired as problems with laminitis overcame him," said Mepham.
"Dikkiloo was euthanized at home early Sunday morning, as the decision was made with advice from our vet at Cinder Hill," said Mepham. "At 25 years he would not survive an operation."
"I have lost my best friend and I will miss him after 19 years," a saddened Kirsty Mepham told Eurodressage.
Text © Eurodressage - No Reproduction without permission
Photo © Dirk Caremans
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