French Grand Prix rider Stephanie Brieussel-Collier has tragically lost her Grand Prix horse Werner, who suffered from an aneurysm on Tuesday 14 June 2011.
"My most beloved horse passed away. This is terribly difficult for me," Brieussel told Eurodressage. "He was exceptional."
Brieussel and her 8-year old Dutch warmblood stallion Werner (by Krack C x Contango) were training at Hans Peter Minderhoud's barn in Harskamp, The Netherlands. Almost at the begining of a lesson the stallion blocked and collapsed in a canter pirouette and passed away on the spot. An autopsy revealed that the stallion died of an aneurysm.
"We had just started our training session and after about 15 minutes it happened. Werner had a heart condition we were aware of, but we always paid very, very careful attention to his health. He was in excellent shape at the time. He also showed his big heart because when he collapsed, he even gave me the time to get off safely."
"Hans Peter has helped me a lot and he was really distressed as well," Brieussel added. "I'm totally destroyed by Werner's death. He was an incredible horse."
Brieussel, who is based at L'Isle Adam in France and had owned Werner for four years, retired her small tour horse Twister (by Jazz) two months ago for health issues.
Stephanie and Werner were short listed for the French team for the 2011 European Championships in Rotterdam. She currently has no other horses to ride.
Photo © Silke Rottermann
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Eurodressage Photo Database: Werner
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