Former U.S. Olympic team medalist Metallic has passed away at age 31. The Dutch warmblood gelding by Uniform x Nepal x Juriaan was enjoying a well earned retirement with Judith Bernier in Martha's Vineyard and Florida.
Metallic was born in 18984 and bred by Stoeterij 't Vierspan, which was home to his sire KWPN keur stallion Uniform.
Metallic was one of America's leading Grand Prix horses in the 1990s. Under Swedish born Anne Gribbons, the grey gelding was trained up to Grand Prix level. The pair won team silver at the 1995 Pan American Games. Unfortunately a tumor on the inside of Anne's leg curtailed her riding so she decided to lease the gray gelding to Jane Forbes-Clarke for Robert Dover to ride.
Dover and Metallic were members of the American bronze medal winning team at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Four years later, the horse made another try at the Olympics under Guenter Seidel. He rode the grey in the U.S. Olympic selection trials but didn't make the team.
"He was unique in that he went from the Pan Am Games directly to the Olympics," Anne commented. "He was capable of all the Grand Prix movements when he went to the Pan Am Games. Very few horses can make that step."
Metallic was named USDF Horse of the Year in 1996.
Photo © Mary Phelps
Related Links
KWPN Foundation Sires and Their Get: Uniform, Cocktail, Ferro
Uniform Passed Away