British Grand Prix rider Sarah Millis has lost her first, career-making Grand Prix horse, Korenbloem O'Neill. The 20-year old Dutch warmblood gelding suffered from a severe colic attack and had to be euthanized on Saturday 10 September 2016.
O'Neill was a 1996 born Dutch warmblood gelding by Jazz out of Wananta (by Plesman).
When Millis was 17 she acquired the gelding as a 3-year old and both worked their way up to Grand Prix under the supervision of Kyra Kyrklund and Richard White.
O'Neill was known to be a very sensitive, typical Jazz offspring. He turned out to be a challenging ride for Millis, who learnt much on the horse.
Millis and O'Neill made their international small tour debut in 2005 and their international Grand Prix debut at the 2008 Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain. They competed at international GP level for two years, in 2008 and 2009 and contested the CDI's in Stadl Paura, Hagen, Mariokalnok, Hickstead and Weikersdorf.
O'Neill was retired from sport but still ridden on a regular basis. "He does the odd lesson, but he’s no novice ride; he’s still sharp as a three-year-old," Millis told Horse & Hound in a 2015 interview.
Millis (35) is devastated by the sudden loss.
"Eighteen years have passed and oh my have we been through a lot together. You have taught me so much. I was 17 and you were 3. Little did I know what was to be," Millis wrote after the passing of her horse. "Dressage was the aim. You thought it was a game. "How high can we leap?", "How quick can we turn?", "Hang on tight mum......!", "This is gonna burn.......!" Besides all the antics we had an incredible time together and still, just the other day, you gave me an amazing feeling. Forever in our hearts. Sleep tight."
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: O'Neill
Jazzing into Dressage History: Jazz Offspring Bred for the Elite
Scores: 2008 CDI Sunshine Tour - Week 1
Scores: 2005 CDIO Saumur
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