The 20-year old FEI dressage pony Tim has been retired from top level pony competition sport. The chestnut gelding brought no less than seven riders to the highest pony level and took them to eleven (!) European Pony Championships.
Tim is a Swedish bred sport pony born on 17 May 1996 and by Hellekis Timkan out of Axa (by Amiral). He is bred by John Larsson.
Tim was discovered as a foal by Ewa-Lotta Nyström, who presented him for licensing. He was rejected because he had too small ears, which the committee considered uncharacteristic for his breed. Tim did breed a little, but was gelded as a 3-year old.
As a 4-year old Tim sold to Swedish pony rider Emelie Nyrerod, who is now a Swedish Grand Prix team rider. The pair won the Swedish Championships for 6-year olds in 2002 and rhey represented Sweden at the 2003 European Pony Championships at Necarne Castle in Ireland.
Nyrerod sold Tim to Victoria Bergh, who competed him at the 2005 European Pony Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro and 2006 Europeans in Saumur.
Swedish Elin Aspnas took over in 2007 and went to European Championships in Freudenberg. One year later, in 2008 the pair won individual bronze at the European Championships in Avenches, but were stripped of the medal when medication was found in Tim's blood.
Tim sold to Danish Anne Fabricius Tange after Avenches and the pair won team bronze for Denmark at the 2009 and 2010 Europeans in Moorsele and Bishop Burton.
After those Euros Tim moved was bought by Jacques Albeck and moved to France as schoolmaster for his daughter Joy. They contested the 2011 European Championships in Jaszkowo.
In 2012 Albeck sold the pony to French Caroline Faujour, who trained in Belgium with Virginie Deltour. Faujour contested the 2012 Europeans in Fontainebleau.
In 2014 the pony continued his career under French Lea Bonifay, who was also based in Belgium with Deltour. They represented France at the 2014 and 2015 European Pony Championships. Bonifay made the transition to junior level in 2016.
Tim competed non-stop at the European Pony Championships from 2003 till 2015 with the exception of 2004 and 2013. This makes him one of the most successful FEI dressage ponies competing at the highest pony level ever in Europe.
Ridsport released the news that Tim has now been sold to the 13-year old Danish Cathrine Lygum as a schoolmaster. They will compete in lower level claseses, but the plan is no longer to take him to the big shows.
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
History of the European Pony Championships
FEI Pony Tim Maintained for France
Danish FEI Pony Tim Sold to France
European Pony Bronze Medallist Tim Tests Positive to Medication