Lars Petersen's number one Grand Prix ride Mariett has been officially retired from competition sport in a short farewell ceremony held during the break of the 5* Grand Prix Freestyle at the 2017 CDI Wellington on Friday 10 February 2017.
Owned by Maria Pepper, Mariett is a 19-year old Danish warmblood mare by Come Back II x Sidney.
Mariett was originally bought as a small tour horse for Pepper, but Petersen trained her to Grand Prix as Marcia put riding on the back burner when her daughter finished high school. Mariett sustained an almost career ending injury when she locked her right hind shoe into her left front shoe while sleeping. She tore of half of the left front hoof and needed a full two years to recover.
Petersen and Mariett were members of the Danish team at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, France and they represented Denmark at the 2015 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, where they finished 12th.
The pair was short listed for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, but withdrew from team contention when the then 18-year old mare started to struggle with top level fitness after the winter show season. Mariett's last international show was the CDI Wellington at the beginning of April 2016, where they finished third in the Grand Prix and second in the Special.
Mariett now received her special moment in the spotlight as a final public farewell. Petersen presented a fit and fresh Mariett in hand, doing extraordinary piaffe and still showing off extended trot with pezzazz. Owner Marcia Pepper briefly addressed the team that has supported, trained and cared for Mariett.
Mariett will now enjoy her retirement as a broodmare. She has been scanned in foal to Everdale.
Photo © Sara Hellner
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