Lorraine van den Brink's Murdock Passed Away

Dressage

The Netherlands

Dutch FEI rider Lorraine van den Brink had to say goodbye to her career making dressage horse, Murdock, on 22 February 2020. He was 26 years old.

Murdock was a KWPN gelding by Balzflug out of Wensie (by Pretendent). He was bred by H. Van Hettem.

The bright bay arrived in Van den Brink's barn as a 9-year old and took her from young riders to Grand Prix.

The pair made its international show debut in 2005 in Saumur and Neubeeren and placed 9th at the Dutch Young Riders Championships that year.

Their first big success came in 2006. They competed at CDI's in Wouwse Plantage, but were only 11th at the Dutch YR Nationals. Nevertheless, they topped the year winning team and individual silver at the European Young Riders Championships, after making it on the team as a substitute for Desiree Senden. They finished the season with a second place in the 2006 Young Riders World Cup Final in Frankfurt, behind Valentina Truppa.

In 2010 they made the transition to Grand Prix level, first via the Future Tests (Under 25 division) and represented Holland in the inaugural Under 25 classes at the 2010 CDIO Aachen. Between 2011 and 2013 they competed at senior Grand prix level at show in Hagen, Drachten, Deauville and Compiegne.

Their last international was the 2013 CDI Compiègne. After Murdock retired, Van den Brink went on with Grand Prix horse Orlandus. Lorraine's last international was five years ago at the CDI Villach in May 2015.

"He was my greatest gift," Van den Brink took to Facebook. "He made all my dreams come true. He's been 17 years in my life and how I enjoyed it."