Jessica Jo Tate's Young Rider's Horse Wjedro Passes at Age 35

Dressage

USA

American Grand Prix rider Jessica Jo Tate said goodbye to her young rider's horse, Wjedro, who passed at the amazing age of 35.

Wjedro was a Westfalian gelding, born in 1985. He was by Weltruf out of Fledermaus (by Frühling x Durchlaucht x Forschergeist) and bred by Gabriele Scholz.

From Jumper to Dressage Horse

Wjedro began his sport career in Germany, but traveled around to Switzerland and Hungary the first 10 years of his life.

His competition career began under Norbert Kukuk in show jumping in 1989. In 1991 Tobias Loosman took over the ride and jumped him at L-level. In 1992 jumper Wulf-Hinrich Hamann climbed aboard for another year of jumping competition at M-level.

Wjedro sold to Swiss Grand Prix dressage rider Silvia Ikle, who competed him at small tour level from 1994 through 1996.

Discovery in Hungary

In 1998 American young rider Jessica Jo Tate traveled to Hungary to train with the famed Hungarian dressage rider Gyula Dallos, where she discovered Wjedro schooling at Grand Prix level.

"Will was a 13-year-old Westphalian that Gyula had in training and thought we would be a good team," Tate reminisced. "When I first saw the relatively small chestnut, I was not at all impressed because he did not fit the image I had of my first Grand Prix horse. After I sweated through my first ride on him, I decided I had a lot to learn. We bought him in March and the real training began."

Wjedro competed with Tate in Europe in 1998 before both went back to the U.S.A.

The chestnut became Tate's young riders' horse and they won team silver for Region 2 at the 1999 North American Young Riders Championships at Tempel Farm in Wadsworth, Il .

Fifteen Years of Retirement

Wjedro was retired round the age of 20 in the mid 2000s.

"It’s a miracle he lived this long! He was full of life until the end! Such an amazing spirit he had! I knew it was coming, but it sure just hits you in the heart when you know it’s time," said Tate. "He was laid to rest at his home for the last 15+ years (at Tazma Toi Trent's farm)."