Polish Alicja Trawinska Loses Young Rider's Horse Diego Ramirez in Freak Accident

Dressage

Poland

Polish young rider Alicja Trawinska lost her number one horse Diego Ramirez in a tragic freak accident on 3 March 2020.

Diego Ramirez was a 12-year old Hanoverian gelding by Don Frederico out of Rosenrot (by Rosentau x Brentano II). He was bred by Dieter Burbrink.

He was a half brother to the licensed stallions Design Delux (by Destano out of Rosenrot) and Beatrice Burchler-Keller's now gelding Supertramp BB (by Scolari out of Rosenrot).

Alicja Trawinska made the transition from ponies to horses on Diego Ramirez. Their international show debut was in 2016 in the junior riders' division after Trawinska had represented Poland at the 2015 European Pony Championships on Rocardo. The new pair had its CDI premier in Mariakalnok, Hungary and further competed at Augustowek and Zakrzow that year. They were 9th at the Junior Nationals in Augustowek.

Trained by Dominika Krasko, Trawinska focused on CDI's in Poland in her first three years in the CDI ring. In 2017 they scored bronze at the Polish Junior Riders Championships. In 2018 she made the transition to young riders level and finished fifth at the Nationals. Her first trip abroad was to the CDI Vazgaikiemis in Lithuania in May 2019, where they won two Young Rider Classes. Their last show together was the 2019 CDI Zakrzow last October, where they finished second, third and fourth with upper sixty percentage marks. At the 2019 Polish Young Riders Championships they won bronze.

On 3 March 2020 a sad ending came to the partnership of Alicja and Diego Ramirez. The gelding sustained a life ending injury during a routine lunging session.

"Diego was my long life partner," Trawinska told Eurodressage. "Last year we were in the top form, breaking personal records as well as winning two medals gold and bronze at the National Championships. With my trainer we planned and hoped for the 2020 Europeans. However, an accident during a routine, relaxed lunging session changed it all. Diego bucked, jumped up and landed so unfortunately that his right hind leg fractured into pieces. We consulted all over the world if there was any hope to save him but there was no sign for any recovery, even to have him retired, the vets confirmed us. It was the hardest decision in my life to end his pain and euthananize. Accidents happen and there was nothing we could do. Diego has given me so much wonderful experience and I learnt so much from my unforgettable horse."

Trawinska had aimed to ride in her first European Young Riders Championships on her 12-year old gelding, but his sudden passing ended that dream. However a life line with horses has been given to her.

"Magdalena Usiądek, a team mate and rider at my trainer's Centurion Center, gave me the possibility to ride an amazing 7-year stallion by Desperados with whom I hope I can still join Europeans this year and compete in my last Young Riders' year," said Alicja.