Nathalie Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein's Digby Passed Away

Dressage

Denmark

Danish Olympian Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein had to say goodbye to her career making Grand Prix horse, Digby. The 23-year old passed away on 3 October 2020.

Digby was a Danish warmblood gelding by Donnerhall out of Oxdenholm Pamina (by Sandro). He was bred by Nathalie's mom, HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark, at their home, Castle Berleburg in Germany.

Licensed Stallion

As a 3-year old he was licensed and performance tested as a breeding stallion for Danish warmblood, but his career lay in dressage and he was gelded to be focused on sport.

The dark bay made his debut at Grand Prix level in 2005 and became one of Denmark's strongest performing team horses to date.

Writing History for Denmark

At their last show: the 2014 World Equestrian Games

They competed at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen (39th), won historic team bronze at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, finished 7th at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington.

They were famous for the West Side Story and French Chanson freestyle and competed in World Cup Finals in Den Bosch (2008 - 8th / 2010 - 6th) and Leipzig (2011 - 2nd).

They rode at three European Championships: in Windsor (2009 - 11th), Rotterdam (2011 - 10th) and Herning (2013, 9th). They returned to the 2012 Olympic Games in London (12th in the kur) and their final event was the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, where they were 13th in the Kur.

In 2012 the pair became the Danish Grand Prix Champions, Nathalie's third national title on three different horses (Fantast S in 2002, Rigoletto in 2009 and Digby in 2012). In 2013 Nathalie and Digby won silver at the Nationals.

The pair was trained by Kyra Kyrklund and Richard White.

Sad Goodbye

Digby spent his retirement happily at home and had been fully healthy until suddenly, in a few days time, he foundered and could not be saved.

Nathalie and Digby at home in Bad Berleburg

"It's an era that has ended, it's strange," Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein told Ridehesten.com. "It was not an easy decision but the vet told me I made the right decision for Digby. We did X-rays of him, which was just the second time in his life he got X-rayed. The vet was surprised. He had never seen such good X-rays on a 23-year old horse. He couldn't tell the horse did top sport since he was 8."

At the moment Nathalie is in Denmark for a two-day training camp with the Danish Grand Prix squad riders.

"It's very good I had to leave home," Nathalie concluded, "so that my thoughts can focus on something else."

Photos © Astrid Appels - Dirk Caremans

Nathalie and Digby at the 2009 European Championships in Windsor

Nathalie zu Saeyn-Wittgenstein's Digby trots like a pony, but his piaffes and passages like a world champion. With their West Side Story kur they were 7th with 78.75%

Digby at the 2008 World Cup Finals

Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and Digby practising the Grand Prix in the main stadium at the 2012 Olympic Games

Nathalie's groom cuddling with Digby

Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein fights her tears as she leaves the arena

At their first major championship: the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, where they were 39th in the Grand Prix

Nathalie and Digby at home in Bad Berleburg