Contact, the Swedish warmblood gelding that took Emelie Brolin to three European Youth Championships, has passed away age 29 on 6 October 2020.
Contact was a Swedish warmblood gelding by Tabac out of Colette II (by Furioso III). He was bred by Jeppe Borjesson.
Contact's dam Colette II was also dam of Cathrine Dufour's junior rider's horse Cadillac (SWB, born 1998 by Oldtimer xx).
Brolin's Youth Team Ride
Swedish Grand Prix rider Emelie Brolin began her international competition career on Contact after moving from ponies to junior level.
Aboard Contact she competed at the 2002 European Junior Riders Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, and was 9th in the Kur to Music. That year they won the Swedish Junior Riders Championships as well as team and individual gold at the 2002 Nordic Baltic Championships.
In 2003 they moved up to Young Riders level and went to the 2003 European Young Riders Championships in Saumur, France, where they were 24th in the Individual test. They won gold at the 2003 Swedish Young Riders Championships and placed fourth in the "Euro Future Cup" at the 2003 CDI Frankfurt, which preceded the "Young Rider World Cup" in the mid 2000s.
They returned on the Swedish Team two years later for the 2005 European Young Riders Championships in Barzago, Italy, and were third in the consolation finals. That year Brolin and Contact also competed at small tour level at the 2005 Swedish Dressage Championships in Ericsberg, but only rode in the Prix St Georges. in 2014 and 2015 Brolin also competed Winston at Young Riders' level.
Schoolmaster
In 2006 Contact was allocated to Swedish junior Adrienne Bergh, who competed him lightly at a few internationals.
In 2008 younger brother Christian Brolin rode the bay at Young Riders level and they were 17th at the Swedish Dressage Championships in Helsingborg.
A Sad Farewell
Based at Brolotens stuteri with the Brolin family for twenty years, Contact was euthanized on 6 October 2020.
"He was the most polite and loving horse I have ever met," Brolin took to Instagram. "Liane (Wachtmeister) always described him as a horse that behaved so well that you could take him into a ballroom. Together we took Swedish Championship gold, Nordic Championship gold and came 7th at the European Championships. He was the first horse I rode piaffe and passage on, but most importantly, he has been my best friend for twenty years and I am so grateful for everything we have done together."
Related Links
Brink and DueBoje Win 2008 Swedish Dressage Championships
Scores: 2005 European Young Riders Championships
Scores: 2003 European Young Riders Championships
Scores: 2002 European Junior Riders Championships