Sophie Reef Loses Young Riders' Horse Genua TC

Dressage

Germany

Just three days before it was announced that Sophie Reef was submitted to the German young riders' B-squad, her horse Genua TC passed away.

Genua TC was a 9-year old Dutch warmblood gelding by Charmeur out of Toulouse (by Jazz x Ulft). He was bred by Stephan Haarman.

WCYH Participant

The chestnut was scouted by horse dealer Tim Coomans and first competed, as a stallion, by Roos van Schaik.

Van Schaik and Genua placed third in the 2015 VSN Trophy Finals and third in the 2015 Horsefood Dressage Talent Competition.

In 2015 Genua TC was part of the Excellent Dressage Sales collection and sold for 170,000 euro to Dutch based Turkish rider Lina Uzunhasan. She, however, returned the horse to previous owner Tim Coomans shortly after the auction.

Jeanine Nieuwenhuis, who is head rider at Tim Coomans' stables, competed the gelded Genua at the 2017 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo and placed 7th in the consolation finals for 6-year olds.

In 2018 Nieuwenhuis rode him at small tour level in The Netherlands and in 2019 was preparing him for an Under 25 Grand Prix start.

Sold to Reef

Nieuwenhuis and Genua at the 2017 World
Young Horse Championships

In November 2019 Genua TC sold to German young rider Sophie Reef, who had also been competing in the Under 25 division with Charming Lady.

The new duo made its international show debut at the 2020 CDI Lier in February, right before the corona lockdown. They scored 69% twice in the Young Riders team test and individual, and received 73.158% in the Kur.

In July 2020 they scored 70% in the Young Riders classes at the CDI Hagen. It was their last international.

At the 2020 German Young Riders Championships in Riesenbeck, the pair finished 8th with 71,45% in the team test, 70,88% in the individual, and 71,93% in the Kur.

The pair was trained by Sabine Egbers.

Life Ending Injury

Unfortunately Genua TC suddenly became very lame during a lunging session. Veterinary help was immediately called, but after diagnoses there was no long-term relief for the horse. It was decided in Genua's best interest to put him to sleep. He passed on 14 December 2020.

"It happened so fast that I didn’t had the chance to say goodbye," a deeply moved Reef told Eurodressage. "He was my everything, my future but also my best friend. We called him cheeky monkey because he was always a little bit naughty. I am very grateful that I had the chance to ride this outstanding horse. We always said: “Only flying could be nicer”."

A necropsy was carried out on Genua TC at the University of Utrecht to find out more about the cause of the lameness.

"They say that Genua probably had a tumor in his fetlock, but it is still being investigated," Reef explained. "We are on our way to the Piaff-Förderpreis Final in Kronberg with Charming Lady now, so that distracts me a bit from my grief."