South African Denise Hallion Loses WEG Team Ride Wervelwind to Colic

Dressage

South Africa

South African Grand Prix rider Denise Hallion has lost her 2014 World Equestrian Games team ride Wervelwind. The horse was 17 years old.

"It is with a very sad heart that I have had to say goodbye to my best friend," Denise told Eurodressage. "He suffered a very bad colic and there was no chance of recovery."

Werveldwind was a 2003 born Dutch warmblood by Painted Black out of Gerina (by Record x Irak x Gorinus). He was bred A. van den Alfons. He was an AES approved stallion.

British dressage legend, Jennie Loriston Clarke, found and bought Wervelwind at an auction on behalf of South African Denise Hallion.

Convincing that Dressage is Fun

The bay's claim to fame came in the dressage arena, although it took some convincing.

"He was a very opinionated young horse, and it was a great challenge to convince him that dressage was fun," Hallion reminisced. "When we got going, we won many 5 and 6 year old classes in the UK, Hickstead being his favourite venue and I soon realised his talent. Once the bond between us was formed, we had a great time together."

The duo made its international show debut at small tour level in a whirlwild tour across south European in 2012. They started at the beginning of February at the 2012 Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, followed a week later by the CDI Vilamoura in Portugal, and then straight away off to Vidauban, France, where they rode the developing Prix St Georges horse classes.

A year and a half later they returned to the CDI ring in October 2013, competing at Grand Prix level at the CDI Biarritz.

2014 World Equestrian Games

Their ultimate dream, a team selection for the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, France, was achieved by going full throttle in 2014. They competed in Vidauban, Addington, Nieuw en St. Joosland, Windsor, Compiègne, the test event in Caen, Pompadour and Hartpury before representing South Africa at the WEG, where they were 93rd in the Grand Prix with 61.234%.

"At the World Equestrian Games, he was inexperienced at Grand Prix, so to me the biggest achievement was that he trusted me enough to enter into such a big environment and hold it all together, within such an electric atmosphere," said Denise, who trained with Carl Hester at the time. "It was just an awesome show."

After almost a one year break after WEG, they returned to the arena in 2015 in Hickstead followed by Perl. In 2016 they rode in two British based CDI's in Keysoe and Hartpury. The latter show was the last in their career together.

"We had started some intense training with Carl, and the scores were improving all the time," said Denise. "Due to personal circumstances I had to put our competing on hold for 3 years which was very unfortunate, as this is when he was about to really shine."

Fighting for Verve

Wervelwind was only 13 in 2016, but did not return to the show arena. Hallion disappeared from the scene tied up in a divorce lawsuit from her husband Mark Hallion.

"I was going through a very long, aggressive divorce, where our safety and financial situation was hugely compromised," Denise explained. "Unfortunately Verve and I lost out on 3 years of competing at Grand Prix during this time. I had to focus on the well-being of my son James. I was delighted that I was successful in keeping Verve and was able to give him the retirement he deserved."

Covid Retirement

With her divorce behind her, Denise redirected her focus to riding, but their come back was first interrupted by an equine flu outbreak and then COVID-19 came.

"As we were getting ready to go out competing again the equine flu set in," said Denise. "After that we competed at a local competition at Hickstead and achieved well into the 70’s . Unfortunately, with COVID there was not an opportunity for us to get started again. I decided to retire him and was lucky enough to see him trotting up the field every day to come and say hello."

Wervelwind's retirement was very short as colic took his life. Denise cherishes the memories she collected traveling Europe with her horse.

"He was my superhero and we shared the most fantastic times together, had seen the most beautiful countries, met the most wonderful people and made the most amazing friends," said Denise. "I have come to realise that Dressage is not just about the success, it is a wonderful sport, with amazing people all sharing a special bond with the horses they are privileged enough to own and ride. The horse becomes your best friend."