Dominique D'Esme's last international Grand Prix horse, Roi de Coeur, has passed away on Thursday 22 April 2021. He was 27 years old.
Roi de Coeur was a Danish Warmblood gelding by Schwadroneur out of Hellas (by Donauwind x Bergsturm). He was bred by Arne Stuhr.
Danish Beginnings
Roi de Coeur was originally named Ho-Neur and was a full brother to the licensed breeding stallion Blue Hors Hertug, who although not the most popular in Denmark ended up producing highly rideable and athletic offspring.
Ho-Neur was kept at Blue Hors stud as a young colt to be reared. When his breeder passed away, the horse sold as a 2.5 year old to Jon D. Pedersen and his wife Tia Malling.
Roi de Coeur had his competition start in Denmark under Pedersen and represented Denmark at the 1999 World Young Horse Championships in Arnheim.
In 2004 he was briefly shown by under Anja Dam Hansen, before selling to France to be developed as a Grand Prix horse by French triple Olympian Dominique D'Esme.
French Team Horse
D'Esme's long-time sponsor, Michel Thevenot, of Societé "Thor" acquired Ho-Neur, but the horse moved on with the sponsorship suffix, GFD, promoting the finance company of Dominique's husband.
Triple French Olympian Dominique d'Esme trained the horse to Grand Prix level. They made their national GP debut in 2004 at the CDN Saint-Lô and won silver at the 2004 French Grand Prix Championships that summer.
At the 2005 European Dressage ChampionshipsThe pair first represented France at the 2005 European Dressage Championships in Hagen, where they were 30th in the Grand Prix. They won silver at the 2005 French Dressage Championships.
At the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, they moved on to the Special, in which they placed 31st. Monica Theodorescu was French team trainer at the time.
The combination competed on the World Cup circuit in 2007 and 2008 at CDI-W's in 's Hertogenbosch and Lipica. They were on the French team for the CDIO Nations' Cups in Saumur, Aachen, Hickstead.
D'Esme and Roi de Coeur competed at the highest level internationally from 2004 till 2012, though the 2006 WEG was their last intercontinental championship.
The 2012 CDI Deauville was the last show for the then 18-year old gelding. Their international Grand Prix career high score was 67.167% (at 2006 WEG); their Kur top score was 67.800% (at 2008 CDI Saumur).
D'Esme and Roi de CoeurRetirement
The now 75-year old D'Esme retired Roi de Coeur from sport in 2012.
Dressprod reported that the gelding spent the rest of his life peacefully at his rider's barn in Pont l'Evêque.
