Dana van Lierop's 2012 European Junior Champion DJ Tiesto Passed Away

Dressage

The Netherlands

DJ Tiesto, the horse that took Dutch rider Dana van Lierop to the title of 2012 European Junior Riders' Champion, has passed away.

DJ Tiesto was a 21-year old KWPN gelding by Rohdiamant out of Geliska (by Nocturn x My Lunaria xx). He was bred by Mr. Venekamp and originally named Turquois.

The tall bay gelding was discovered and bought by Dana's mom Nicolette van Leeuwen in 2004. She trained him up to small tour level and showed him in his first Prix St Georges test at the age of 6.

DJ Tiesto was leverage in a bitter divorce battle between Dana's mother and father, but Nicolette was able to save the horse for her daughter.

Getting Started at Junior Level

Dana began showing DJ Tiesto at national junior level in 2010 and made her international show debut in 2011 while being in her last year on ponies.

She first competed DJ Tiesto at the CDI Addington, where she scored a hattrick, followed by Roosendaal, Compiegne and Hagen. She was Dutch A-squad listed with him and finished fourth at the 2011 Dutch Junior Riders Championships. In the summer of 2011 Dana won kur gold on Equestricons Day of Diva in Jaszkowo, Poland, before making the permanent move onto horses in 2012.

2012 European Junior Champion

Their highlight year was 2012 when they completely swept the board, winning all classes at the CDI's in Stadl Paura and Moorsele.

At the 2012 European Junior Riders Championships in Berne, Switzerland, they won the team, individual and kur to music test with record scores of 77.405%, 77.184% and 81.150%, taking home triple gold.

At national level they also won the 2012 CHIO Cup Finals as well as the Dutch Junior Riders Championships.

Retirement from Sport

After the 2012 Europeans in Berne, the then 12-year old DJ Tiesto sustained a severe injury and the horse never made a come back.

In March 2016 Van Lierop announced that he was retired from sport. The horse was sent to Hungary where he was turned out in the field with other pensioners.

On 12 August, Dana announced on her Facebook page that DJ Tiesto passed away. "You have given your all. Record winning, 3 golden medals, and after that you had your good old days," Van Lierop wrote.

In an interview with De Hoefslag, Dana explained that, "he had Cushing and got medication for it. Two weeks ago he was still doing fine, but suddenly his health started to decline. The very saw him, we gave him one more night, but it was enough, he was too ill. I don't think it's fair to keep a horse alive, just because you can't say goodbye."