Italian para dressage rider Francesca Salvade has retired her career-making para horse, Muggel, from competition sport.
Muggel is a 15-year old Holsteiner gelding by Carabas out of O-Cheena (by Cheenook x Coriolan x Cor de la Bryere). He is bred by Claude Muller-Garnich.
He was first competed in Germany as a 5-year old in 2012 by Katja Lauer. A year later Vivian Weissmüller showed him at A-level before he sold to Italy.
Career Maker
In April 2013, the Grade II para rider Francesca Salvade discovered Muggel in Nurnberg, Germany, as mr Berger's yard. He became her career making para horse with no less than 86 international starts to his record between 2013 and 2021. For the majority of their time together they were trained by Deodato Cianfanelli and Laura Conz.
The pair made its CPEDI debut in June 2013 at in Somma Lombardo when Muggel was six and he did not skip a beat, making it to every single major championship between 2013 and 2018.
In their first year of international competition they went straight to the 2013 European Championships in Herning, where they were 5th in the Kur. In 2014 they were 4th in the individual test at the World Equestrian Games in Caen, fourth in the individual at the 2015 European Championships in Deauville, and 9th at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio.
As of 2017 they moved up to Grade III and were 6th at the 2017 European Championships in Gothenburg. At the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon they were 11th but then got eliminated as the horse was unlevel.
In 2019 Salvade's new ride, Oliver-Vitz (by Onassis x Cannon Row xx), which she bought through former Italian para team manager Ferdinando Acerbi, took over the baton and became her championship ride. With Muggel she continued to compete internationally a few more shows until February 2021 at the CPEDI Ornago, where they won the team test but then got eliminated again.
Retirement
"After so many travels and satisfaction he is getting his rest," said Francesca. "Now 'Topolino (his nickname) will enjoy the freedom and the meadows here in Italy and maybe just a few walks in the woods, to have fun together; but he deserves all the best for what he has given us. "
"He is a very important horse for us and a part of our family and we have been together for almost 10 years," added Salvade who is currently based at Norma Paoli and Italo Cirocchi's yard. "He is a very strong character and not always easy to ride, but also very sweet, of great quality and coldness in the competitions. He has been a fighter and he has always given the best in the arena."