Andrea Timpe's Don Darwin Retired from Sport

Dressage

Germany

German Grand Prix rider Andrea Timpe has retired her number one Grand Prix horse, Don Darwin, from competition sport. He did his final show round at the 2023 CDN Munster on Sunday 15 January 2023.

Don Darwin is a 20-year old Oldenburg gelding by Don Schufro out of Wanessa (by Warkant x Eiger x Lindberg). He is bred by Jennifer Leuders.

Licensed Stallion

Don Darwin was licensed for breeding at the 2005 Oldenburg Stallion Licensing in Vechta.

He first stood up for stud at Dr. Genn's station in Mühlen and did his 30-day stallion performance test in October 2007 in Adelheidsdorf. He scored 7.45 for dressage and 7.19 for jumping and totalled 7.48 points.

In 2007 Don Darwin competed in his first and only show under Frank Günther.

Andrea Timpe

Don Darwin sold as a young horse to the now late Wulf Timpe for his daughter Andrea.

The new pair made its show debut in May 2009 in the L-level dressage horse test. By 2010 the pair reached Prix St Georges level and in April 2013 they rode their first Intermediaire II test. A month later they had their national Grand Prix debut in Unna-Massen, where they placed fourth.

They placed 15th at the 2014 German Dressage Championships, the only time they rode the German Grand Prix Championships.

International Career

The duo made its international show debut at Grand Prix level at the CDI Nieuw en St. Joosland in April 2015.

They competed in 57 international classes in their career as a combination with starts at CDI's such as Oldenburg, Lier, Wiesbaden, Roosendaal, Dortmund, Aachen, Mannheim, Donaueschingen, Opglabbeek, Stadl Paura, and many more.

They rode on the German team at the Nations Cup in Uggerhalne in 2019. In 2021 they booked a double victory at the CDI Troisdorf. Their international Grand Prix high score was 70.869% achieved at the 2020 CDI Lier.

Retirement

Timpe rode her final show on Don Darwin at the CDN Munster on 13-15 January 2023. Their competitive partnership couldn't have ended better as they won Sunday's Grand Prix kur to music with 77.200%.

"I am very sad that it is our last competition together but also very happy that he is still so fit at 20 years," Andrea told Eurodressage. "He is a very special horse for me because he is very fixed on me and we have a special connection! Darwin has given me unique moments."

Timpe, who is based in her own stable in Hattingen (GER) which has been in the family since 1928, has a string of successors for Don Darwin lined up, including Grand Prix horses Don Carismo (by Don Crusador x Carismo) and Friesenball (by Furstenball x Sandro Hit), small tour horses Dschingis Khan (by Don. Henrico x Fabriano) and First Class (by Fidertanz x Rouletto), and newest auction acquisition High Fashion (by Helium x De Niro).