Duke, Multiple Career Launching Youth Riders Horse, Passed Away

Dressage

Great Britain

Duke, the junior/young rider's horse that started the competitive dressage career of riders such as Jessica and Benjamin Werndl, Natalie Allen and Ellen McCarthy, has passed away on 6 February 2023. He was almost 30 years old.

Duke was a 1993 born Hanoverian by Davignon out of Gitana (by Grenadier x Werther x Waldhorn). He was bred by Christoph Bulle.

Stefan Münch

Duke was first owned by the Werndl family and based in Aubenhausen, Germany.

The chestnut gelding began his sport career in Germany in 1997 under assistant rider Ramsus Bondergaard. In 1998 assistant Stefan Münch took over the ride and piloted the horse to an 8th place in 1998 Bundeschampionate.

Benjamin Werndl

In 2000 it was the turn of junior rider Benjamin Werndl who began competing the then 7-year old Duke at local shows at M-level.

In 2001 the pair finished 8th at the German Junior Riders Championships in Elmlohe and the next year they moved up to Prix St Georges level as young rider with a winning international start at the CDI-YR Mesikon in September 2002.

In 2003 Jessica Wernd began riding Duke briefly, but soon Stefan Münch was back in the saddle to produce the gelding to Grand Prix level. Münch, for instance, first him in the big tour at the 2003 CDN Neu-Anspach and rode him in several regional Grand Prix test that summer and autumn .

In 2004 Benjamin was back on board and placed third in the Preis der Besten in Warendorf at Young riders level. He was also selected for the Piaff Forderpreis circuit.

Benjamin Werndl's number one in the barn at the time was Sam (by Salvano x Windhul), with whom he placed fourth at the 2004 European Young Riders Championships in Vilhelmsborg. Jessica won Young Riders gold there aboard Bonito (by Baryshnikov x Pikör) after winning Junior gold in 2002.

Jessica Werndl

In 2005 Duke was the horse that took Jessica von Bredow-Werndl in her first Piaff Förderpreis series and Grand Prix tests. In 2006 they were third in the Piaff Forderpreis Finals in Stuttgart.

At the 2006 Piaff Forderpreis finals in Stuttgart

In 2007 Jessica and Duke competed at international Grand Prix level with CDI starts in Bremen, Stadl Paura and Hickstead. They finished their career with a second place in the 2007 Piaff Forderpreis Finals in Stuttgart behind Matthias Rath.

Natalie Allen

By 2008 the 15-year old Duke had sold to British Natalie Allen as a schoolmaster.

Allen had competed Rapino (by Casanova x Purioso) at the 2005 European Junior Riders Championships in Barzago (ITA). From then she moved on with Domino D (by Dormello out of Cackesse) and Racit (by Racing Ace xx x Tasano).

Allen straight away made her international show debut on Duke in March 2008 at the CDI Addington at young riders level, but only competed him in one more national show. They were named non-travelling reserves for the British team for the 2008 European Young Riders Championships.

Allen and Duke then moved to Germany where they continued their training and rode at national shows. They competed for instance at the 2009 Oldenburg regional championships in Rastede at Grand Prix level. The pair returned to the arena in Great Britain May 2011 and showed at several national events in the UK through May 2013.

Ellen McCarthy

At the age of 21 Duke became a schoolmaster for British junior rider Ellen McCarthy, who was 17 at the time.

McCarthy rode Duke at a few spring shows in 2014, at one show in 2015 and the horse's final competition was in February 2016 at the Winter regional championships in Addington, where they were 7th in the Prix St. Georges freestyle with 67.79%. Duke was turning 24 when he went down his last centerline.

Retirement

Duke returned to Allen's yard where he spent his retirement until his passing on 6 February 2023. He would have turned 30 in spring.

Allen stated that Duke was "a horse that was very special and touched a lot of hearts and he taught lots of riders along the way. (...) I rode my first Grand Prix on him and I’m forever thankful for everything he taught me. (..) I’ve had him for over 15 years. He really was a horse in a million and I will never forget him . I feel very sad but I will raise a glass to my amazing friend Duke I retired him and he lived happily here in the field until the end."

McCarthy added, "I had the biggest soft spot for this cuddly boy and he was such a special horse taking me through junior classes, my first advanced and PSG and then I rode my first ever Grand Prix on him at home. He was not an easy horse and had one of the biggest characters I’ve ever met! Always loved how he would drag you straight back to his stable when you took him out to go anywhere. So thankful to the Allen’s for allowing me to learn from such a professor."