Nicole Casper's Don Roeschen FBW Euthanized after Freak Accident

Wed, 03/08/2023 - 22:56
German Riding Pony
Nicole Casper and Don Roeschen FBW at the 2022 CDI Stuttgart :: Photo © Stefan Lafrentz

Nicole Casper has lost her international Grand Prix horse Don Roeschen FBW after a lunging accident at home on 6 March 2023. The mare was 14 years old. 

Don Roeschen FBW was a Baden Wurttemberger bred mare by Don Diamond out of Lattina (by Landioso x Grandioso x Maharadscha). She was bred by Hans Lober and owned by Gestut Birkhof. 

Young Horse Career

The mare was first competed as a 3-year old in 2012 by Nicola Haug and they finished 15th in the first round at the Bundeschampionate in Warendorf in the 3-year old mare and geldings class.

In 2013 Nicole Casper took over the ride and won the Baden Wurrtemberger regional young horse championships in Nordlingen. At the 2013 Bundeschampionate they were fifth. 

In 2014 she only competed in spring, in 2015 she moved up to M-level but did not return to the Bundeschampionate. There were no shows in 2016.

To Grand Prix

In 2017 Don Roeschen moved up to Prix St Georges level and competed on the Nurnberger Burgpokal circuit.

 She did her first Intermediaire II test in March 2018 and continued at Grand Prix level from then on. In 2021 their international show debut followed at the CDI Ludwigsburg, where they posted 67.239% in the Grand Prix. 

Nicole Casper and Don Röschen
In 2022 they showed at CDI's in Mannheim, Wiesbaden, Donaueschingen, Ludwigsburg and Stuttgart, where they scored 68.783% in the Grand Prix (9th) and 70.383% in the Special (7th). 

The pair's last show was on Thursday 2 March 2023 in Ansbach, where they finished second in the Grand Prix with 72.867% behind Jasmin Schaudt on Fano (by Fiorano x Friedensfurst)

Lunging Accident

On Monday 6 March 2023 the chestnut mare injured herself so severely in a freak accident that she could not be saved despite immediate veterinary care.

"Rösle broke her leg while being lunged and had to be put down immediately," Nicole Casper 'explained. "I am very sad because Rösle left so suddenly and unexpectedly. But I will also smile because she lived and danced with me. I learned a lot from an extremely strong and lovable personality."

Photos © Stefan Lafrentz - private

Related Links
Zikade and Don Roschen Win 2015 Boblingen Bundeschampionate Qualifier
Danzarino and Loveliness Win 2014 Ludwigsburg Bundeschampionate Qualifier
Scores - 2013 Bundeschampionate
Scores: 2012 Bundeschampionate