Ridgewell and Dueck's Small Tour Ride Jolene Passed Away

Dressage

Canada

Justin Ridgewell and Shannon Dueck lost their internationall competed small tour horse Jolene to laminitis. She was 12 years old.

Jolene was a 2011 born Oldenburg mare by Jazz out of Fleur (by Fidertanz x Charon x Argentinus). She was bred by Peter Rosbach.

Elite Mare

Through her dam line with dam Fleur (by Fidertanz) and grand dam Greta (by Charon), Jolene was related to licensed stallions First Final and Furst grandios (both by Furst Heinrich) as well as to Fiona Bigwood's international Grand Prix horse Daytona Platinum.

In 2015 Dutch horse dealers Harald and Jeannette Bruinier purchased Jolene at the Oldenburg auction in Vechta and gave the ride to Rom Vermunt, who took her to the IBOP test in Vorden in June 2016 and scored 82.5 point score. She was named KWPN elite mare with that result. In August of that year they finished 28th in the 2016 Pavo Cup semi-finals.

Bruinier initially intended to keep her as a broodmare for embryotransfer but in October 2016 she sold her to Dutch horse dealers duo Matty Marissink and stable Bernoski. They put her in training with Miranda Pakvis, who competed her first in December 2016.

In 2017 Natascha Bernoski de Cocq competed her through the spring, while professional Nars Gottmer rode her to an 11th in the 2017 Pavo Cup Semi Finals.

Move to Canada, Ride for Ridgewell

Rom Vermunt and Jolene in the 2016 Pavo Cup semi-finals

In 2018 Jolene sold to Rosemary Phelan of Braeburn Farms in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada, where Justin Ridgewell is working as barn manager with trainer John MacPherson by his side.

The pair began competing at third level and moved up to Prix St Georges in 2019. The pair made its international show debut in Devon in September 2019, scoring 67.304% in the Prix St Georges. In 2020 they competed at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington.

A two-year break from international showing followed but Ridgewell and Jolene returned to Wellington in 2022 where he competed her in a further three CDI's after which they went to the CDI's in Ottawa and Rockwood. In Ottawa they won the Intermediaire I Kur to Music with 69.525%.

Shannon Dueck

A switch in rider happened at the end of 2022. Former Canadian team rider Shannon Dueck took over the reins and first showed her nationally in Wellington in December 2022.

This year Dueck campaigned her at two international shows, first in January at the CDI West Palm Beach, followed by the CDI Wellington at the start of February.

Laminitis

Unfortunately, Jolene foundered and despite all medical help at Rood and Riddle equine hospital, she could not be saved. On 12 June she was euthanized.

"Our hearts are shattered to share the loss of our beloved Jolene due to complications of laminitis as a result of an underlying medical condition," Ridgewell stated. "Jolene has left a horse sized hole in our hears, this special mare was loved by so many. (...) Jolene always aimed to please and had a great talent for Grand Prix. We are grieving in the present, and are completely heartbroken in our firm belief that the best was yet to come."

A saddened Shannon Dueck added, "It has been a terribly difficult time for us all. Heartbreaking does not cover the emotions we have been experiencing (...). This was not a mare who died lonely. She knew she was well loved and 100 percent supported. The decision was only made when it was clear she could not support herself - and it was a mercy."