Catherine Haddad's international Grand Prix horse Winyamaro has passed away on 8 February 2024. He was 23 years old. He was the successor to Haddad's career-starting international Grand Prix horses Maximus and Cadillac.
Catherine Haddad
Winyamaro was a Hanoverian gelding by Walt Disney out of Taiga (by Trapper). He is bred by Hans-Jurgen Buehrig.
The colourful chestnut was first trained and competed as a young horse by Ralf Kornprobst, before the then Vechta (GER) Catherine Haddad took over the ride.
Haddad produced him to Grand Prix level and the pair made its international show debut in 2010. They became the alternates for the U.S. team for the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky after finishing fourth at the 2010 U.S. Dressage Championships.
In 2011 they qualified to compete for the U.S.A at the World Cup Finals in Leipzig, Germany, where they ranked 12th. Their last CDI as a pair was the 2022 CDI-W Devon.
In 2012, Winyamaro was unable to contend for a U.S. Olympic team spot due to an injury, but he returned to the arena in the spring of 2013 but was only very lightly shown at national level.
Olivia Hallman - Dressage 4 Kids
In the autumn of 2013, Winyamaro sold to the U.S. based Dutch rider Olivia Hallman but stayed in training with Haddad-Staller in Califon, NJ.
In 2014 Winyamaro got injured and Olivia decided to move back to NYC and sell all her horses. She donated the gelding to Dressage 4 Kids and Haddad leased him back to keep him in her own stable in the U.S.A. during his recovery.
In 2016 the chestnut returned to the arena under working student Michelle Haefer (née Brady) as her schoolmaster. The pair competed up Prix St Georges level from 2016 until his competition retirement in 2018.
Retirement
The chestnut was retired from sport but continued to function in his role as schoolmaster at home. He continued to teach Haddad's students the Grand Prix movements, including Hope Beerling.
In August 2022 he was fully retired to the field at Beezie Madden's yard at Madden Mountain in upstate NY. He passed away on 8 February 2024.
"You will leave a big hole in our lives, my friend," Haddad stated. "Be forever too sexy for your shirt, may you gallop on green fields surrounded by admiring fans and may the cameras always be turned your direction."
Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: Winyamaro
Haddad Earns Trip to 2011 World Cup Dressage Final
Haddad and Harding Repeat Their Victory at 2010 Dressage at Devon
An outstanding Satchmo Delights a Full House at the 2010 CDI Stuttgart
Catherine Haddad's Winyamaro Retired to the Field