Katherine Bateson's U.S. Small Tour Champion Dea II Passed Away

Dressage

U.S.A.

Dea II, Katherine Bateson's 2009 U.S. Small Tour Champion, has passed away. She was 24 years old.

Dea was a 2000 born Hanoverian mare by Daidalos out of Athene (by Arkansas x Woermann). She was bred by Rudolf Gauglitz in Moormerland, Germany.

Bundeschampionate

The chestnut mare's sport career began in Germany where she was registered as Dea 22, but this was later translated into Dea II.

She was first trained and competed by Nicole Deiner, who won silver with her at the 2004 Hanoverian Young Horse Championships in Verden and qualified for the Bundeschampionate, although she did not go that year.

In 2005 the pair rode the German team selection trials for the World Young Horse Championships but were not selected. After successful starts in Okel, Stuhr, Isernhagen, Wingst and Schwanewede they made it to the 2005 Bundeschampionate, where they were third in the consolation final.

Move to Great Britain

Dea sold to Great Britain and got produced to FEI level by Spencer Wilton and Carl Hester.

Spencer began competing her in 2006 at Elementary level and moved her up to Medium level by 2007 and Advanced Medium by the end of the year. In April 2008 Carl Hester competed her once in the U.K.

Sold to the U.S.A.

At the 2009 U.S. Small Tour Championship

Dea was acquired by acclaimed American horse owner and sponsor Jane Forbes Clark and the ride was allocated to Katherine Bateson, a student of Carl Hester.

She began riding the mare in September 2008 and the pair achieved its career highlight in 2009 when they won the U.S. Small tour championships.

That same year they debuted at international small tour level at CDI's in Wellington and in 2010 moved up to Grand Prix level. Bateson had Nartan at the time as her number one Grand Prix horse and rode him on the U.S. team at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Dea competed at CDI's in West Palm Beach and Loxahatchee in 2010 until 2011.

"She gave one of the most amazing feelings I ever had," Bateson reminisced. "So loose and true swing. A princess in every way."

British Junior Schoolmaster

Dea joined Bateson on training trips to the U.K. and remained their for the final chapter in her life

She became a schoolmaster for Joanna Thurman-Baker, who showed her at junior level in 2015, first nationally and twice internationally at the CDI Addington and Compiegne. She did her last show in June 2015.

Retirement

Dea was retired from sport and became a broodmare. She stayed with Nicola Burton in the U.SK.

She produced two AES registered foals, including the 2014 born filly Landea (by Landtanzer) and a 2016 born colt by Uthopia. She also fostered two orphan foals.

Bateson announced the mare's passing at age 24 on 6 May 2024.

"we had to say goodbye to this very special girl today," Katherine wrote. "Dea touched so many lives. She gave me my first national championship, gave me two beautiful babies and fostered two orphaned foals. No one half passed like she did! Thank you my princess. Your beautiful daughter who is your mini me will carry your flame for years to come."