Family Grand Prix Horse Verdi de la Fazenda Passed Away

Dressage

The Netherlands

Verdi de la Fazenda, the Rockx family's home bred Grand Prix horse that competed for The Netherlands with two seniors and two youth riders, has passed away.

Verdi de la Fazenda was a 22-year old Dutch warmblood gelding by Florett As out of Piroshka de la Fazenda (by Sandro Hit x Burggraaf). He was bred by Johan Rockx who was then based in Essen, Belgium.

Penny and Johan Rockx

The bay gelding was trained and competed to Grand Prix level by Johan Rockx and his Canadian born wife Penny Zavitz-Rockx before he became a schoolmaster for daughter Thalia Rockx.

The horse made its international debut as a 5-year old at the 2008 World Young Horse Championships in Verden, where he was ninth in the 6-year old consolation finals. In 2009 they made their CDI debut at small tour level at the CDI-W Mechelen. They competed at the 2010 Dutch Small Tour Championships but did not make it into the top 8 for the kur finals. However they were sixth at the 2011 Dutch Indoor Small Tour Championships.

In 2012 Penny Zavitz-Rockx began competing the gelding at international Grand Prix level, which heralded her come back to the CDI ring after a decade long break since her 1990s rides Winsome and Heyu. Penny campaigned Verdi at the 2012 CDI's in Vidauban, Addington, Saumur;; Hamburg, Compiegne and Lingen. The latter show was her last CDI in her career, so far.

In 2013 Johan climbed back onboard and showed him for two years internationally in Drachten, Den Bosch, Roosendaal, Compiegne, Rotterdam and Nieuw en St. Joosland. They were seventh at the 2013 Dutch Indoor Grand Prix Championships, won silver at the 2014 edition and were fourth in 2015. They were seventh at the 2014 Dutch Grand Prix Championships.

Thalia Rockx

In 2015 Johan and Penny's 14-year old daughter Thalia took over the ride and competed him at junior level nationally and in 2015 at young riders level internationally.

In between their international riders the pair set a Dutch record as Thalia became the youngest rider ever in The Netherlands to compete at GP level at age 15 in October 2016.

With Thalia at the 2019 Young Rider Euros

While having competed at young riders level from 2015 through 2017, they dropped back to junior level in 2016 for the Dutch Junior Championships to win silver and again in 2017 to win bronze at the 2017 Dutch Junior Riders Championships and to represent The Netherlands at the 2017 European Junior Riders Championships in Roosendaal, where they won team silver and placed seventh individually. There was also bronze at the 2017 Dutch Indoor Junior Championships

In 2018 there was no international showing but the pair won the 2018 Dutch Young Riders Championships, but in 2019 they debuted at Under 25 level at the CDI-W 's Hertogenbosch, then dropped back to YR level to win gold at the Dutch YR Championships and ride at the 2019 European Young Riders Championships in San Giovanni in Marignano, where they won team silver and placed 9th in the individual test.

A three year absence from CDI's followed and in 2022 Verdi returned to the scene with Thalia in Exloo followed by the 2022 European Under 25 Championships in Pilisjaszfalu, where they got team bronze and placed 6th in the Kur Finals. They earned bronze at the 2022 Dutch U25 Championships.

Thalia had her last season on Verdi in 2023, when the horse was already 21 years old; showing at the CDI-W Amsterdam and Gothenburg.

No Retirement, Children Schoolmaster

Verdi was never retired from sport. At age 22 he moved on to 12-year old Dutch children rider Floor Kulik.

Kulik debuted with Verdi at the CDI Lier in February and went to the CDI Tolbert and Exloo in the spring. The pair qualified for the Dutch team for the 2024 European Children Championships in Opglabbeek, but he had to be withdrawn due to an injury. Kulik went to the Europeans with her second horse Dutch Dandy DJ.

Kulik announced Verdi's passing on 13 August 2024.

"Last weekend we had our successful debut at Z2-level and yesterday you were happily in the field, but this morning you were in pair and we took you to the clinic. We did everything possible, but it wasn't meant to be. I'm devastated by grief and will miss you terribly."

Thalia stated, "I’m so heartbroken. You made my dreams come true and I can’t explain how much I miss you already. I’m so thankful for all the special memories I was allowed to make with you. We went to the most amazing shows all over Europe, together we did 3 European championships, my first Grand Prix at 15. what made it all so special is how you where one of my best friends. My parents bred you, you have been there my entire life. Truly the kindest soul."