Danish FEI Pony Dr. Doolittle Passed Away

Dressage

Denmark

Former Danish team pony Dr. Doolittle has passed away following a freak accident on 19 December. He was 18 years old.

Dr. Doolittle was a German riding pony by Don't Worry Junior out of Stratiatella BL (by Brooklands Moonwalker x Brilliant x Rhiwgoch Shot). He is bred by Raimon Joesten.

German Start, Then to Denmark

Listed as owned by the Danish Foelle Strandgaard stud farm, Dr Doolittle was licensed at the 2009 German Riding Pony stallion licensing in Neumunster and approved for Weser Ems a month later. He never did a performance test, but briefly stood up for stud

He sired one licensed son, Donald. He has 7 offspring registered for sport in Germany, with international FEI pony Strandgaard Do It My Way and Strandgaard Doleys (both ridden by Esmae Niessen) as his most famous one.

He was first competed in 2009 by Miriam Hogan and won the qualification for the Bundeschampionate, but did not compete there. In 2010 it was Tessa Sophie Möller's turn. In 2012 he had no less than three riders: Isabel Fischer, Sven Dapper, Joanna Allmeling.

Doolittle was gelded to be focused on sport and returned to Denmark; where Victoria Vallentin began competing him in 2013 at national level.

Marie Linsenhoff and Henriette Schmidt

In 2014 the pony sold to Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff for her daughter Liselott Marie to ride as part of her string of five, which included Prince Z, Don Davidoff, Massimiliano, and Golden Girl.

Marie premiered Dr. Doolittle internationally in 2014 at the CDI Stadl Paura in Austria. From there she went to Saumur and Ebreichsdorf.

Doolittle sold to Henriette Schmidt, who only competed him nationally in 2016.

Move to Denmark

Dr. Doolittle then found a new home in Denmark at Helgstrand Dressage. He was competed by Alexander Yde Helgstrand in the spring of 2017 before selling to Caroline Jorgensen.

The new pair made its national debut in October 2017. Jorgensen and Dr. Doolittle's first international show was the CDI Aalborg in May 2019 and from there she did Vilhelmsborg and Waregem. In 2020 she showed him in Lier right before the corona outbreak. In 2021 there were the CDI's Hagen and Grote Brogel.

Schoolmaster

In the spring of 2022 Dr. Doolittle sold to Laura Qvist, but she mainly showed at national level to gain experience and mileage. In June 2022 they debuted at the CDI Exloo, which was Dr. Doolittle's last international in his career.

In June 2023 Danish Frederikke Lindhardt Gimsing took over the ride on Doolittle and campaigned him at national level through October 2024.

Sad Passing

Unfortunately Doolittle had to be put to sleep following an accident while being shod. The pony slipped and sustained a severe injury that could no longer give him a worthy life.

"We are completely heartbroken," Frederikke told Eurodressage. "We had no other choice than to put him to sleep, and everything went so quickly. Luckily I got to say goodbye. I am so thankful that i got the ability to own my dream pony and my absolute best friend. Doolittle i love you with all of my heart, this is not how our goodbye was supposed to be and i am so broken. Thank you for making my dreams come true, and many more riders before me. There are so many people that Will miss you. You are an absolute one of a kind pony with the most happy, funniest and sweetest personality."