Danish Junior Team Horse Don Furioso Passed Away

Dressage

Denmark

Don Furioso, a Danish team horse at the 2022 European Junior Riders Championships, has passed away on 11 january 2025. He was about to turn 17.

Don Furioso was a 2008 born Dutch warmblood by Sam Amour out of Redensie (by Jazz x Vincent). He was bred by W. Den Besten and originally named Don Drago.

Victoria Appleyard

Originally owned by Anne Appleyard for her daughter Victoria to ride, he competed in Great Britain and Sweden for three years.

Tagged as the successor to Victoria's Sir Willy, Don Furioso was first shown by Victoria in the U.K. in February 2015 when she based there with Matt Frost.

took over the baton in January 2016. The pair showed at small tour level in Sweden until October 2017.

Victoria moved to Denmark to ride at Helgstrand Dressage but no longer showed Don Furioso. In 2020 he was competed once by Carina Neverman Torup at national level.

Elisabeth Bonefeld-Dahl

The horse sold to the Danish Bonefeld-Dahl family and Elisabeth debuted him at national junior level in May 2021.

Their international debut was at the 2021 Nordic Baltic Championships in Ypaja, where they won team and individual gold. They won silver at the 2021 Danish Junior Championships.

In 2022 they showed in Opglabbeek, Aalborg and Hagen to clinch a spot on the Danish team for the 2022 European Junior Riders Championships in Hartpury, where the team was fourth and the pair finished 29th in the individual test.

In 2023 they moved up to young riders' level and for the next two years gained mileage at that level with CDI starts in Lier, Tolbert, Troisdorf, and Aalborg. Their last international was in May 2024, their last national show in November 2024.

Sad Passing

Unfortunately the horse tragically suffered a broken fetlock bone and had to be put to sleep.

"He was truly my heart horse. The experiences, the love, the hard work, and all the fun times I shared with this amazing creature have been nothing short of incredible," said Elisabeth. "He was so unlucky, and his fetlock joint was shattered beyond repair. There are so many things I want to say, but right now, I am at a loss for words. I truly thank you for being my dance partner, my safe place, and for shaping me into the rider I am today.”

Elisabeth had hoped to compete Don Furioso for one more season before his retirement. She is currently also riding her sister Victoria's 19-year old KWPN gelding Bolero (by Uptown x Jazz) as a Grand Prix schoolmaster, the 6-year old Furstens L’Espoir (by Falihandro x L'Espoir) and the Bøttger family's 9-year-old small tour horse Teglovnen's Viranello (by Vincent Maranello x Sir Oldenburg).