Isabell Nowak's Siracusa OLD Passed Away

Germany

German para dressage rider Isabell Nowak said goodbye to her 2024 Paris Paralympic mount Siracusa OLD.

Siracusa was a 15-year old Oldenburg gelding Siracusa by Sir Donnerhall out of Donna Salna (by Don Schufro). Bred by Paul Schockemohle

From Hungary to Czech Republic

Originally owned by Julia Nagyhazi, the dark bay gelding was first trained and competed by Hungarian Csaba Szokola. The pair represented Hungary at the 2017 World Championships for young dressage horses, where they scored 8.10 in the preliminary round and 8.24 in the consolation round. Unfortunately the pair was disqualified from the consolation finals because Szokola did not show up for the prize giving ceremony.

In the autumn of 2017 the horse sold to Czech junior rider Eva Vavrikova, who trained with Czech Grand Prix rider Ema Kopuleta. Vavrikova debuted the horse in April 2018 at the CDI Zakrzow and gained mileage at the CDI's in Mariakalnok, Brno, and Fot. In 2018 they made it onto the Czech team for the European Junior Riders Championships in San Giovanni in Marignano, where they were 23rd in the individual test with 69.676%. They returned on the team for the 2020 Europeans in Pilisjaszfalu, where they were 15th in the Kur to Music finals. Vavrikova moved to Young Riders level in 2021 but did only three shows with him between May 2021 and 2022.

Isabell Nowak

Siracusa OLD sold to German para dressage rider Isabell Nowak.

Nowak debuted him at Grade V level at the CPEDI Ranbol in March 2023 and got more experience at several shows that year. In 2024 they became competitive and after CPEDI's in Ornago, Waregem, Mannheim, Stadl Paura and Deurne they were nominated on the German paralympic team for the 2024 Games in Paris after Martina Benzinger’s Lipizzan mare Nautika died shortly before the Games. Germany won team XX and individually Nowak finished fourth in the kur.

Nowak and Siracusa returned on the team for the 2025 European Championships in Ermelo, where they won team gold and were fourth in the Kur. In 2026 they competed at the CPEDI's in Aachen and Stadl Paura.

Untimely Passing

Unfortunately Siracusa died untimely after suffering from pharyngeal obstruction.

"He had another obstruction, and no one could help him anymore," Isabell explained. "We lost him within a few hours. Siri leaves a void in my life that will surely never be filled."