Jennifer Martell's Integro Passed Away

Dressage

Great Britain

Jennifer Martell's nationally competed small tour horse Integro, who is out of Valegro's full sister, has passed away. He was 13 years old.

Integro was a 2013 born British bred Dutch warmblood stallion by Dimaggio out of Weidyfleur II (by Negro x Gershwin). He was bred by Claire Hester.

A Life in Britain

Integro never competed internationally but has made a career for himself in the U.K. He was approved for Anglo European Studbook and shown up to Intermediaire I level.

Breeder Hester sold the stallion as a 2-year old to German Rolf Kappel.

"Herr Kappel immediately adored him and wanted him trained ‘the British way’ - he followed his training and progress closely," Hester told Eurodressage. " Hs yard manager Andrew Tate came over to see him regularly. Andrew was with him at Amy’s yard when he passed."

Trained and shown by Jennifer "Jenny" Martell (since August 2024 riding with her married last name, Nicholls) and coached by Amy Woodhead and Carl Hester, the stallion made his first public outing at The Competition Stallions Event, Addington, GB, in January 2018. The duo made their national show debut in September 2018 at Sheepgate.

The pair competed at the Winter and Summer Regional championships over the years and reached small tour level in 2020 when the horse was 7 years of age. Their first FEI level national championship was in 2021, placing 33rd in the PSG. They returned to the 2022 Nationals and were 20th in the PSG and 16th in the PSG Kur to Music. They were 21st in the Inter I and 19th in the Inter I Kur.

Martell compete Integro through July 2026 with the show at Willow Banks being their last. They won the PSG and Inter I there.

Untimely Passing

Mid September Martell announced the passing of Integro, who was nick-named "Mango." Breeder Claire Hester explained to Eurodressage that, "he sustained an injury in the field, everyone tried their very best but he simply could not recover from it. So sad. He was such a beautiful enigmatic horse."

"It’s almost impossible to put into words what this horse meant to me," said Martell. "He was the first horse I trained myself all the way up to Small Tour, teaching him piaffe and one-time changes—something I will always be incredibly proud of."

Jennifer added, "our journey certainly wasn’t always straightforward, earning his trust wasn’t easy. I had to learn to listen to him, adapt and find new ways to give him confidence and help him understand what I was asking. In doing so, we formed the most incredible partnership and a bond that I will treasure forever."

"Mango and I grew up together, learned together and achieved things I once only dreamed of. He taught me so much—not only about training horses, but about patience, determination, trust and forming a true partnership," said Jennifer. "Underneath all of his cheekiness was the kindest horse who gave me absolutely everything. There will never be another Mango, and I feel so lucky that he chose me to be his person. Mango was such a huge presence on the yard."