Canadian born American Grand Prix rider Ashley Holzer had to say goodbye to her 2020 U.S. Olympic team hopeful, Mango Eastwood. A few weeks ago the 11-year old had a tragic stable accident and had to be euthanized.
Eastwood was a 12-year old KWPN gelding by Wynton out of Bambina (by Sandro Hit). He was bred by Dutch Grand Prix rider Madeleine Witte-Vrees.
Spanish Start
Witte-Vrees presented Eastwood at the pre-selection for the 2012 KWPN Stallion Licensing but he was not accepted.
The black gelding was discovered as a youngster by Spanish Grand Prix rider Jordi Domingo Coll who bought it and sold it to sponsor Nahman Andic Ermay, a major shareholder in the Spanish fast fashion brand Mango.
The prefix Mango was put in front of Eastwood's name when a sponsorship agreement was signed between Domingo and Ermay. Ashley Holzer used "mango" as nick-name for the horse, although his KWPN name is Eastwood.
Under Domingo Eastwood won the 2014 Spanish Young Horse Championships as a 5-year old. He was 7th at the 2016 Spanish Young Horse Championships in the 7-year old division. In June 2017 Eastwood made his national Grand Prix debut.
Sold to the U.S.A.
In December 2017 Eastwood sold to Ashley Holzer's long-time sponsor and client, Diane Fellows.
Ashley made her international show debut on Eastwood at the CDI Wellington on 6 February 2020 and won the Grand Prix with 72.761%. She competed him at two more CDI's in Wellington that winter and launched herself as an Olympic team hopeful.
Unfortunately Eastwood missed the entire 2021 international show season and Holzer's chances at U.S. Olympic team representation diminishes as she did not show second GP horse Radondo in 2021 and for young Grand Prix horse Valentine the Games came too early.
Untimely Passing
Unfortunately Eastwood passed away a few weeks ago.
"Mango had a freak accident in his stall a few weeks ago and damaged his leg so badly he has to be put down," Holzer communicated. "I tll you this through tears as he was such a special horse. Thank you Jordi Domingo and Sjef (Janssen) for helping me find this horse and to Diane Fellow for bringing this horse into my life."
Related Links
Holzer and Eastwood on a Roll at 2020 CDIO Wellington
Holzer and Eastwood Make it a Double on their CDI Debut at 2020 CDI-W Wellington
Jordi Domingo's Eastwood Sold to the U.S.A.
Ashley Holzer Declares for the U.S.A.
Fine Time, Eastwood, Dragao Figueiras Win 2014 Spanish Young Horse Championships