Decor, 2022 European Under 25 Championship Silver Medal Winner, Died Unexpectedly

Dressage

Spain

Decor, Alejandro Oliva's silver medal winning European Under 25 Championship ride, has passed away on 19 January 2023. The Hanoverian did not survive a colic attack.

Decor was a rising 12-year old Hanoverian gelding by Detroit out of High Heels (by Herzensdieb x Wolkenstein II x Matcho AA). He was bred by Marten Hillmann.

Joseph Hunt - Carlos Bayo

Originally owned by German horse dealers Kerstin Klieber and Stefan Sandbrink, Decor sold to Spain to Sylvia Fort Brescia De Mulder

The elegant bay was first competed in Spain by Joseph Robert Hunt and then brought to Grand Prix level by Carlos Bayo Calvo. In 2020 Bayo and Decor won bronze at the Spanish Grand Prix Championships, pushing several well known and established Grand Prix rider off the podium.

Since May 2021 the horse is listed with the FEI as co-owned by Sylvia Fort Brescia De Mulder in partnership with trainer Juan Antonio Jimenez.

Alejandro Oliva Lazaro

Trainer Jimenez matched Decor to youth rider Alejandro Oliva in late January 2022 and the pair became the shooting stars on the Spanish show scene.

Alejandro and Decor at the 2022 CDI Las Cadenas

They made their international show debut in March 2022 at the CDI Jerez a winning won and in the next three months went on a spectacular. He won all 11 of his 11 international outings!

At the 2022 European Under 25 Championships in Pilisjaszfalu (HUN) they wrote history for Spain by winning double individual silver. They concluded the season with the gold medal and title at the 2022 Spanish Under 25 Championships in September.

Colic

Decor suffered from a severe colic attack and despite a seven-hour operation, the veterinarians could not save the horse.

"Without a doubt you were a very special horse, with which I made many dreams come true," Alejandro said about Decor. "Sadly many others have remained to be fulfilled. We will never forget you Decor, thank you for giving us all your heart."

He continued, "I will always be grateful to the entire veterinary team as well as the team of Juan Antonio for having tried to fight for him until the last moment."