Jumanji, European Championship Pony and Schoolmaster, Passed Away

Dressage

Germany

Jumanji, a two time European Championship pony and FEI schoolmaster for four different riders, has passed away. He was 22 years old.

Jumanji was a German Riding Pony by Jacobspeel's Rocky out of Lola (by Luzern x Topfit x Sawih Ibn Wisnzy ox). He was bred by Monika Boermann.

Anna-Rahel Gehrig

The pony began its show career in Germany as a youngster under 23-year old professional Wibke (Hartmann-) Stommel.

She first competed him as a 3-year old at the local show in Mark and finished third at the 2004 Westfalian young pony championships in Munster-Handorf. At the Bundeschampionat they were sixth.

Stommel and Jumanji at the 2004 Bundeschampionate

In 2005 the liver chestnut got three different riders: Gudrun Gäth, Stefanie Preuss, and then Anna-Rahel Gehrig. The later competed Jumanji through 2009 at numerous regional shows in Rhineland area, mainly at L-level.

In 2010 two other German riders competed Jumanji: Paulina Holzknecht and Jasmin Brill.

Ingrid Rimestad

In 2011 Jumaji sold to Norway as an FEI dressage pony for Ingrid Hagman Rimestad.

The pair made its international show debut in Babenhausen, followed by Odense. In 2012 they competed in Drachten, Stadl Paura, and Ypaja before heading to the European Pony Championships in Fontainebleau, where they were 30th in the individual test with 66.098%.

In 2013 they campaigned in Vestfold and Stadl Paura before making their way to the Eiuropean Pony Championships in Arezzo, where they finished 21st in the individual test (67.049%).

The pair won the Norwegian Pony Championships in 2012 and 2013. As of 2014 Rimestad moved on to horses at junior/young rider level with Oestersoeens Don Juan. She quit international competition in the summer of 2017.

Denmark: Sorensen and Helgstrand

The 12-year old Jumanji sold to Denmark and became an FEI schoolmaster, first for Anne Sophie Gerstorf Sørensen (2014 - 2015) and then for Alexander Yde Helgstrand (2016).

Sorensen competed two FEI ponies at the time, Kloosters Eltino and Jumanji, at CDI's in Hagen, Odense and Joosland. In 2014 she won the Ecco Cup Finals and in 2015 Anne won team and individual gold on Jumanji at the Nordic Baltic Champions in Odense. In 2016 Sorensen continued with Eltino and Lynet as Jumanji moved to Helgstrand,

Alexander rode his very international competition in his career on Jumanji a tthe CDI Odense in May 2016, scoring 67.991% in the team test. He won silver on Jumanji at the 2016 Danish Pony Championships and in 2017 he won the Ecco Cup Finals with Jumanji and the category 2 Danish Pony Championships.

Germany: Lilly Marie Collin

Jumanji then sold to his final home in Germany as a schoolmaster for Lilly Marie Collin.

Lilly began showing the gelding in February 2019 and competed him at a handful of shows until August 2020 when he was 19. In 2019 she qualified him for the 2019 German Developing Pony Rider Championship, but opted to ride her other pony, Orchid's Syria there.

Jumanji was retired from competition sport at the end of the summer of 2020. Collin went on to become the 2023 European Pony Champion on pony Cosmo Callidus.

With Alexander in the 2017 Ecco Cup Finals

Yesterday, Collin announced the passing of 22-year old Jumanji.

"Thank you for the best 5 years of my life with you," Collin stated. "I can’t thank you enough for everything you taught me and all the memories we made together. My heart is shattered into pieces and I never thought it would end like this. We did everything the last couple of months to save you but we couldn’t see you suffer anymore. Now heaven has gained the most beautiful soul and best pony anyone can ever wish for. I will never forget you, and will love you forever. You will always be my Jum Jum."