Du Pre, Spanish Young Riders' Team Horse, Retired from Sport

Dressage

Spain

Du Pre, a long-time member of the Spanish Young Riders' team, has been retired from sport. He did his last competition with rider Julia Alvarez Abad last weekend at the 2023 CDI Madrid.

Du Pre is a 19-year old Hanoverian by Don Frederico out of Windfee (by Weltmeyer x Maurice x Novum xx). He is bred by Ernst Kemper.

Beatriz Ferrer-Salat

Du Pre began his sport career in Germany as a 4-year old under Friederike Peters, who first introduced him at a show in Hildesheim in May 2008. In 2009 Rosemarie Kemper rode him in an L-level test in Greven.

Du Pre sold to Spanish Olympian Beatriz Ferrer-Salat, who competed him up to small tour level. The pair made its international show debut at the CDI Madrid in May 2013, finishing third twice. They won the 2013 Spanish Developing PSG Horse Championships.

Ferrer-Salat on Du Pre in 2014
(Photo © Topiberian)

In 2014 they competed at the CDI's in Barcelona, Villach, and Deauville and won the 2014 Spanish Small Tour Championship.

Schoolmaster for Three

Ferrer-Salat handed up Du Pre as a small tour schoolmaster to three different students.

In 2016 new owner and rider Carolina Usandizaga premiered hm in the senior small tour at the CDI Valencia and ent from there to Oliva, and Mallorca. In 2017 there were no internationals, but the duo returned at the 2018 CDI Segovia in April and May.

In 2019 it was Olaia Aguilar Marimon's turn who made her international show debut on the chestnut at the CDI Camarma de Esteruelas and then Segovia.

In 2020 the gelding sold to young rider Julia Alvarez Abad, who jump-started her career on this experienced small tour horse. They represented Spain at the 2020 European Young Riders Championships in Budapest, where they were 17th in the Kur to Music Finals. They also won the 2020 Spanish Young Riders Championships and silver in the 2020 Spanish Small Tour Championship. At the 2021 European Young Riders Championships in Oliva they placed 27th in the individual test and got silver at the 2021 Spanish Young Riders Championsips.

With Alvarez at the 2020 European Young
Riders Championships

As of 2022 Abad and Du Pre showed on the senior small tour circuit in Carmama and Jardy and won gold at the 2022 Spanish Small Tour Championship. This year the 19-year old Du Pre took Julia to Camarma and Crozet, won bronze in the 2023 Spanish Small Tour Championships, and finally at the CDI Madrid Du Pre had his swan song, where he scored a triple victory in the small tour.

Retirement

Du Pre will now be retired from sport.

"Eternal thanks Du Pré for having been one of the best competition mates I could ever have in my life," Alvarez gushed. "Ever since our paths crossed you've given me everything you had and we've enjoyed many adventures together. You have been a spectacular dance partner and you retire from the dance floor with many awards and medals, as you deserve."