Lyndal Oatley's Potifar Passed Away

Dressage

Australia

Australian Olympian Lyndal Oatley said goodbye to her career starting international Grand Prix horse Potifar. He was 27 years old.

Potifar was a 1997 born Dutch warmblood gelding by Jazz out of Mirthe (by Pion x Urban). He was bred by Ch. Brosens in The Netherlands.

Anett Kristin Olsen

He was discovered as a 3-year old by Norwegian Anett Kristin Olsen.

She qualified for the 2003 World Young Horse Championships with him but did not compete him there. Olsen trained with Kyra Kyrklund and produced the horse to Grand Prix level.

They made their international debut at the 2006 CDI Oslo and also rode in Flyinge that year. In 2007 they competed in Addington, Saumur, Hartpury and Hickstead before heading to the European Championships in Turin, where they scoed 61.417% in the Grand Prix for 53rd place.

Lyndal Oatley

The horse came in training with Patrik Kittel, a former student of Kyra Kyrklund. While he was off to compete at the 2008 Olympic Games, his girlfriend at the time, Australian Lyndal Oatley, began riding Potifar and there was a match.

Carol and Sandy Oatley bought the bright bay gelding for Lyndal and he became her career starting Grand Prix horse.

They premiered at the 2009 CDI Hagen and rode in Wiesbaden, Lingen, Aachen and Hansbeke that year. In 2010 he put her for the first time on the Australian team at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, where they were 46th in the Grand Prix with 65.574%.

In 2011 they helped secured Australia's Olympic team place by winning the Regional Olympic qualifier in Ermelo, The Netherlands. In 2011 they rode in Hagen, Lingen, Munich, Aachen and Wroclaw.

Their last CDI together was the CDI Bremen in February 2012.

Retirement

Potifar was retired from competition sport at age 15. He was diagnosed with Cushing's disease.

"Sadly Cushings Disease and Allergies halted his career and he lived his days with Patrik’s and my oldies here with us," said Lyndal. "After losing his best mate a few months ago at the age of 28, Weltspiel, Pot never really bounced back from his loss and it was time to let him join his best mate."

"Pot" was instrumental in Lyndal's career as a high performance athlete.

"Pot taught me everything," she said. "With him you had to throw away the rule book and purely react and focus on him … and I am so thankful for that as to this day my lack of nerves is thanks to him. He was quirky, cheeky and affectionate with the loudest snore you have ever heard. Pot was my first championship horse taking me to Kentucky in 2010. He was many firsts .. my first Grand Prix, First Special, First Freestyle, Patrik s first 10. He was also instrumental in securing Austalia’s team placing for the London Games producing arguably our best test ever for a 71%."

Oatley concluded, "whilst there is a huge hole left by both my special boys, I find some peace that are together and lived their lives to the full."