Sabine Becker's Lamarc WRT Passed Away

Dressage

Germany

Lamarc WRT, the one-hit-wonder of German Grand Prix rider Sabine Becker, has passed away at age 28.

Lamarc was an Oldenburg gelding by Leggiero out of Odessa (by Kronprinz xx x Vollkorn xx). He was bred by Gerold Terhorst.

From Young Horse to Grand Prix

Lamarc was discovered as a 3-year old by Sabine Becker and Wilhelm Hasslinghaus. Becker trained him up to Grand Prix level and was coached by Jonny Hilberath.

Initially Becker shared the ride with Hasslinghaus when Lamarc was five in 2001, but as of 2002 she competed him exclusively and took over full care of the horse as she never wanted to sell him.

The pair's national Grand Prix debut was in 2005 when the dark bay gelding was 9. She premiered him in the big tour in Borken. She was 9th in the 2007 German Championships for Professional Dressage Riders and seventh in 2008. Their international Grand Prix debut was at the 2008 CDIO Rotterdam, after which they went to Verden, Flying and Oldenburg.

They scored their first international victory at the 2009 CDI Bremen and a month later they won at the CDI Dortmund with a 69.146% earning Grand Prix test. They scored their third CDI victory in Oldenburg in November that same year. In 2010 they became B2-squad listed and placed 8th in the Kur at the 2010 German Grand Prix Championships

Metabolic Issues

In the autumn 2010 Lamarc started developing health issues. The sensitive gelding became lethargic, his legs were swollen, lost appetite and developed hoof abscesses. In the spring of 2011 Lamarc’s career as a dressage horse seemed over, and even worse, it looked like he was in danger of his life if the cause for his problems could not be found.

Becker finally realized that it was a food allergy, namely oats. She stopped feeding them to Lamarc and the situation quickly improved. The different health problems were a consequence of his metabolism not working properly. He was first fed hay, carrots and alfalfa and slowly barley and corn were added to his diet as he returned into training.

Come Back

The pair returned to showing in the late spring and placed 15th in the Special at the 2011 German Championships. They made its international come back in Falsterbo in July 2011, where they were second in the Grand Prix and won the freestyle. From there they went to the CDI's in Verden, Donaueschingen, Oldenburg and Stuttgart.

Their last year together was in 2012. They were B-squad listed and competed in Bremen, Hagen, Wiesbaden, Aachen, Donaueschingen, Oldenburg, and Stuttgart. Their last international start was at the CDI Bremen in March 2013.

Retirement

Lamarc WRT was retired from competition sport at age 17 and Becker was no longer seen at international shows.

She continued nationally with Grand Prix horse Rubin 544 (by Rubioso N x Monsieur AA) in 2013 riding just a handful of shows. Between 2016 and 2019 she showed Sibelius (by Stedinger x Weltregent H), Rosanna WRT (by Connery x Consul), Desiree (by Don Larino x Rubinstein), and Frohlich (by Filius Bedo x Montmartre). Her last competition start was in May 2019. Becker is now focused on her professional career as a saddler.

Upon the passing of Lamarc a week ego, she wrote, "when that one horse comes into your life and became the chief. He tells you the path and fulfils your dreams. He decided the tempo. When you listened to him carefully, you felt harmony and could celebrate mutual success. I experienced the most beautiful shows with him and he took me on journeys. Lamarc taught me to listen, to feel, to examine, and to give back, to let him do his thing and to value him.

She continued, "I had promised him never to send him away, to give him everything I got, and never to let him suffer. At the end I hope I did it all well."