Manitu N, the anchor pony of the British Pony Dressage team for many years, has been officially retired from competition. The 15-year old Manitu N was dealing with soundness issues.
At the 2006 European Dressage Championships in Saumur, France, he unfortunately had to withdrawn from the individual finals due to lameness issues after having won the team bronze medal under Samantha Harrison.
Manitu N was born in 1991 and is a Holsteiner bred riding pony. He is sired by Magnum out of Merci (by Legat x Lombard). The bay licensed pony stallion's international dressage career started in Denmark. He was member of the Danish pony team and won team bronze at the 1998 European Pony Championships in Le Touquet, France.
Straight afterwards he sold to Great Britian where we has the winning equine partner of pony riders Maria Eilberg, Lorna Edmonds, and Samantha Harrison. He won team bronze at the European Championships in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 and team silver at the 2000 European Championships.
"He will be greatly missed but now enjoys retirement doing stud work and fun jumping," said trainer Ian Woodhead, who imported Manitu N to Britain when the pony was seven.
Photo copyrighted: Astrid Appels / Eurodressage
Related Links
Coverage of the 2006 European Pony Championships
British Pony Team Selected for 2006 European Championships