Jeroen Devroe's Grand Prix horse Paganini passed away this morning following complications due to colic. The 14-year old Rhinelander gelding suffered a bout of colic this weekend, which led to kidney failure.
He was transported to Tom Mariën's private equine clinic for treatment but could not be saved. The gelding was euthanized in the morning of 1 December 2008.
Jeroen Devroe and Paganini were Belgium's most succesful Grand Prix dressage combination so far. They were Belgian Grand Prix champions for the first time in 2002 and then three more years in a row (2005-2007). They competed for the Belgian team at the 2005 European Championships in Hagen (GER), the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen (GER), the 2007 European Championshipships in Turin (ITA) and the 2008 World Cup Finals in 's Hertogenbosch (NED). They qualified as individual pair for the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, but Paganini had to be pulled out of the running in June due to a strained tendon.
It was this minor injury which led to the deterioration of Paganini's health. The suspensory was treated in June, but Paganini reacted badly to the treatment and got laminitis. Over the months, the dark bay gelding lost weight. This weekend's colic attack was most likely the result of this atrophy.
"I'm absolutely devastated," Jeroen Devroe told Eurodressage. "We tried everything to get him well again, but we couldn't get him back in shape. I'm in shock."
Paganini was a 14-year old Rhinelander gelding by Pavarotti van de Helle out of Noushka van de Helle (by Sheyenne de Baugy x Ramiro x Gotthard). He was bred by Stoeterij van de Helle. Devroe bought Paganini as a youngster and competed him successfully in the FEI young horse tests. They were the best performing Belgian pair at the 2000 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses.
Photos copyrighted: Hippofoto - Eurodressage
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Jeroen Devroe and Paganini at the 2000 World Young Horse Championships