The 1993 born Oldenburg gelding Escapado (by Ex Libris x Ikarus x Sternjaeger xx) has been officially retired from competition and moved back to England to enjoy his retirement in the field at Carl Hester's yard in Hartpurty, Great Britain. Hester picked up the horse in Holland on his return on Sunday from the CDI Hagen.
The dark bay gelding is bred by Hartwig Müller in Germany and sold as a foal at the Vechta Elite Foal Auction. He was reared at Clemens von Merveldt's Gut Füchtel in Vechta and sold to Great Britain in 1999.
Escapado was instrumental in the launch of Carl Hester's Grand Prix career as a top 10 rider. The duo placed 13th at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and exceeded all expectations by finishing fifth individually at the 2005 European Championships in Hagen, Germany.
Dutch enterpreneur Ton Kies of Team Exquis immediately made an offer on the horse and Escapado soon after sold to The Netherlands to be Hans Peter Minderhoud's Grand Prix horse.
Minderhoud competed the bay gelding only a few times at international level as the horse was prone to injuries and stood at the sidelines due to a severel leg injury followed by a hoof injury. In 2007 they booked their first big successes when they won the Grand Prix at Outdoor Gelderland and finished third in the Grand Prix Special at the CDIO Aachen. In 2009 the pair was at their best finishing second in the CDI Grand Prix at Aachen and winning the CDI Kur.
"I owe much to Escapado," said Hans Peter Minderhoud. "He enabled my transition to Grand Prix and I'm grateful to my sponsor Exquis for buying Escapado at the time. Even though we had some bad luck, I was able to ride beautiful shows with him. I'm very happy that Escapado returns to Carl Hester where he can ejoy his retirement."
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: Escapado
Escapado Sold to The Netherlands
Carl Hester and Escapado Claim First World Cup Victory at 2004 CDI-W Mechelen
Royal Victory for Nathalie Zu Saeyn-Wittgenstein in 2009 Aachen CDI Grand Prix
First Victory for Hans Peter Minderhoud in the CDI Grand Prix Kur