Maria Paes do Amaral Loses D.J.

Tue, 11/22/2011 - 18:01
Portuguese Dressage News

Portuguese dressage rider Maria Paes do Amaral has lost her Grand Prix horse D.J. following complications due to laminitis. Maria's grey NRPS gelding (by D-Day x Aktion x Farn) was 15 years old.

Officially registered under the name One More Time, D.J. was originally competed at FEI level by Dutch based British rider Camilla Sygall. She sold D.J. to Paes do Amaral in 2009 so the Portuguese could make her transition from Young Riders level to Grand Prix.

Maria and DJ competed at such shows as the 2009 CDI Verden, 2009 CDI Pompadour, 2009 CDI Strassen, 2010 CDI Vidauban, 2011 CDI-W Lipica, 2011 CDI Biarritz, and 2011 CDI Milan.

The pair was in Portugal preparing for the 2011 CDI Arrudo dos Vinhos in December when DJ started to founder.

"He was working well, in the same routine as always," Paes do Amaral told Eurodressage. "One morning he foundered in his box and we  immediately called the vet, who immediately started treating him."

Initial treatment by veterinarian Galiza Mendes seemed successful, but DJ's condition suddenly worsened and the horse was trailered to a local equine clinic. Unfortunately he could not be saved.

"I can not describe you how bad I felt losing a friend and how much I miss him," Maria added. "He was a great horse, with whom I learned to ride Grand Prix. I had fun riding him every day."

Related Links
DJ Sold to Maria Paes do Amaral
Portuguese Teams Selected for 2007 European JR/YR Championships
Maria Caetano, 2008 Portuguese Grand Prix Dressage Champion