Patrik Kittel has secured the ride on the 9-year old Swedish warmblood mare Deja (by Silvano) as a 2016 Olympic hopeful. Owner Marie Haward entrusted the Swedish rider with the horse for the next three years.
"Deja always impressed me from the word go with her natural talent, good brain, and sweetness," Kittel explained. "As training progressed, so did my opinion of this talented mare, who with me has already won PSG with an impressive score."
Bred and owned by Marie Haward, Deja is by Kittel's former Grand Prix horse Silvano out of Donellie (by Don Schufro). Deja was trained by Anne Svanberg as a youngster. The mare won the 2009 Swedish Young Horse Championships and represented Sweden as a 6-year old at the 2010 World Young Horse Championships in Verden, where she finished 10th in the finals.
The bay mare arrived in Kittel's barn a year and a half ago and though she was initially there to be sold, the owner has now decided to pull her off the market and keep her in training with Patrik.
"I have had the pleasure of riding many horses over my career, and some leave a lasting impression. Deja is such a horse and I can not be happier that Marie Haward put her trust in me with her lovely mare over a year and a half ago," said Kittel.
Kittel will be competing Deja in the small tour at the 2013 CDI Hagen mid April.
Photo © Astrid Appels
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