Hanoverian licensed breeding stallion and Grand Prix horse Rubino Bellissimo passed away at age 18. The chestnut stallion was euthanized on Monday 9 June 2014 after a short period of illness.
Bred by Jakob Janssen in Germany, Rubino Bellissimo was by Rubinstein I out of Bellissimo (by Bergkristall x Volturno xx x Saluto). He was reared at Gerd Knoop's Gestut Hoftehof and got licensed with the Hanoverian society. He became a state stud owned stallion and as a 4-year old did the 11-month Stallion Performance Test in Adelheidsdorf in 1999, scoring 112.32 points and finishing 9th out of 36 participants. His dressage index was 123,10 which ranked him 6th.
In 2000 Rubino Belissimo sold to Violet Jen in California, U.S.A. and as a young stallion was initially started by Michael Lieberg. As of 2001 he was trained and competed by American young rider team member Nicole Perry. The combination made its small tour debut in October 2003. In 2004, Rubino Bellissimo finished third at the U.S. Intermediaire I Championship in San Juan Capistrano.
In 2006 the duo made the transition to Grand Prix level. Rubino Bellissimo ended up with the honor of Reserve Champion at Grand Prix level for the U.S. Region 7 Championships. Perry and Rubino Bellissimo did their last show together in 2007 at the Los Angeles Winter Dressage show February 2007.
Rubino Bellissimo disappeared from the radar to make his return to the show ring four years later in April 2011 under young rider Riana Porter. Porter only competed the horse in 2011 and then the stallion again disappeared to make a final come back in February 2014 under U.S. paralympian Holly Bergay, who had leased the stallion from Jen. The duo showed very successfully in California for two months, achieving scores in the upper 60s and lower 70s at Grade IV level.
Bergay and Rubino Bellissimo travelled to Maryland on the East Coast three weeks ago to prepare for the 2014 U.S. Para-Dressage Championships in Gladstone with high expectations for a chance to claim a team spot for the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Two weeks ago the stallion showed some discomfort and a large mass was discovered in the hindquarters. It turned out to be cancerous and inoperable tumour.
"I don't have the right words to say what this horse means to me," said Bergay. "He was the most beautiful, sweetest, wisest, and strongest soul I have ever met. I felt lucky every day I was with him. I'll always remember him and what he taught me. Loving Rubino Bellissimo was the best experience I have ever had in my life."
"My heart is sadden to hear this news of my old friend Rubino Bellissimo passing," Nicole Perry wrote. "He was a horse who I owe so much to and brought me to goals I never thought possible!"
Photos © Mark Muntean, Paula Chmura, Lindsay McCall
Related Links
Scores: 2014 CDI San Juan Capistrano
Meet the Medallists: Louise Labrucherie, Nicole Perry and Ryan Hites
Wonderful Passed Away