Former British Grand Prix Champion Dolendo Passed Away

Dressage

British Dressage News

The former British Grand Prix champion Dolendo has been euthanized on Monday 13 July 2015. The Hanoverian bred Dolendo was 21 years old and sired by Donnerhall out of State premium mare Papermoon (by Pik Ramiro).

The chestnut gelding, also known as Donald, arrived at Carl Hester's yard as a 3-year old. He was owned by Mrs Ann Cory in partnership with Hester.

Under Hester's life partner at the time, Spencer Wilton, Dolendo won the Intermediaire I at the 2003 and 2004 British Championships and he became the 2006 British reserve Grand Prix champion. Dolendo and Wilton made their international GP debut in 2007. The duo competed at the 2007 CDI Hartpury, Hickstead, and Saumur. They also won the British Grand Prix Championship that year.

In December 2007 Carl took over the ride and showed the horse at the CDI-W London, followed by the 2008 CDI Vejer de la Frontera (Sunshine Tour) and CDI Hagen. Carl was short-listed for the British Team for the 2008 Olympic Games but the horse sustained an injury and was ruled out. Dolendo briefly reappeared on the scene in 2010 at the CDI Addington. It was his last international show. He won the Grand Prix with 69.660%.

The past four years Dolendo served as a schoolmaster for Julia Hornig and spent his retirement with her. He was euthanized as he was suffering from major discomfort due to old age.

"He had crippling arthritis in his neck, meaning that in this last week – even on heavy medication – he could no longer lower his head to the ground to eat grass. There was no choice – if I could I would have changed it," Hornig explained. "As Carl once said “Donald only likes to do one competition a year” – which is why I was lucky enough to inherit him for his last four years. Thank you Carl and Ann for giving me my horse of a lifetime."