The 13-year old American-bred Hanoverian Pikko del Cerro HU will retire from competition sport due to an injury. The dark bay stallion (by Pik L x Rohdiamant) was competed at international Grand Prix level by Lisa Wilcox.
“Unfortunately, we discovered that Cerro has reinjured himself and has been withdrawn from the 2016 CDI Wellington 3* Grand Prix this week,” informed owner Anne Sparks.
Lisa Wilcox planned on competing the horse during this year’s Olympic trials in hopes of making it onto another United States Olympic Team. “Making the US team was always our goal for the horse. Cerro has won so many championships along the way and that was the one thing we felt was missing from his résumé.” Due to his injury, a successful rehabilitation in time for Rio is not possible. “It is bittersweet for me as both an owner and a breeder. Together, we decided that it was in the best interest of the horse to suspend his sporting career in order to have a long, happy career at stud,” continued Sparks.
Born and raised in New Mexico, Pikko del Cerro HU is one of the most successful American-bred dressage horses to-date. The Hanoverian stallion amassed a lengthy record of wins. Those were earned both in-hand and under saddle, including a record setting score of 90 points at Dressage at Devon. He was also named Stallion Champion in 2009.
Cerro’s first championships under saddle came with his former Danish rider, Mikala Gundersen. “It is very impressive that Cerro has gone all the way from winning in-hand, at the age of two, to winning at the CDI Grand Prix level. This proves that if you breed a great horse, train it correctly and keep it in a program, you can be successful,” she says confidently. “I’m very proud of Anne for creating the horse, believing in him and making a commitment to realize his full potential.”
“Cerro was so much fun. I enjoyed bringing him up the levels and ending with a 6-year-old championship. Due to my Danish citizenship, I was not allowed to continue into the Developing Horse program but was very proud to hand over the reins to Lisa Wilcox so that he could continue his journey to the top of the sport,” explained Gundersen. Bringing along a young horse is usually an adventure and Gundersen’s experiences with Cerro were no different. “Cerro is such a character,” she chuckled. “As a young horse he could get pretty naughty in the warm-up ring but as soon as you went down centerline he pulled himself together and went for the blue ribbon.”
Once Lisa Wilcox took over riding duties on Cerro, it was clear that the match was ideal. Together, in their first try, the pair won the 2011 USEF Developing Horse National Championship. The following year they parlayed this success into yet another championship. Pikko del Cerro HU became a three-time National Champion after his win at the 2012 Inaugural USEF Developing Grand Prix Horse National Championship. As an FEI horse, Pikko del Cerro HU had victories in the CDI Small Tour classes and later at the CDI Grand Prix level.
“I’m grateful to Anne for allowing me to focus almost exclusively on Cerro’s athletic endeavors these past six years,” praised Wilcox.
Photos © Sue Stickle - Mary Phelps
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