Donnperignon, Anna Kasprzak's 17-year old Finnish warmblood gelding and double Olympic mount, has undergone a second, major eye operation on Saturday 12 November 2016.
Kasprzak had to withdraw Donnperignon (by Donnerhall x Mozart) from the 2016 CDI-W Odense in October when the hors began experiencing problems to his right eye, similar to those he had in May 2014 to his left one.
The Kasprzak family acquired Donnperignon from Christoph Koschel in 2011 with a pre-existing eye condition which was then very treatable with medication. In 2014, however, the horse gradually lost sight in that eye and had to be operated on. At the time the surgery was conducted by American Brian Gilger, professor of Ophthalmology at North Carolina State University, and Danish eye specialist Susanne Kaarsholm at thee Højgaard equine clinic.
Unfortunately, the same problem has now returned to the horse's right eye and he had to undergo a similar operation.
"Despite being operated on 2,5 years ago, the same illness had hit his right eye and this time more aggressively," Kasprzak explained. "We had no other option but to put Pepe on the operation table. He is doing well under the circumstances and should be ready to go back into the ring next year."
Related Links
Donnperignon Withdrawn from 2016 CDI-W Odense, Eye Issue Returned
Anna Kasprzak's Donnperignon Operated On