Canadian WEG team rider Karen Pavicic has sold her only Grand Prix horse, Don Daiquiri. The 15-year old Oldenburg gelding will continue his competition career under Israeli Sahar Daniel Hirosh.
The dark bay Don Daiquiri is bred by Hans Georg Kaiser and is by Don Cardinale out of Neastate III (by Rubinstein). He was owned by Pavicic in partnership with Jayne Essig.
Karen got the ride on Don Daiquiri when he was a 6-year old and the pair made its international Grand Prix debut in February 2013 at the CDI Burbank. In 2013 the Surrey (BC) based Pavicic competed on the American West Coast but in 2014, in order to pursue team selection for the World Equestrian Games, she went down to Florida to compete.
After a spring campaign in Europe (Compiegne, Achleiten), the duo qualified on the Canadian team and finished 41st in the Grand Prix at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, France. In 2015 Pavicic rode at CDI's in Wellington, Wiesbaden, Mallorca, Fritzens and Devon. Two spots were available for Grand Prix riders on the 2015 Pan American Games' Canadian team, but they went to Trussell and Lane.
Their last show year together was in 2016 and Pavicic actively pursued one of two individual spots available to Canadians for the Olympic Games in Rio. The pair even flew to the CDI Fritzens in Austria in a last-minute attempt to qualify for Rio, but they ended up third in the Canadian ranking behind Trussell and Lane. Pavicic sued the Canadian Federation and filed a complaint with the FEI for unethical behaviour and judging bias. She lost the case.
Pavicic and Essig have now sold Don Daiquiri to American Beth Palmgren and U.S. based Israeli Sahar Hirosh. The later will be competing the Oldenburg.
"We have spent countless loving hours together over the past 9 years and it has been worth every moment," said Pavicic. "I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to have this once in a lifetime horse in my life. Dono has greatly impacted my life, taught me many lessons that I am grateful for, and fulfilled many of my lifetime goals. He is an extraordinary horse and he will have a place in my heart forever."
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: Don Daiquiri
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Canadian Team Selected for the 2015 Pan American Games
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