Former British young rider Keri Bates has decided to retire her top horse Donna Parrina which has been struggling with soundness issues the past two years. The 15-year old mare will retire to become a brood mare.
The 21-year old Bates, who currently trains with Anna Ross-Davies, was an anchor on the British Junior Riders team with the black mare as of 2007. The pair competed at two European Championships, was 2007 national champion and won the CDI Addington three times.
At the 2007 European Junior Riders Championships in Nussloch, Germany, they were 7th in the Kur to Music Finals with 69.800%. At the 2008 European Junior Riders Championships in Azeitao, Portugal, they finished 9th in the Kur Finals with 69,200%. In the late 2000s the pair competed at the CDI Roosendaal, Odense, Moorsele, Wouwse Plantage and Le Toquet.
"I had an amazing five years with her with lots of ups and downs," Bates explained. "I owe so much to her! She is now going to be a full time mum and have some lovely foals."
Donna Parina is a Hanoverian branded mare by the legendary combination Donnerhall x Pik Bube II. This 2012 breeding season Bates will try to do one embryotransfer with her and have the mare carry one foal herself. The chosen sire is Dante Weltino (by Danone I x Welt Hit II).
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