British Grand Prix rider Georgia Stokes has lost her number one horse, Talented Mr Ripley, on 18 July 2020. He was 15 years old.
Talented Mr Ripley was a Holsteiner gelding by Nekton out of Lugana III (by Barnaul xx x Lord. He was bred by Manfred Pohling in Germany
After switching from eventing to dressage in 1999, the now 51-year old Stokes bought "Rippers" as a yearling for £1,800 in 2006. She trained him up to Grand Prix level herself.
They made their international show debut at small tour level at the 2017 CDI Keysoe where they won the Intermediaire I. That year they also competed at Hartpury and Hickstead.
In 2018 they moved up to Grand Prix level and made their debut again at Keysoe with a 66.935% in their first international GP test. Their consistent performances led them to being nominated on the British team for the CDIO Nations Cup in Uggerhalne in 2019, their first and only international on the continent. Their last CDI was in Hartpury in July 2019.
Stokes had competed Talented Mr Ripley at a national event in Britain in February 2020 before the corona lockdown.
On 8 July 2020, Talented Mr Ripley developed peritonitis and for nine days fought for his life. Unfortunately he did not make it.
"He battled hard for over a week, but he was so poorly, and his big beautiful heart just could take anymore," Stokes explained. "Lee Pritchard tried with all of his being to keep him alive for me, he worked tirelessly day and night to stabilise him to no avail. I never left his side night or day until the end. I will never get over loosing him in such a cruel way."
Stokes is "absolutely heartbroken and totally numb" about the loss of her "darling boy, my best friend, my dancing partner, my other half, my beautiful soul Ripley. I have no words to describe the physical pain not seeing his beautiful face again, never riding that incredible trot, never hearing him whinny for his breakfast, or bang his door for mints. He leaves a massive hole in my heart and my life."
Related Links
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Teams Known for 2019 FEI Nations Cup in Uggerhalne
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