Vicki Thompson-Winfield's Olympic Ride Enfant Passed Away

Dressage

Great Britain

Vicki Thompson-Winfield's 1996 Olympic Games' ride Enfant has passed away. He was 34 years old.

Enfant was a 1986 born Dutch warmblood gelding by Ubis out of Vleuni (by Officier x Leonidas x Cavalerist).

He was bought by Elaine Smith for £4,000 euro in 1991 as a 4-year old and the ride was allocated to Vicki Thompson-Winfield. She trained with Franz Rochowansky.

They competed at the 1995 European Championships in Mondorf-Les Bains, teaming up with Carl Hester and Gershwin to win the pas de deux. Their career highlight was the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, where they rode alongside Richard Davison, Joanna Jackson and Jane Bredin.

“The Olympics was only his sixth test!” Vicki told Horse&Hound. “But he was always super quick and on the button. He was very active and always learnt quickly. But if he didn’t want to do something, nothing on this planet could make him. He always had his own agenda."

European Junior Riders Championships

On return from the Olympic Games, the decision was taken to give the ride back to the owner Elaine Smith.

A few years later Enfant was competed successfully at small tour level by junior rider Polly Hodges.

She went on to compete him at the 2000 European Junior Riders Championships in Lipica (SLO), where they finished 6th with the team, and at the 2001 European Junior Riders Championships in Iserlohn (GER).

Schoolmaster

In 2003 Enfant sold to young rider Rosie Moreton-Deakin through Carl Hester.

“Impy went on to be my first Grand Prix horse," Rosie told H&H. "He was amazing, a really clever little horse – at barely 16hh he was the original pocket rocket.

In 2006 Enfant was retired to the field at age 20.

“Eventually, it got to the point where he just looked old, and tired, and he wasn’t holding weight as well, and I knew it was time,” said Rosie. “He was such a grand old age.”