Jodie Kelly's Young Rider Horse Weltkaar Passed Away

Dressage

U.S.A.

American Grand Prix rider Jodie Kelly said goodbye to her Young Riders' horse Weltkaar which took her to two North American Young Riders Championships.

Weltkaar was a 1990 born Hanoverian gelding by Weltmeyer out of Wiebke (by Weissenburg). He was bred by Gerd Lühr in Germany. He had two full siblings in Germany, Warren (1992 born, Carola Lampe) and Marie (1995).

Young Riders Horse

Weltkaar arrived in the U.S.A. at trainer Scott Peterson of Blythewood, SC, but he decided that the horse would be better suited for his then student Jodie Kelly.

“I sold him to her for a good deal but it was worth it to me because they are so good together,” Petersen was quoted saying in 2003.

The 18.2 hh gelding became instrumental to Jodie's budding dressage career as a second iron in the fire to her KWPN bred Manhattan (by Uniform). The pair was trained by Betsy Steiner at the time.

The tall chestnut proved his worth through his consistency and became Kelly's choice for the North American Young Riders Championships.

Jodie and Weltkaar in the 2003 Heidelberg Cup

In 2003 they won all three NAYRC qualifiers they had entered that year and went to the 2003 North American Young Riders Championships in Bromont, Canada, where they won team gold. Mary Haskins Gray became the NAYRC individual champion.

In 2004 the pair won individual bronze at the North American Young Riders Championships, which were hosted at Tempel Farms. Christina Beal was the individual gold medal winner there.

Jodie competed Weltkaar through 2006 at senior small tour level.

Second Career

In 2007 he took junior rider Lora Kay Witterstaeter to the USEF Dressage Festival of Champions in Gladstone and a fourth place finish in the U.S. Junior Riders Championships. They also represented Region 3 at the 2007 North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships.

Kay continued to compete the chestnut through 2016.

Retirement

Weltkaar was retired at Jodie Kelly's yard in Destin, Florida, where he continued to be a schoolmaster before a full field retirement.

Lora Kay on Weltkaar at the 2007 Festival of Champions

At age 30 he passed this week.

"He was as dignified and stately on his last day as he was when he was in his prime," said Kelly. "He was the epitome of a “gentle giant”. He touched more lives than I can mention on here and was so generous with his knowledge. There is no person who sat on him that did not learn from him."

Kelly stated that Weltkaar's personality touched many people in her barn and has was praised for being a "teacher" and "humbler."