Sophie Christiansen's Innuendo III Passed Away

Great Britain

British Paralympian Sophie Christiansen has lost Innuendo III, the international Grade I dressage horse she has been competing since 2019.

Innuendo III was a 15-year old British Sport Horse (SHBGH) bred gelding by Last Minute out of Glenmarie.

Tokyo Hopeful

Christiansen is one of the most decorated Paralympic Briish athletes having won 10 medals including eight gold across four Paralympic Games.

She purchased the gelding in August 2019 from Olivia Pack, who sold her horse to cover a deposit on a house.

Sophie began showing him internationally at the CPEDI Keysoe in October 2019. She campaigned him only in Great Britain during the corona years 2020 and 2021.

The pair was in the running for the 2021 Paralympics but dropped out of contention due to a veterinary issue right before Games.

Colic

On 13 March the gelding developed a colic and was transported to the equine clinic. Unfortunately he could not be saved.

“When I was told Louie was going into hospital I was already thinking about how to rehab him. I didn’t think things would go the way they did,” Christiansen told Horse & Hound. "I hadn’t broken the 80% barrier since 2016, so doing that really showed Louie’s potential. I was really sad not to go to Tokyo to showcase what his talent could be. It feels bittersweet that I never got to show off his full potential but he really taught me so much, in terms of how to ride a slightly spooky horse and how to get the most out of a horse."

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