British Grand Prix rider Alice Oppenheimer has lost her home bred Grand Prix horse Headmore Dirubinio.
Headmore Dirubinio was a 13-year old British Hanoverian bred gelding by Dimaggio out of Rubinsteena (by Rubinstein). He is bred by Alice's mom Sarah Oppenheimer.
From Novice to Grand Prix
Dirubinio was trained from novice to Grand Prix by Oppenheimer under the supervision of several trainers, including Charlotte Dujardin, Erik Theilgaard, and Claire Gallimore.
The pair made its national show debut in 2013 when the gelding was four and won the bronze at the 2013 British Young Horse Championships. Then a three year break followed as the horse was produced up the levels. They returned to the arena in 2016 at medium level and in 2017 moved up to Advanced Medium and Prix St Georges level. They were 7th at the 2017 British Championships at Advanced Medium level. In the spring of 2018 they were second in the Advanced Medium freestyle final at the British Winter Championships
A year break from showing followed as the horse was produced to Grand Prix level. Carl Hester trained him for six months. In March 2019 the pair returned to the arena for their first Inter II and in December 2019 they rode their first Grand Prix test.
The duo made its international show debut as a combination in 2021 at the CDI Wellington Heckfield, where they posted 67.283% in the Grand Prix. At the CDI Hartpury two months later they achieved 68.848% in the Grand Prix and were third in the freestyle with 71.690%.
At the end of 2021, Oppenheimer sent the sensitive gelding in training with Emile Faurie, who competed him once. Faurie did not find the right connection with the horse and Dirubinio returned home to Headmore a month and a half ago.
Freak Accident
Right after Christmas, Dirubinio had a freak accident at home.
"He shattered his pastern whilst being loose in the arena," Oppenheimer explained. "It has come as a complete shock and we are devastated. There was nothing that could have been done for him, such was his injury."
Oppenheimer described Dirubinio as a gentle giant, incredibly talented but not easy.
"Robin and I took a while to connect but when we did, the feeling with him was like no other, and you could just feel that the sky would be the limit for him one day," she said. "As we progressed with training, I did always feel that he was slightly too big for me, so we explored how we could give him other opportunities to fulfil his potential. He was a very sensitive horse and quite shy, so sadly we never had many opportunities to truly show what he was capable of."
This year Oppenheimer rode one international in Wellington Heckfield, presenting Caroline Dibden's Headmore Difinnity (by Dimaggio x ??) and Dirubinio's full brother, Amanda Radford's Headmore Dionysus (by Dimaggio x Rubinstein), at big and small tour level.
Related Links
Alice Oppenheimer's Headmore Dirubinio Allocated to Emile Faurie
Scores: 2020 British Grand Prix Championships
Eldorado and Romanno Stromboli Win 2013 British Young Horse Championships