Spanish Olympic Team Horse Grandioso Passed Away

Dressage

U.S.A.

Grandioso, Hampton Green Farm's flagship PRE stallion and a long-time team anchor for Spain, has passed away on 10 September 2026.

Grandioso was a 1999 born PRE stallion by Adelante out of Grandiosa (by Sevillano IX x Nevado IX). He was bred at Yeguada Marin Garcia.

Courtney King

Grandioso was discovered as a youngster in Spain by American Kimberly van Kampen-Boyer of Hampton Green Farm. She imported him in 2002.

The bay was initially trained by Maria Lithander and earmarked as an up-and-coming star for U.S. Olympian Courtney King-Dye. The pair had finished fifth in the 2009 USEF Festival of Champions at Small Tour and were preparing for their first international Grand Prix in 2010.

However, dreams were dashed when King sustained severe brain damage in a riding accident.

Grandioso was allocated in 2011 to Spanish Jose Daniel Martin Dockx who initially trained the horse under the supervision of Jan Bemelmans.

"Although the horse eventually returned to Spain to initiate his Grand Prix career, he was always followed and loved by the American dressage community, especially the PRE breeders and owners who felt that Grandioso was an inspiration for all that a well-bred, well-trained PRE sport horse could acheive," owner Kim van Kampen reminisced.

Spanish Team Horse

Under Dockx Grandioso the stallion made its international show debut in Nambroca in May 2011 and became one of Spain's team anchors, representing the country at the 2012 Olympics, 2013 and 2015 European Championships, and 2014 World Equestrian Games. They became Spanish Grand Prix champions in 2012 and 2014.

In February of 2016 Grandioso sustained an injury to his left hind leg during transport to the CDI Jerez. He was diagnosed with a tear in the tendon sheath and operated on by British surgeon Bruce Bladon. The horse was fit on time to participate in the final Spanish Olympic team observation trial in Aachen and secured his spot on the team for Rio.

At the 2016 Olympic Games Martin Dockx and Grandioso scored 70.829% and placed 34th. His score did not qualify them for the Grand Prix Special.

Retirement from Sport

Grandioso was retired from sport after the Rio Olympics and his retirement and career were celebrated in a special ceremony at SICAB in November 2016.

Grandioso spent his retirement at Hampton Green Farm in Florida and Michigan, U.S.A., where he covered a few mares while enjoying days in the field and getting pampered by grooms.

Kim van Kampen's 27-year old stallion was put to sleep on 10 September 2026 surrounded by his loved ones. Jose Daniel Martin Dockx spoke in tribute to the horse that shaped his career.

"Today I just wanted to publicly thank you, my friend! If I am who I am today, I owe it largely to you. Thank you for teaching me so much, thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn, and thank you for opening the doors to a world I often dreamed of but never thought I could reach. And you, small but mighty, made that dream a reality! You haven't left me alone; before you went, you made sure to leave me some children who will surely make you proud, and I promise I will do everything in my power to make that happen. Now rest in peace, my friend, and wait for me, because one day we will gallop through the skies together again."

Legacy

At his retirement ceremony at Sicab 2016

Grandioso will live on in his offspring. His most famous get are Grand Prix horse Mejorano HGF, who represented the USA at the CDIO Rotterdam Nations Cup with Kerrigan Gluch; Fiero HGF, who won the 2016 USDF P.R.E. All Breeds Award at Grand Prix with Nicholas Fyffe; and Santiago HGF, who qualified for the 2026 World Young Horse Championships.

To this date Grandioso is one of the highest scoring PRE horses that competed in international Grand Prix sport.