Robynne Graf's Der Kleine Hit Passed Away

Dressage

Switzerland

Der Kleine Hit, Robynne Graf's international junior riders' horse, has passed away. He was 17 years old.

Der Kleine Hit was a 2009 born Hanoverian gelding by Diamond Hit out of A La Bonne Heure (by alabaster x Glückspilz). He was bred by Simon Kohlenbrenner.

Markus and Robynne Graf

The bay gelding was first competed in Germany as a 4-year old by Sandra Kötter before selling to Switzerland.

Swiss Grand Prix rider Markus Graf produced the Hanoverian up the levels. He debuted him in competition in March 2016 at a show in Buchs at L-level. In 2017 they competed at M-level and by March 2018 they reached Prix St Georges level. Markus premiered the horse internationally at the CDI Nice in October 2018 at small tour level, finishing second and third. He continued to compete the horse nationally through June 2019.

A two-year break from showing followed for Der Kleine Hit. He returned to the national ring in June 2021 with daughter Robynne in the saddle at M-level. In 2022 Robynne competed the horse at international junior riders' level at the CDI's in Ornago and St. Margarethen. The CDI Ornago in June 2022 was the horse's last CDI in his career. He did get nominated as reserve for the Swiss team for the 2022 European Junior Championships but Robynne took her first horse, Domino.

Der Kleine Hit continued to show nationally with Robynne through 2023. A one-year break followed and in 2025 he became a schoolmaster for Lia Kilchenmann who rode him at three shows at L-level between June 2025 and March 2026.

Untimely Passing

Unfortunately the gelding passed away on the weekend of 5 September 2026 due to laminitis.

"He had laminitis before, but luckily fully recovered from it," Robynne told Eurodressage. "After my junior years he was still being ridden by me and some of our working students. After some time it showed that Lia had a good connection to him, so they participated at a few competitions."

Graf explained that a new bout of laminitis was too much for him and despite all veterinary help, it was decided in the best interest of the horse to put him to sleep.