WCYH Finalist Ulysse, aka Utility, Passed Away

Dressage

The Netherlands

The 2007 World Young Horse Championship finalist Ulysse, who continued his show career at FEI level under the name Utility, has passed away at age 19.

He was a 2001 born Dutch warmblood by Jazz out of Rocaille (by Rouletto x Waldsee). He was bred at Stal High Top and lost owned by Charlotte Kruiniger.

The horse has had three names in life time. The breeder named him Uletto, it was then switched to Ulysse, and finally it became Utility.

Ulysse's career in the spotlight started with the stallion licensing. He got AES approved and went to the third phase for KWPN licensing

Under Esther Blok the black began his show career as a young horse. They were selected to represent The Netherlands at the 2007 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, where they were 13th in the Finals with 7.86 points, after placing second in the consolation finals with 8.0.

In 2010 Dutch junior rider Stephanie Kooijman began competing Ulysse and showed him at the CDI's in Zwolle and Moorsele.

In 2012 he sold to Carolyn de Roo of President Dressage Stables and his name was changed to Utility. Then young rider Stephanie Kooijman retained the ride and competed him at two CDI's that year: in Roosendaal and Moorsele.

In 2013 Utility sold to Dutch aspiring Under 25 rider Charlotte Kreuniger, who in the next few years also purchased a highly interesting group of dressage horses, including the Dutch Grand Prix team gold medal winning Uzzo (Patrick van der Meer) and the licensed stallion Chinook.

Kruiniger and Utility never competed internationally but focused on some light showing in The Netherlands. They went from Z1-level in Holland to the big tour.

Charlotte had retired Utility from sport only 1.5 months ago, but on 5 June 2020 she unfortunately had to put him down.

"Today our biggest nightmare became true and with a lot of sadness we had to let you go," Kruiniger took to Facebook. "I had so much joy with you all those years and you earned a longer retirement."