‘What you possess in your coronary heart can’t be misplaced by loss of life’: farewell to prime mare weeks earlier than championship

The German para dressage crew is grieving the lack of championship medal-winning mare Nautika, who has died weeks earlier than she was as a consequence of compete within the Paralympics.

The 18-year-old mare and her 63-year-old rider Martina Benzinger had been chosen to characterize Germany collectively at a second main championship however Nautika had been discovered “not in her regular kind”.

“To unravel the matter, Nautika was subjected to a CT scan, which unexpectedly revealed critical problems,” a spokesperson for the German equestrian federation stated.

“For a number of days, the whole lot was tried to avoid wasting the mare, however in the long run it was unsuccessful.”

Martina and the Lipizzaner, a former driving horse, had been collectively since 2020 and had 28 worldwide wins collectively.

They had been chosen for the 2022 World Championships however needed to withdraw at brief discover, making their debut collectively as an alternative on the 2023 Europeans, the place they had been on the crew that received silver. In addition they took silver within the grade I particular person take a look at, and bronze within the freestyle.

“We’re all so very sorry for Martina. We all know how a lot Nautika meant to her and the way nice the loss is for her. Nautika was one thing distinctive in all her methods, an actual persona,” stated Nico Hörmann, German para dressage crew chief.

In a separate assertion, the German para dressage crew stated Nautika’s loss of life got here “far too early”.

“The grief of the lack of this particular horse runs nice throughout the crew,” the assertion stated, including a quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “What you possess deep in your coronary heart can’t be misplaced by loss of life.”

Martina stated: “We’ll always remember you, in my coronary heart Nauti will at all times have a really large place.”

Regine Mispelkamp, additionally a member of the German para dressage crew, stated Nauitka was a pleasure to work with.

“Lots of charisma, character and an unlimited expression had been the traits of the little mare,” she stated. “Outfitted with a tactful and even stride, the little mare carried her rider Martina safely, reliably and piously via each take a look at. Together with her generally very full of life temperament and her personal energy of opinion, she was just a little particular to take care of.

“We’re positive Nauti now has a spot of honour within the sky on the particular clouds, she definitely deserves it. We nonetheless can’t consider it and want you, pricey pals, our condolences and a variety of energy. Nauti will at all times be in our hearts!”

Isabell Nowak joins the German crew with Siracusa OLD, and Melanie Wienand and Lemony’s Loverboy are the brand new reserves.

You may additionally be thinking about:

H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Enthusiastic about equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all facets of the business, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of selection is showjumping, by which she competes her personal horses, and she or he additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping exhibits via to worldwide championships.