German dressage rider Katharina Birkenholz has to deal with a tragic loss. Her 16 year-old Grand Prix horse Don Androsso had to be euthanized due to a tumour on his spinal cord.
Katharina Birkenholz brought the Baden Wurttemberger bred offspring of Donnerschlag x Akzent II x Rokoko to the equine clinic Sudenhof to get him used to an aquatrainer that she bought for her yard. No one could know that her beloved dark chestnut would never return back home.
“It is the loss of my life”, said the shocked equestrian. “It happened so fast. He was in clinic by coincidence. Within four hours he lost total control over his body. There was nothing we could do. My phone rang Sunday morning and we immediately took the 700 km drive. But it was to late. I stayed with him until he closed his eyes.”
Don Androsso started his career under the saddle of Claudia Kaiser before Katharina discovered him. Her trainer Ludwig Zierer trained him up to Grand Prix level and in 2010 Katharina took over herself.
Together they became third at the Meggle Trophy Final in Dortmund 2013 and finished second in the freestyle in Ebreichsdorf 2014 and Hamburg 2013.
“He was the horse of my life and taught me everything. He never let me down and always gave his best. I can not bring in words what the loss of my best friend means to me. He would have deserved a long retirement in the field.”
Source: eurodressage.com
