The Olympic, world and European medal-winning stallion Damon Hill has died aged 24, after a contented retirement.
The Donnerhall son, who with Helen Langehanenberg was on the German group that gained silver at London 2012, and group European gold a yr later, had spent his twilight years along with his proprietor Christian Beck’s household.
“Farewell to a really particular horse,” mentioned Christian’s daughter Jil Marielle Becks.
“Sadly, we needed to say our ultimate goodbyes to our beloved Damon Hill. Dami has had a satisfying and profitable life, characterised by massive moments within the dressage quartet.”
Damon Hill was skilled to grand prix stage by Ingrid Klimke. When Ingrid was injured in 2005, Damon Hill and Helen gained the five-year-old younger horse World Championships title.
In 2006, the stallion gained the six-year-old title with Ingrid, however the experience went to Helen in 2010.
They grew to become stalwarts of the German group, who additionally gained two particular person silver medals on the 2013 European Championships, group gold at that yr’s World Cup ultimate and group gold and two particular person silvers on the 2014 World Equestrian Video games.
They have been among the many few who might problem Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro of their heyday, beating them at Aachen in 2014.
“Each time you assume with him that issues are already excellent, he will get higher once more,” Helen mentioned after the 2013 World Cup Remaining.
Their partnership got here to an finish in 2014, when Christian mentioned Damon Hill would stand at stud. He additionally competed internationally with Jil.
“Dami was allowed to spend the final years of his life with us, the place he might take pleasure in his well-deserved retirement in the very best consideration and care,” mentioned Jil. “His expression, his character, his offspring and the recollections he gave us will stick with us for ever.”
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Helen Langehaneberg and Damon Hill.
Credit score: Peter Nixon
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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. Obsessed with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all facets of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of alternative is showjumping, through which she competes her personal horses, and she or he additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping reveals via to worldwide championships.
