The German para dressage staff is grieving the lack of championship medal-winning mare Nautika, who has died weeks earlier than she was resulting from 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 common type”.
“To resolve the matter, Nautika was subjected to a CT scan, which unexpectedly revealed severe problems,” a spokesperson for the German equestrian federation mentioned.
“For a number of days, every thing was tried to save lots of 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 have 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 have been on the staff that gained 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 character,” mentioned Nico Hörmann, German para dressage staff chief.
In a separate assertion, the German para dressage staff mentioned Nautika’s loss of life got here “far too early”.
“The grief of the lack of this particular horse runs nice throughout the staff,” the assertion mentioned, 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 mentioned: “We’ll always remember you, in my coronary heart Nauti will at all times have a really massive place.”
Regine Mispelkamp, additionally a member of the German para dressage staff, mentioned Nauitka was a pleasure to work with.
“Numerous charisma, character and an unlimited expression have been the traits of the little mare,” she mentioned. “Geared up with a tactful and even stride, the little mare carried her rider Martina safely, reliably and piously by each take a look at. Along with her typically very full of life temperament and her personal energy of opinion, she was a little bit 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 imagine it and need you, pricey mates, our condolences and a whole lot of energy. Nauti will at all times be in our hearts!”
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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. Keen about equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all points of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of alternative is showjumping, by which she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping reveals by to worldwide championships.
