Most
of the dressage lovers know what it is to be struck
by horses performing in other disciplines than dressage.
The beauty and strength of a horse might be highlighted
best in classical dressage, but in showjumping, eventing
and in freedom the horse rays out magic as well.
The first horse I was totally crazy about in my youth
was Black, aka Shetan, in The Black Stallion. Yet, the
magic of the show ring offers temperamental show jumping
mares an easy place in my heart. They stand out by their
strong character when confronting obstacles (cf. Pialotta).
The eventers that dazzled me the most were Murphy Himself
and Jaybee.
It was was great sadness that I read in Horse and Hound
that Jaybee was put down at the CCI Pau. Jaybe
stole my heart when the super young bay TB won the 1999
CCI Badminton with much courage and bravery.
Horse and Hound reported the following:
Ian Stark's great event horse Jaybee has been put down
after fracturing his sesamoid bone during the steeplechase
phase of the Pau three-day event.
Jaybee was assessed by team vet Jenny Hall at the French
event before being transferred to Newmarket, where the
injury was found to be beyond repair.
Owned by Lady Hartington, the 12-year-old brown gelding
won Badminton and team gold at the European Championships
in Lumühlen in 1999 and team silver at the Sydney Olympics
with his regular rider.
"Jaybee was a great little horse with enormous character.
He will be much missed by all of us," said a devastated
Ian.
--Astrid Appels
info@eurodressage.com
