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German Dressage News
Nadine Capellmann's Gracioso Retired
August 9, 2003
 Nadine
Capellmann has decided to retire her 18-year old Gracioso.
Despite the fact that Gracioso was still healthy, in
top shape and winning dressage classes, Capellmann pulled him back from competition as she felt herself "boycotted"
by the German Dressage Selection Committee. The FN-DOKR
did not to select Capellmann for the German Dressage
Team for the CHIO Aachen, nor for the 2003 European
Dressage Championships, even though she won the bronze
medal at the 2003 German Dressage Championships one
month ago and scored better than presently selected
team members.
In September 1995, the now 38-year old Nadine Capellmann
purchased Gracioso from her trainer Klaus Balkenhol
for a rumoured 1 million Deutsch Marks. Balkenhol discovered
the chestnut gelding by Grundstein and trained him to
Grand Prix level. Capellmann successfully took over
the reins of the very difficult Gracioso and showed
him at the 1997 and 1999 European Championships and
the 1998 World Equestrian Games, winning three times
team gold.
Gracioso will be officially retired in the autumn.
Image copyrighted: Arnd
Bronkhorst
Related Links
2002
CHIO Aachen: Capellmann and Gracioso, Still a Dominating
Pair
Capellmann
and Husenbeth, 2002 German Dressage Champions
Nadine Capellmann
and Farbenfroh
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