A sad update from the world of equestrian sports: the multiple medal winning mare Weihegold will be retired from competition sport at the end of 2021, or the beginning of 2022. Christine Arns-Krogman, owner of the 16-year-old Weihegold, has confirmed that Weihegold might do a few more shows, but is definitely going to retire and return home to become a broodmare.
Weihegold, a 16-year-old Don Schufro x Sandro Hit mare, made her breakthrough in the year 2013. Under the trainer of Isabell Werth, she won the Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals, and claimed the Louisdor Cup in 2014. After Werth had only competed her once at international Grand Prix level, she immediately took over riding Weihegold. Little did she know: this mare would become a dressage superstar.
In 2016, Weihegold not only placed 6th in the CDI-W Grand Prix in Amsterdam, but her rider Werth also secured sports rights on the mare for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. Weihegold immediately took over the number one spot in Werth’s barn from Don Johnson, with whom Werth won at the 2015 European Dressage Championships in Aachen. At the time of Weihegold’s rise to fame, Werth’s favourite, Bella Rose, was recovering from a devastating injury.
Weihegold and Werth not only won the World Cup Finals three years in a row (2017, 2018 and 2019), but won team gold and individual silver at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, and also took home double indivudual gold at the 2017 European Dressage Championships in Gothenburg. After Bella Roses’ recovery in 2018, Weihegold lost her place as number one in Werth’s barn.
Just six weeks after the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Werth and Weihegold were reunited again: they wonn team gold, Grand Prix special silver and placed fourth in the Kur at the European Dressage Championships in Hagen.
But after their amazing winning streak together, it’s time to say goodbye. Weihegold’s owner, Christine Arns-Krogman, has stated that the mare, who will turn 17 in 2022, is going to retire. Arns-Krogman and Werth have not yet decided when Weihegold will have to say goodbye. “Initially it is thought that we will go to Lyon, Stockholm and Frankfurt. Whether we will say goodbye to her in Frankfurt, where her “great” career began, or whether she will only have her say goodbye in Leipzig at the World Cup has not yet been decided.” says Arns-Krogmann. One thing is for certain: no matter when or where she says goodbye, it’s going to be an emotional farewell for anyone who loves equestrian sports.
Source: Eurodressage
