Brentina deceased
Probably no other pair shapes U.S. dressage like these two: Brentina and Debbie McDonald.
Together, the pair was able to compete in two World Championships and two Olympic Games. Likewise, they became the first U.S. pair to win the World Cup dressage finals.
Now the mare had to be euthanized at the age of 30.
Debbie McDonald announced the mare's death to the American dressage portal dressage-news.com.
Currently, McDonald is the national dressage trainer in the United States. "This horse has been everything to me. With the support of the Thomas family and training from my mentor Klaus Balkenhol, she became my partner. Brentina really made my dressage career," McDonald announced.
But the pair's history together did not start out so rosy. In 1994, the mare was purchased from Peggy Thomas at the Elite Auction in Verden.
It was she who brought the Brentano II- daughter to her new home.
There, the chestnut mare proved to be much more difficult. Numerous riders on the Thomas farm gritted their teeth at her and often had involuntary ground contact.
So a new solution was needed. That was Debbie McDonald. Although she had previously been more involved in show jumping competitions in the States, she took on the mare.
They became a dream team. Their first big win together was at the 1998 Pan American Games, when the two won gold. From then on, it was all uphill. Wins followed, both individually and with the team, at numerous championships around the world.
Certainly the pair's greatest sense of achievement came in 2003, when they made history. They won as the first pair of the USA the World Cup - final. A sensation!
Their last tournament success completed the then 18 year old on the occasion of the Olympic Games in Hong Kong 2008.
A year later, she was retired from the sport.
"She was treated like the queen that she is. She had a wonderful life." But now it was time for her to go."
Our goal was that under no circumstances should she ever have to suffer. As hard as that is for all those who loved her, we knew our only job was to make sure she was always well and happy. That was the least we could do for a horse that had done so much for us," McDonald announced.
Brentina lived to be 30 years old.
