‘A fighter to the tip’: last farewell to Olympic horse aged 29

The previous Olympic eventer Air Jordan, who additionally received world staff gold with Frank Ostholt, has died aged 29, a “fighter to the tip”.

The Hanoverian gelding, who was on the German staff that triumphed on the 2006 World Equestrian Video games and was often known as JoJo, had loved an extended retirement with Frank’s good friend Mirko Handrick.

“It was very troublesome to let him go,” Frank mentioned. “I owe a lot to JoJo; with out him I might not have turn into the rider and coach I’m at this time.”

Air Jordan, by thoroughbred stallion Amerigo Vespucci xx, was bred by Horst Wesch, and Frank took the reins when he was six, due to house owners the Vietor household.

In 2003, they received the German nationwide title at Luhmühlen, and a 12 months later they had been on the Olympic staff on the Athens Olympics, the place the staff completed fourth. In 2005 they had been on the German staff that received European bronze, they usually received the four-star (now five-star) at Luhmühlen in 2006, the 12 months of their world staff gold.

Different notable achievements embody twice profitable at Aachen, a complete of three German nationwide titles and ending second and third at two World Cup finals. In addition they completed eleventh at Badminton in 2007.

“The final success of the 2 collectively was a second place within the indoor eventing on the German Masters in Stuttgart,” a spokesman for the German equestrian federation mentioned. “In recent times, the chestnut gelding, who was match for a very long time, loved his retirement with Mirko Handrick, the place he shared his each day routine, steady and pasture with championship buddy Little Paint.”

Frank added: “He was as powerful as iron all through his life and a fighter to the tip, he was part of my life. I really feel very fortunate to have had such a beautiful horse for such a very long time.”

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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 exhibits by to worldwide championships.