Isabell Werth riding Satchmo at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
© FEI
Isabell Werth’s Satchmo passes away
German dressage star Isabell Werth lost one of her key career horses over the weekend, with the passing of Satchmo at age 28.
Bred by Albert Kampert in 1994, Satchmo was by Sao Paulo out of Legata (by Legat x) and went on to become a very successful partner for Isabell.
In 2005, the pair achieved a then-World Record score of 79.958% in the Grand Prix, and the next year they won team gold, Grand Prix Special gold and Freestyle bronze at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, they won team gold and individual silver – missing out on double gold largely due to a buck in their freestyle test!
There were many other amazing results across the horse’s nine-year Big Tour career, before he was retired in 2011.
“With a heavy heart we had to say goodbye to Satchmo at 28 years old,” said Isabell via social media.
“My dear Satchi, even days before you were running happily with your beloved Kelly on the meadow when I was heading to the training camp for the World Championships in Herning. How nice to see you like that.
“The World Championships in Aachen, 2006 reminded me again what a unique experience we had there. What a feeling! Yes – in every respect – we’ve had enough of that in our time together.
“That I could not be with you at this crucial moment weighs especially heavy in my heart after 25 years together. Bon voyage my amazing genius fighter and thank you for everything.”
