Hickstead (horse)
Infobox last modified on: November 7, 2011.
The dark bay stallion Hickstead (* March 1996; † 6 November 2011) was a jumping horse, which was considered at the time of his death as one of the most successful horses of the presence in the show jumping.
General
Hickstead is one in the history of show jumping with a won prize money totaling over 4,000,000 U.S. dollars to the winning richest show jumping horses of all time. He was introduced in the sport of Eric Lamaze, his owners were the Ashland Stables of Wellington (Florida ) and the Torrey Pines Stable his rider in the Canadian Schomberg (Ontario). In the years 2009 and 2010, Hickstead was according to the list of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses ( World Association of sport horse breeding associations, short WBFSH ) the successful jumper world.
In 2008 he was named in the Netherlands for " Horse of the Year ". In addition, he was posthumously elected along with Eric Lamaze, with more than 50 percent of the vote to CBC Sports Athlete of the Year 2011.
Life
Early years
Hickstead was born under the name Opel in 1996 when Jan van Schijndel breeders in Maren-Kessel, Netherlands. His 2010 deceased breeder described him as very smart, but not very large. At the age of four months, he was sold to Rinus de Jong, in which he remained until the age of two years.
As a two year old, he was sold to Conny van Stokkum which prepared him for the license of the Dutch Riding Horse and Pony Studbook (Nederlands Rijpaarden s Pony Stamboek, short NRPS ). Its name was changed to this In preparation: As a licensed stallion would have to start with the first letter of his father's name his name. Since Hicksteads owner was a fan of tournaments on the same show grounds, this name was chosen.
In his first years as a breeding stallion Hickstead covered about 40 mares per year. As a six year old, he was sold to the sponsor by Gerard Franssen, Franssens son rode him in a row in tests up to a height of 1.35 meters. As a result, there were several expressions of interest, the purchase, however, failed due to the size of the stallion.
The "big sports "
In the Stephex Stables in the Belgian Wolvertem it came to the first contact between Eric Lamaze and Hickstead. Lamaze was in Europe looking for new horses, he also held Hickstead initially too small and the required price too high. Since its further search yielded no results, he returned to Wolvertem, where he was convinced to purchase Hickstead. Back in North America Hickstead quickly proved successful show jumper, first victories followed in the spring of 2005.
In subsequent years, Hickstead was horse to success of Lamaze. This was followed by first Nations Cup participations and third place in the Grand Prix of Aachen in 2006 a first success of world renown. The next year brought a new career peak with them, doped with 1 million victory in the Canadian dollar CN International Grand Prix during the Spruce Meadows Masters in Calgary.
From victory to victory
Also in 2007, the first participation of Lamaze Hickstead fell at an international championships, the Pan American Games. Here scored the the silver medal with the team and won bronze in the individual rankings - a clear recommendation in relation to the Olympic Games. In the Summer Games of 2008, confirmed this: after winning team silver Lamaze and Hickstead be secured Olympic singles gold.
In the next few years a number of placings and victories followed up on CSI 5 * level. Outstanding in this case the Grand Prix of Aachen 2010: Immediately following several tournaments in Calgary, of which he ( CSI 5 * - ) won the last Grand Prix at Hickstead, both started in the main European Grand Prix in Aachen. During the first revolution of the Grand Prize Lamaze heard a crack at a landing, in consequence turned out that Lamaze had completed the second round and the jump-off with a broken foot. Despite this injury both won the test.
At the World Equestrian Games a few months later Eric Lamaze and Hickstead rank achieved five of the team classification as well as the bronze medal in the individual competition, with Hickstead was the best horse in the final horse change.
The first highlight of the year 2011 for Lamaze and Hickstead was the World Cup Final in Leipzig, which both finished in second place. In the summer of winning the Grand Prix of the CSIO 5 * followed - Nations tournament in Rome. In September 2011 Eric Lamaze and Hickstead were able to repeat the victory in the CN International Grand Prix in Calgary, it was the last victory for Hickstead in an international Grand Prix.
The end
After the victory in Calgary Hickstead won a tournament break and was brought to Europe in early November 2011. Here he took the first time in Verona at the CSI 5 * - World Cup tournament. Lamaze Hickstead brought in the World Cup test used. After completion of the first cycle of Hickstead collapsed under his rider and died shortly thereafter. As a result, a minute's silence was held at the request of the riders, the test was then terminated.
"We are shocked. This horse was in the past years the measure of all things. "
" Hickstead really was a horse in a million and my heart goes out to Eric and everyone connected with this wonderful horse. This is a terrible loss, but Hickstead truly will never be forgotten. We were very lucky to have known him. ( Hickstead was really unique. My heart goes out to Eric and all who had to do with this wonderful horse. This is a terrible loss, but Hickstead truly will never forget. We were very lucky to have known him. ) "
The exact cause of death was determined in a row by an autopsy. As previously suspected, Hickstead died of an acute aortic rupture.