After a period of mourning and a break, equestrian icon Isabell Werth will take part in a tournament again this weekend.
Riding star Isabell Werth took a break for more than three months, but now she has announced her return. The 56-year-old will compete at the Festhallen tournament in Frankfurt. There she saddles two horses.
Her partner Wolfgang Urban died in October at the age of 80. Werth then took a break. “She’s taking a rest period,” said national coach Monica Theodorescu. “She doesn’t want to ride in public at this time.”
Werth made her last start in September at the European Championships in Crozet, France. There she won gold with the German team and two bronze individual medals. She canceled originally planned starts such as the World Cup tournament in Stuttgart in November.
For her comeback, Werth is relying primarily on Wendy, who she wants to use in the Top12. The test is intended for the twelve best couples in the world rankings and is the successor to the Top10, which was held in Stockholm until last year. She wants Viva Gold for the final of the Young Horse Grand
Riding: “retired” horse Don Johnson is dead
Werth had just announced the death of one of her horses a few days ago. One of their most successful animals had to be euthanized. On social media she says goodbye with emotional words and remembers shared experiences.
“Unfortunately, we had to euthanize Don Johnson, the leader of our retired band, due to an incurable broken leg,” Werth wrote on Instagram.
The animal was 24 years old. Jonny was a “special character horse,” the 56-year-old continued. “My ‘sparring partner’ for almost 15 years, a centipede who became a model athlete.”
Werth said goodbye with memories of times together: “You were always there when there was a party somewhere and always good for a special dance performance. You remained true to yourself and to us until the end! Thank you for the special moments and years.”
Don Johnson was a Hanoverian gelding. The horse accompanied Werth at tournaments all over the world for almost 15 years. Between 2011 and 2019, Don Johnson took 55 victories in international Grand Prix tests. The gelding was also involved in several team European Championship medals.
Don Johnson’s active career ended in 2019. He continued as a horse “pensioner” on the farm of riding star Werth.