November 13, 2007 — After a career that includes three victories at the Rolex Kentucky CCI****, a team gold medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, team bronze and individual silver at the 2004 Olympics, a third place finish at the Badminton CCI**** in 2007 and wins at the 2000 Radnor CCI** and 2001 Blenheim CCI***, Winsome Adante’s owner, vets and rider have collectively decided to retire him due to soundness issues in a hind leg.
Owned by Linda Wachtmeister of Plain Dealing Farm and ridden by Kim Severson, “Dan” as he is known to his friends, has a nearly flawless record. Dan and Severson won the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** every time they contested it, both in the traditional format (with roads and tracks and steeplechase) and the new short format. He was named the U.S. Eventing Association’s Horse of the Year following his Rolex victories in 2002, 2004 and 2005.
“It was a hard decision but it was also an easy decision,” said Wachtmeister. “He had been in a stall for a long time because of a previous injury, and he wouldn’t have been ready for the Olympics. He needed to go out in the field and live the rest of his life. We had always hoped he would go to the Olympics again but I’m so proud of what he has accomplished. I never dreamed that my family would get to go to the Olympics because of him.”
After the 14-year-old English Thoroughbred sustained an injury to a hind suspensory ligament, Severson and Wachtmeister decided to retire him to Plain Dealing Farm in Scottsville, Va.
“He’s been so sound and done so much for us,” said Severson. “It was a difficult decision but we don’t want to hurt him and he’s happy now living out in the field.”
