Denver Equestrians

Isabell Werth's Olympic Champion Gigolo FRH Passes Away

The liver chestnut Hanoverian gelding was humanely putdown September 23, 2009. Gigolo's general health conditiondeteriorated rapidly following an injury and the veterinarian decidedit was in Gigolo's best interest that he was euthanized. "I'm so sad,"Werth said. "Gigolo became 26 years old and he accompanied me for over20 years. He was my friend, schoolkmaster and comrade. His reliabilityand willingness to work were two of his extraordinary traits. 26yearsold is a respectable age for a horse and I'm happy that I was able togive him a very nice retirement after his sport career."

Gigolo was bred by Horst Klussmann in 1983 and was by Graditz outof Bunett (by Busoni xx). He was acquired by Werth's initial sponsorand trainer Uwe Schulten-Baumer in 1989.

Gigolois currently the most successful dressage horse of all times. UnderIsabell Werth he also won Olympic gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlantaand he claimed individual Olympic silver twice. He was double WorldChampion and four times European and German Champion.

His stringof success started in 1991 when he won team and individual gold at theEuropean Championships in Donaueschingen. He achieved more gold at theEuropeans in 1993, 1995 and 1997. He won team and individual gold atthe 1994 and 1998 World Equestrian Games and team gold. He won Olympicteam gold in 1992, 1996 and 2000, individual gold in 1996 andindividual silver in 1992 and 2000.

Gigolo and Fabienne, a fewweeks ago Gigolo was retired from competition at the Stuttgart GermanMasters on 24th October 2000 and he enjoyed his retirement at IsabellWerth's stable in Rheinberg.

"Gigolo spent his days in the fieldwith his friend Fabienne," said Werth. "He was so decisive in my lifeand I can look back with great gratitude on our years together. I'msure Gigolo won't be forgotten."