Eventing
Superstar Winsome Adante Retired After an illustrious
career that includes three victories at the Rolex Kentucky CCI****, a Team Gold
medal at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games, Team Bronze and Individual Silver
medals at the 2004 Olympics, a third-place finish at the Badminton CCI**** in
2007, wins at the 2000 Radnor  CCI**
and the 2001 Blenheim CCI*** and countless horse trials victories Winsome Adante’s
owner, vets and rider have collectively made the difficult decision to retire
him due to soundness issues in a hind leg. (Kim and Winsome Adante are pictured
at the right. Charlie Mann Photo) 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. Incredibly consistent
in all three phases, Dan and Severson won the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** every time
they contested it. Victories in 2002, 2004 and 2005 proved that Dan was invincible
at the Lexington, KY, event, and he was also the United States Eventing Association’s
Horse of the Year following each of these victories. “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.” The
14-year-old English Thoroughbred sustained an injury to a hind suspensory ligament
and Severson and Wachtmeister determined that after all he has given them the
best thing for Dan would be to let him live in the field at 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.” ENDS Joanie
Morris
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