Dressage rider Louise Bell has paid a heartbroken farewell to Into The Blue, with whom she went to the top in two disciplines – and who was her “soulmate”.
“Dynamo”, the horse bred by John Whitaker who went with Louise from standing working hunter champion at the Royal International Horse Show and Royal Windsor to grand prix dressage and British teams, suffered complications relating to a displaced colon and had to be put down yesterday (2 February), aged 20.
“I am in total devastation and heartbreak to tell you all that yesterday I had to say goodbye to my soulmate, the one and only Dynamo,” Louise said.
“You know there will be the day but after announcing his retirement from top competition last week in Horse & Hound I didn’t imagine the following week he’d be gone.”
Louise Bell took part in an H&H discipline swap challenge in 2011, which led to her permanent move from showing to dressage, and it was Into The Blue who was with her all the way. They enjoyed grand prix success across Europe, including at Olympia, and Hickstead and Windsor in their new discipline, and represented Britain in the Aachen Nations Cup.
“When you think about how much I’ve done with that horse it’s outrageous really,” she told H&H last month. “He was a brilliant show horse who went on to be an exceptional dressage horse. It’s kind of mind-blowing, the experiences I’ve had because of him. What other working hunter gets to do a personal best dressage test in Aachen and compete on Nations Cup teams?
“I still kiss him every day,” she added. “He annoys me like hell but I thank him every day for what he’s given me.”
Into The Blue was still enjoying competition last year, finishing fourth in the Wellington freestyle in June, but then had some time off owing to a mystery ailment, which turned out to be a fractured tooth.
Louise said today Dynamo was loved by many people, and “always lived like a king”.
“He always controlled the yard and his presence in the arena, whether showing or dressage, allowed everyone to see his awesome personality,” she said. “This horse took me to places most only dream of; and when I decided to take up dressage he came with me, he taught me and he tested me but I loved every second of him.
“He wowed the crowd, he wowed me every day with his beauty and strength and total love for me too. Anyone that was part of ‘team Dynamo’, I thank you on behalf of him, he is a horse never to be forgotten for his tremendous talent to have excelled in two fantastically successful careers, there will never be another quite like him.”
Louise said the fact the decision had to be made in Dynamo’s best interests yesterday made it no easier, especially coming less than a month after she lost her father.
“It has truly been an honour to have had him in my life for 17 wonderful years, there will always be a hole in my heart and a pain in my chest, and I need to be stronger now than I’ve ever been,” she said. “I cannot explain how sad and low I feel and I’m extremely lucky to have such wonderful friends in my hour of need, thank you… and as difficult it is writing this post I know so many of you loved him like me, but to say goodbye is the saddest thing to say.
“So till we meet again, Dynamo, and we will! Look after my dad and Rocky and the gang, and be free, be happy and be my Dynamo Bell for ever.”
- To stay up to date with all the breaking equestrian news throughout 2026, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website
You may also be interested in:
‘It was like riding a snake’: Louise Bell on the unlikely youngster who would take her to the top — in two disciplines
This week on The Horse & Hound Podcast, our dressage editor Polly Bryan chats to the effervescent Louise Bell about
The Horse & Hound Podcast: episode 12 – Louise Bell | Arthritis/DJD | News round up
‘Thank god I took on that challenge’: 14 things you might not know about showing star-turned-international dressage rider Louise Bell
From the ups and down, inspirations to weaknesses, here we find out a little bit more about showing supremo turned
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round
