Top dressage pony dies

Former British dressage team pony Forester’s Gold died suddenly in Spain recently.

Ridden by Anna Alrinan, Forester’s Gold had just claimed the national championship in Badahoz, when he died of a heart attack.

The 11-year-old British-bred pony was a member of the British European pony team for four consecutive years.

By the Trakehner sire Narval De Pujas out of a New Forest pony, he was bought from his breeder as a just-broken four-year-old by Ollie Barr and subsequently produced and ridden by Ollie’s daughter Kate Willings.

The combination won two team bronze medals and were the highest placed members of the British team on both occasions. In 1999, partnered by Laura Bechtolsheimer, Forester’s Gold was a member of the silver medal team.

He was sold to Spain last year when Laura moved on to horses.

Ollie Barr said: “He was a fabulous pony. He got us started and was everything to us; his pictures cover our walls.”