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‘My career would be completely different if it wasn’t for her’: farewell to London 2012 Olympic horse aged 23

Pippa Roome Pippa Roome

    • Andrew Heffernan’s London 2012 Olympic ride Millthyme Corolla was put down last week at the age of 23.

    The British-bred mare, with whom Cheshire-based Dutch rider Andrew finished 33rd individually in 2012, and contested the 2011 and 2013 European Championships, last competed internationally in 2017.

    “She did everything for my career – I strongly believe my career would be completely different if it wasn’t for her,” said Andrew, who is now Dutch team coach and a rising star in the cross-country course-design world.

    “She put me in the spotlight and gave me opportunities to go to five-stars and championships. She gave me a huge amount of experience at the top of the sport and I’d certainly never have been Dutch coach without her.”

    Millthyme Corolla (Elsa) was bred by Lester Miller at Millthyme Stud, by Millthyme Cappucino out of a mare by Dallas. She was owned by Martin and Kerry Richards, Carol Baguley and Andrew.

    “The owners had a few horses with me before her. They bought her as an unbroken two-year-old and had her started – she was quite naughty and they asked if I’d have her,” said Andrew.

    “When I first had her, I really wasn’t convinced about how good she was. I suggested to Martin we’d be better off investing the money in something else and he said this was the last one they were going to own so let’s make the most of it. That encouraged me to keep persevering with her. She wasn’t the most talented, but she was a proper trier.”

    “Her courage, toughness, and unwavering willingness were second to none and I know I will never sit on another cross-country horse quite like her. She carried me around countless five-stars and championships with such honesty and bravery, always giving me the most incredible, exhilarating rides while looking after me every step of the way.”

    Andrew Heffernan and Millthyme Corolla jump a cross-country fence at Barbury.

    Andrew Heffernan and Millthyme Corolla competing at Barbury. Credit: Peter Nixon

    Elsa also started at Badminton Horse Trials three times, finishing 21st in 2014 on her debut.

    “She was difficult and had a bit of a temper,” Andrew told H&H. “I’ll never forget on our last run before London 2012, she trotted down the centre line at an open intermediate, pawed the ground and left the arena. She was very fit and I obviously didn’t have her quite where I wanted her.

    “She had her own way of doing things and plenty of temperament, but that spirit was her saving grace, too.

    “After her cross-country at our first Badminton, my mother-in-law Debbie King and wife Millie were leading her back from cross-country when someone asked them when she was going cross-country because she looked so full of it!”

    Andrew named that Badminton as one of his favourite memories with Elsa.

    He said: “It was Giuseppe della Chiesa’s first year as designer and a wet, windy, horrible year. The course was probably the biggest track I’ve ever jumped. I think we were 20th to go and ended up being only the fourth one to get round. She dug so deep and several people said if it wasn’t for me going round, they wouldn’t even have started.

    “The opportunity to ride at the London Olympics was a really fantastic experience too.”

    Andrew said the first time Millthyme Corolla was noticed was when she went round Bramham Horse Trials CCI3* (now CCI4*-L) clear in 2011 as an eight-year-old.

    “She was so impressive in how she did it and Hans Melzer, who was then the German coach, mentioned her to the Dutch coach as one to note,” said Andrew, who went on to ride at his first championship with the mare, the Europeans in Luhmühlen Horse Trials, that year.

    Elsa spent some of her retirement with Sue Davies and Janette Chinn at Pewit Hall and later spent time at Andrew’s base and with his pupil Mary Thelwell. She had one foal, a chestnut by Jaguar Mail, who is now seven and eventing with Andrew – she is called The Mail Lady and owned by Martin and Kerry Richards.

    “She has many of the same characteristics as Elsa,” said Andrew.

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    Pippa Roome
    Pippa Roome

    H&H magazine editor and eventing editor
    Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
    Pippa Roome

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