Ellen Whitaker ‘devastated’ after beloved dog disappears at show in Spain *NOW FOUND*
Update: Ellen Whitaker’s missing dog has been found and is now back with the Marinas Whitaker family.
Ellen thanked the public for their support in tracing Betty.
“Thank you so much everybody for your help,” she said. “We can’t thank you all enough! We are sure it’s because of Facebook that they let her go.”
Betty is found !!!! ? thank you so much everybody for your help. We can’t thank you all enough !!! We are sure it’s because of fb that they let her go. Thank you, thank you ???Posted by Mariñas Whitaker Equestrian on Monday, April 9, 2018
Ellen Whitaker and her family were “devastated” after their beloved pug went missing at a two-star show in Spain.
The British showjumper believed her pet was stolen at the event in Seville on Sunday (8 April).
A reward was offered for the safe return of the fawn-coloured bitch.
Betty is a close companion to Ellen, her Spanish showjumper partner Antonio Marinas Soto and their sons Harry and Frankie.
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Posted by Mariñas Whitaker Equestrian on Sunday, April 8, 2018
“We are devastated that it looks like someone has stolen our little pug,” said Barnsley-based Ellen.
“She loves her family and it’s extremely out of character for her to go anywhere without us. Our children are devastated.
“Any information or help would be very much appreciated.”
Betty was last seen at 8.30am on Sunday before she disappeared and was wearing a brown and red collar.
An influential rider
Ellen is the daughter of Steven Whitaker, John and Michael’s brother. She competed at her first affiliated show at the age of five and by the time she was eight she had qualified for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
She became one of the youngest riders to represent Great Britain when she competed at the European Championships in Germany in 2007 aged 21, jumping triple clear to secure team bronze for Britain.
Continued below…
Ellen Whitaker celebrates birth of first child
Showjumper Ellen Whitaker has given birth to her first child
William and Ellen Whitaker split puissance win at Olympia
William and Ellen Whitaker both clear 7ft2in to share puissance win on Friday night at Olympia
Ellen Whitaker is leading show jumper at HOYS
Ellen Whitaker is crowned leading show jumper of the year with Equimax Ocolado
Ellen has won numerous prestigious events including the 2007 and 2010 Hickstead speed derby and the 2009 HOYS puissance.
In May 2014, she had her first baby, Harry Marinas Whitaker. She and Antonio added Frankie Thomas Marinas-Whitaker to their family in March 2016.
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.