Heartbreak as medal-winning horse Famoso OLD put down

Benjamin Werndl and Famoso OLD pictured at the 2022 World Championships in Herning. — Benjamin Werndl and Famoso OLD at the 2022 World Championships.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Famoso OLD, the world team bronze medal-winning ride of Germany’s Benjamin Werndl, has been put down following a field accident.

“I don’t want it to be true. And yet I have to tell you with a heavy heart, Famoso is no longer alive,” said Benjamin today (3 April).

In 2022 Benjamin and Famoso were part of the German team at the Aachen Nations Cup, finishing second. That year they made their championship debut at the World Championships in Herning, where they were on the team that won bronze, alongside Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz, Frederic Wandres and Duke of Britain and Ingrid Klimke and Fraziskus. The following day Benjamin and Famoso went on to record a personal best grand prix freestyle score of 85.89%, for individual fourth.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

TOPICS

Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.

‘The undisputed king’: heartbreak as medal-winning horse put down after accident

Benjamin said the 15-year-old Farewell III x Welt Hit II gelding fractured a leg in the field.

“We don’t know exactly how it happened,” he said, adding that there was “no chance of it healing”.

Benjamin said his “world has collapsed”.

“He was so special. So intelligent, mischievous, playful, cheeky and sweet. And so talented. We still had so much to do, especially this year,” he said.

“He came to us in Aubenhausen at the age of seven. His owner Flora Keller entrusted him to me and I quickly realised that he was something very special.”

Benjamin said technical work was “very easy” for Famoso, so piaffe and passage soon became their “favourite lessons”.

“I will never forget this feeling on him, this lightness, this melting in the movement and this joy of walking,” he said.

Famoso made his international debut with Benjamin at the Mariakalnok CDI3* in Hungary, where they won the prix st georges. The following year Famoso stepped up to international grand prix.

The pair were selected for the German squad, and Benjamin said although “minor injuries set us back from time to time, they never stopped us”.

“2022 was our year; a dream come true for me. I had the feeling back then that he not only gave everything for me, but even more,” said Benjamin, who added that last year the pair had an “unintentional break”, but were ready to “attack again this year”.

“He was 15, in his prime and very fit. But things turned out differently,” he said.

Benjamin added that Famoso “always loved being the centre of attention”, and his groom Aniko granted his “every wish”.

“He was the undisputed king in my stable and made all the horses and people around him feel this in a loving and mischievous way,” said Benjamin.

“He really enjoyed his life in Aubenhausen and I would have loved to give him so many more years with us.”

You might also be interested in:

‘There’s a lack of transparency’: Richard Davison on FEI rule changes

Solo British entry for FEI dressage World Cup Final as Jessica von Bredow-Werndl will not defend her title