Mariett Retires During CDI5* Freestyle the Mare Won Twice
8 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Mariett Retires During CDI5* Freestyle the Mare Won Twice
WELLINGTON, Florida, Feb. 11, 2017–Mariett, the mare that made a miraculous recovery from a feared career-ending injury, was retired Friday night during the Adequan Global Dressage Festival the mare won twice.
The Danish Warmblood mare now 19 years old passaged and trotted around the arena by Danish team rider Lars Petersen with owner Marcia Pepper and about 2,000 spectators looking on.
Lars rode Mariett on Denmark’s team at the World Equestrian Games Games in Normandy in 2014 and the World Cup Final in Las Vegas in 2015.
Mariett was the only horse to win the CDI5* Freestyle twice since it was first staged at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center eight years ago as the only top rated event in the United States.
Mariett has been the most successful prize money horse so far on the Global winter circuit with more than $200,000 in earnings in five years.
Mariett (Come Back II x Sidney) was bought by Marcia Pepper a decade ago to compete at national shows.
In a freak accident that occurred in her stall at night, Mariett tore off much of a hoof that left a raw foot. Veterinarians figured the horse would not recover enough to go back into competition and feared infection.
Marcia opted to continue treatment and by 2011 Mariett recovered enough for Lars to work the horse at Legacy Farm operated by him and Melissa Taylor, his wife, in Loxahatchee, a community neighboring Wellington.
At the insistence of Marcia, Lars brought the Mariett back into competition in February, 2012. In the four years since, the pair started 72 times in CDIs including victories in CDI5* Grand Pix Freestyles in 2013 and 2015.
