Bonfire Dies at Age 30

11 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Bonfire Dies at Age 30
Bonfire has died at the age of 30. With Anky van Grunsven, the Oldenburg gelding competed in three Olympics and two World Equestrian Games.
Bonfire has died at the age of 30. With Anky van Grunsven, the Oldenburg gelding competed in three Olympics and two World Equestrian Games.

Bonfire, the Oldenburg gelding that Anky van Grunsven rode in three Olympics and two World Equestrian Games, has died at the age of 30.

Anky wrote in a Twitter report: “My heart is broken. Bonfire died.”

Bonfire (Welt As x Praefectus) and Anky won team silver for the Netherlands at the 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta and Sydney 2000 Olympics as well as individual gold in Sydney and individual silver at Atlanta. The partnership won individual gold and team silver at the 1994 WEG at the Hague and team and individual silver at the 1998 Rome WEG.

Anky won her first of nine World Cup Finals on Bonfire in Los Angeles and 1995 and went on to win another four World Cups on the horse that was oficially named Gestion Bonfire.

Sjef Janssen, her husband, told the Dutch equestrian newspaper Hoefslag: “He was always a tremendous fighter for us.”