Bella Rose, Isabell Werth’s “Heart” Horse, Retires in Emotional Ceremony at Aachen

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Isabell Werth riding Bella Rose in and emotional farewell gala for the 18-year-old mare that partnered for Olympic, world and European Championships gold. © 2022 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

AACHEN, Germany, July 1, 2022–Bella Rose, the mare that was Isabell Werth’s “heart” horse in Olympic, world and European championship gold medal rides was retired Friday night in an emotional gala before 6,500 spectators packed into the Deutsche Bank stadium that has been the scene of many of their top performances.

The crowd gave a standing ovation and clapped in unison as Isabell rode Bella Rose, now 18 years old, in a hallmark Freestyle performance twirling a hand to get the crowd into the performance.

Isabell Werth getting the crowd into the farewell Freestyle performance by Bella Rose. © 2022 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

Bella Rose was ridden by Isabell to gold at the 2014 World Equestrian Games but the Westfalen gelding went lame shortly after.

After 3 1/2 years of treatment, the pair returned to competition and won team and individual gold at the Tryon WEG in 2018, then team, individual and Freestyle gold at the Europeans in 2019.

Isabell and Bella Rose capped their partnership with team gold and individual silver at the Tokyo Olympics.

Madeleine Winter-Schultze, the owner, told Dressage-News.com that although the horse was in excellent condition Isabell wanted Bella to go out on top.

A sign of things to come–Isabell Werth getting the six-year-old Bella Rose used to show atmosphere alongside Edward Gal on Totilas at Munich in 2010. © Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

Weihegold OLD that shared the world No. 1 ranking with Bella Rose for several years and both competed by Isabell, retired at a ceremony at the World Cup Final in Leipzig, Germany in April.