Parzival–Olympic, WEG, World Cup, European Championships Star–Dies at Age 26
1 year ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Parzival–Olympic, WEG, World Cup, European Championships Star–Dies at Age 26
Feb. 4, 2023
Parzival, the Dutch chestnut gelding that Adelinde Cornelissen admitted she had trouble steering after she found him in a field but went on to become a star at the Olympics, World Equestrian Games, World Cup and European Championships has died at the age of 26.
Adelinde laughed that when she first tried competing the horse Parzival was sometimes difficult to control and would jump over the dressage rails. Out of the ring? No before going in, from going around the outside!
She and Parzival formed a partnership to become a member of the Dutch team–at the same time as Totilas was ridden by Edward Gal on to center stage. At the 2010 European, Totilas led Holland to team gold with victory in the Grand Prix, Parzival was runner-up. Parzival then won the Grand Prix Special. Totilas took the Freestyle.
The World Equestrian Games in Kentucky a year later was marred for Parzival when he bit his tongue drawing blood in the Grand Prix and was eliminated. The Netherlands still went on to win team old with the three remaining combinations, led by Totilas.
Adelinde and Parzival went on the next two years to capture both World Cup Finals.
With Totilas sold in 2010 and Anky van Grunsven no longer competing in dressage after the London Games, Parzival and Adelinde continued to turn in top performances, sometimes with humor after a follow-the-leader series of off course errors at the 2013 Europeans,
However, Parzival stayed active until the 2016 Rio Olympics where, at the age of 19, he was retired during the Grand Prix, apparently stressed. It was the last competition for Parzival.
