Two-time Olympic team gold winner Bonaparte retired at the German Classic national horse show in Hanover, Germany, over the weekend of Oct. 22-23 according to Eurodressage.com. Heike Kemmer chose to retire the 18-year-old gelding in style by riding their well-known Beach Boys freestyle one last time for the crowd.
Bonaparte was part of the winning German team in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and the 2008 team in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, Bonaparte and Kemmer won individual bronze in addition to their team gold. They also took home team gold in the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.
The Hanoverian gelding came to Kemmer’s Amselhof Walle in Winsen, Germany, as a foal, and she trained him through Grand Prix. “At home he’s modest and reserved, but in the show ring he grows and always gives it his all,” said Kemmer.
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Lyme disease kept the Hanoverian gelding (Bon Bonaparte—Cattleya, Consul) out of the ring in 2010 and eventually led to his retirement.
Kemmer and “Bonni” showed in June of 2009 at the CHIO in Aachen. There, they took fourth in the Grand Prix Special and fifth in the freestyle. One month later, an injury forced Kemmer to withdraw from the selection process for the European Championships.
