Brentina
Encyclopedia
Brentina is an Olympic-level dressage
horse ridden by Debbie McDonald
.
, who was Hanoverian stallion of the year in 2003 and was second at his stallion testing. He has produced several impressive offspring, such as Barclay and Barclay II, Bone Dea II, and he is the dam-sire of Poetin
. Brentina is a full-sister to the stallion Barclay II.
Pedigree for Brentina
1991 Chestnut mare
. She was originally intended as a mount for Peggy, but as a young horse, Brentina threw Mrs. Thomas off and McDonald kept her as a ride. The mare has since had incredible success at the international level in dressage
, becoming one of the most successful U.S. horses in history, mainly due to her excellent work ethic and the partnership she shares with her rider.
In 2003, Brentina underwent surgery to correct a breathing problem, caused by a paralyzed windpipe, that restricted air intake to 30% of normal capacity.
After a mild tendon strain at the 2004 CDI*** in Dortmund
, Germany, McDonald and the Thomas' decided not to compete the mare in the upcoming Athens Olympics selection trials. However, due to their #1 standing in the USEF Grand Prix Rankings, and after a recommendation by Klaus Balkenhol, the U.S. Dressage Team Coach, the Committee on Selections of the United States Equestrian Federation added her to the short list for the Olympic Games
.
Brentina was also named to the 2006 World Equestrian Games
team. She completed the team competition, finishing with a very good score and helping the Americans to a bronze medal. However, her rider felt a few tentative steps during the extended trot, and decided not to ride in the individual competition, fearing it might be a sign of injury and another ride might lead to serious injury. After a full work-up in the States, scanning the tendon, the veterinarians found diagnosed the injury as a strain, and treated it with A Cell. Brentina is expected to fully recover and return to work.
On February 10, 2009, Brentina underwent surgery for colic. Luckily, McDonald reported a few days later that she was on the mend and recovering great. She remained at the veterinary facility until February 23rd.
Brentina was retired from competition on April 17th at the Las Vegas 2009 World Cup. There was not a dry eye in the arena as a scarf of roses was laid over Brentina's shoulders in celebration of the years they spent together.
Brentina has also been made into a Breyer horse model.
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
1999
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
horse ridden by Debbie McDonald
Debbie McDonald
Debbie McDonald is an American dressage rider who has competed in the Olympics and many international competitions. She now lives in Hailey, Idaho, with her husband Bob, a hunter/jumper and trainer. Debbie trains and teaches riders on Peggy and Parry Thomas' River Grove Farm in Sun Valley,...
.
- Foaled: 1991
- Color: ChestnutChestnut (coat)Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
- Markings: Star, sock off fore, half-stocking off hind
- Sex: MareMare (horse)A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
- Breed: HanoverianHanoverian (horse)A Hanoverian is a warmblood horse originating in Germany, which is often seen in the Olympic Games and other competitive English riding styles, and have won gold medals in all three equestrian Olympic competitions. It is one of the oldest, most numerous, and most successful of the warmbloods...
- Breeding: by Brentano IIBrentano IIBrentano II is an influential stallion who has sired several dressage horses. His offspring include the Olympic medalist Brentina, and now-deceased Poetin.* Foaled: 1983* Height: 16.1¾ hh* Color: Chestnut...
, out of Lieselotte (by Lungau) - Breeder: Wilhelm Rethorst from Badbergen, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
- Rider: Debbie McDonaldDebbie McDonaldDebbie McDonald is an American dressage rider who has competed in the Olympics and many international competitions. She now lives in Hailey, Idaho, with her husband Bob, a hunter/jumper and trainer. Debbie trains and teaches riders on Peggy and Parry Thomas' River Grove Farm in Sun Valley,...
- Owners: Parry and Peggy Thomas
Breeding
Brentina is by Brentano IIBrentano II
Brentano II is an influential stallion who has sired several dressage horses. His offspring include the Olympic medalist Brentina, and now-deceased Poetin.* Foaled: 1983* Height: 16.1¾ hh* Color: Chestnut...
, who was Hanoverian stallion of the year in 2003 and was second at his stallion testing. He has produced several impressive offspring, such as Barclay and Barclay II, Bone Dea II, and he is the dam-sire of Poetin
Poetin
For the President of Russia, see Vladimir PutinPoetin was a world-class dressage horse that was the 2003 World Young Dressage Horse Champion in the six-year-old division, and sold for a record amount at the PSI Auction in Germany....
. Brentina is a full-sister to the stallion Barclay II.
Pedigree for Brentina
1991 Chestnut mare
Dressage career
Brentina was sold to Peggy Thomas for 150,000 Deutsch Marks at the 1994 October Elite Auction in VerdenVerden
Verden can refer to:* Verden an der Aller, a town in Lower Saxony, Germany* Verden, Oklahoma, a small town in the USA* Verden , a district in Lower Saxony, Germany...
. She was originally intended as a mount for Peggy, but as a young horse, Brentina threw Mrs. Thomas off and McDonald kept her as a ride. The mare has since had incredible success at the international level in dressage
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
, becoming one of the most successful U.S. horses in history, mainly due to her excellent work ethic and the partnership she shares with her rider.
In 2003, Brentina underwent surgery to correct a breathing problem, caused by a paralyzed windpipe, that restricted air intake to 30% of normal capacity.
After a mild tendon strain at the 2004 CDI*** in Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
, Germany, McDonald and the Thomas' decided not to compete the mare in the upcoming Athens Olympics selection trials. However, due to their #1 standing in the USEF Grand Prix Rankings, and after a recommendation by Klaus Balkenhol, the U.S. Dressage Team Coach, the Committee on Selections of the United States Equestrian Federation added her to the short list for the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
.
Brentina was also named to the 2006 World Equestrian Games
World Equestrian Games
The FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for equestrianism, and administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale . The games have been held every four years, halfway between sets of consecutive Summer Olympic Games, since 1990...
team. She completed the team competition, finishing with a very good score and helping the Americans to a bronze medal. However, her rider felt a few tentative steps during the extended trot, and decided not to ride in the individual competition, fearing it might be a sign of injury and another ride might lead to serious injury. After a full work-up in the States, scanning the tendon, the veterinarians found diagnosed the injury as a strain, and treated it with A Cell. Brentina is expected to fully recover and return to work.
On February 10, 2009, Brentina underwent surgery for colic. Luckily, McDonald reported a few days later that she was on the mend and recovering great. She remained at the veterinary facility until February 23rd.
Brentina was retired from competition on April 17th at the Las Vegas 2009 World Cup. There was not a dry eye in the arena as a scarf of roses was laid over Brentina's shoulders in celebration of the years they spent together.
Brentina has also been made into a Breyer horse model.
Accomplishments
2006- Team Bronze at the World Equestrian GamesWorld Equestrian GamesThe FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for equestrianism, and administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale . The games have been held every four years, halfway between sets of consecutive Summer Olympic Games, since 1990...
(did not compete individually due to minor injury)
2005
- Farnam/ Platform • USEF Horse of the Year
- 3rd FEI World Cup in Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
2004
- Team Bronze Athens OlympicsEquestrian at the 2004 Summer OlympicsThe events of the Equestrian at the 2004 Summer Olympics featured three equestrian disciplines: dressage, eventing and jumping. All three disciplines are further divided into individual and team contests for a total of six events....
- 1st at the CDI*** Dortmund, Germany (won the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special)
- 1st at the U.S. Freestyle Championships/U.S. League Final
2003
- World Cup Final Champion (first U.S. pair to do so)
- 2nd Team/3rd Individually, Nations Cup at CDIO AachenAachenAachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
2002
- 2002 USET Dressage Grand Prix Championship
- Team Silver/Individually 4th at the World Equestrian GamesWorld Equestrian GamesThe FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for equestrianism, and administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale . The games have been held every four years, halfway between sets of consecutive Summer Olympic Games, since 1990...
in Jerez, SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... - 1st U.S. Freestyle Championships/U.S. League Final (best placing for the US Team or any US rider in years)
- 1st USET Grand Prix Championship/World Equestrian Games Selection Trials at the Festival of Champions.
2001
- USET Grand Prix Champions
1999
- Team and Individual Gold Medal winners at the Pan American GamesPan American GamesThe Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...