Dressage Champion Bonfire Dies at 30

Bonfire was euthanized Monday (Oct. 28) due to complications from Cushing’s disease and laminitis.
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Olympic gold medalist Bonfire, equine partner to Dutch dressage rider Anky van Grunsven, was euthanized Monday (Oct. 28) due to complications from equine Cushing’s disease and laminitis.

“My heart is broken; Bonfire died,” Grunsven announced Monday evening via Twitter.

The 30-year-old bay Oldenberg gelding had been retired since 2002, two years after winning the gold medal in individual dressage at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Van Grunsven and Bonfire had previously won team silver medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, in addition to numerous other World Cup, World Equestrian Games, and European Championships titles.

“Bonfire already had problem with his adrenal glands for a while, and in the last few weeks he also had inflamed hooves,” said Ilse de Groot, a representative for van Grunsven. “He could barely walk or stand on his hooves

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Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

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