Ben Winter and Ispo. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Sandra Auffarth will take over the ride on Ben Winter’s former parter Ispo next season at the request of his family, she announced on her website today. The reigning World Equestrian Games individual gold medalist and Ben were close friends, and while she said the decision was not an easy one for her to make, she will ride the horse in his memory.
“Ben was not only a rider colleague, but also a very good friend. At the request of the Winter family, I took Ispo. Ben was always convinced of this horse. I will do everything with Ispo in his name and in his spirit,” she said. Her original comments in German can be viewed here.
Ben was riding the 10-year-old Westphalian gelding in his first CCI4* at Luhmühlen at the time of his death. With Ben in the irons, the horse placed 8th at Boekelo CCIO3* in 2012, 18th at last year’s European Championships in Malmö and third in the CIC3* at Wiesbaden this year.
