Just days before a major international start, promising Grand Prix mare Dante’s Herzchen was lost to a devastating case of laminitis. Her death leaves a deep void in the hearts of her riders and the dressage community.
From Rising Star to Grand Prix Contender
Dante’s Herzchen, an 11-year-old Hanoverian mare, had all the qualities of a future championship horse—talent, charisma, and heart. Trained initially by Santiago Damil, she rose quickly through the ranks before being acquired by the Oatley family in 2021. With Lyndal Oatley, she delivered international victories and impressed judges with her elegance and expression.
In 2025, Lyndal passed the ride to her husband, Patrik Kittel, with the goal of giving the mare a consistent international campaign. Under his saddle, Dante’s Herzchen performed with power and precision—until fate intervened.
A Fatal Turn of Events
Shortly before her planned appearance at CHIO Aachen, Dante’s Herzchen returned from a routine turnout showing sudden and severe signs of lameness. The diagnosis: acute laminitis—one of the most feared conditions in equine medicine.
Despite immediate and intensive treatment, including round-the-clock care and pain management, her condition deteriorated rapidly. Within days, the inflammation and damage in her hooves reached a critical point. With no realistic hope for recovery and increasing suffering, the heartbreaking decision was made to euthanize her.
Her loss came not just as a shock, but as a devastating emotional blow to those closest to her. The mare had shown no prior signs of illness and had been in peak form leading into the competition season.
Mourning a Beloved Partner
Patrik Kittel paid tribute to her in an emotional farewell:
“We fought, you fought. But in the end, we had to make the decision no one wants to make. Sometimes, you have to choose mercy over hope.”
Lyndal Oatley described her as having “the heart of a lion” and reflected on their journey together with deep gratitude and sorrow. For the Oatleys, Dante’s Herzchen was not just a sport horse—she was family.
Source: eurodressage.com
