Gigolo FRH, the famous dressage mount of Olympic equestrian Isabell Werth, was euthanized on September 23, 2009. The liver chestnut Hanoverian gelding was 26 years old when he died, following a recent injury.
A prized equine, Gigolo partnered with Isabell Werth for two decades to win four gold and two silver Olympic medals, four World Equestrian Game championships and several European championships. The horse was retired shortly after the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Penning a tribute to Gigolo on her own website, Isabell Werth said this: “To me he was a friend, a teacher and a sport partner. His reliability and his commitment were most outstanding.”
Gigolo (Graditz x Bunett) was bred by Horst Klussmann of Germany in 1983. After his stunning competition career, Gigolo was retired at Isabell Werth’s Rheinberg, Germany, stable.