Brave Comet – five-star runner-up and Olympic horse dies

5-star runner-up and championship horse Brave Comet, the journey of US rider Becky Holder, died ultimate Thursday (8 February) elderly 28.

Brave Comet used to be a gray former racehorse by way of Comet Shine out of a mare by way of Seat Of Energy. He and Becky (née Douglas) began competing in combination in 2002 and campaigned on the height point for the most efficient a part of a decade.

“Comet epitomised the rags to riches storyline, and his thoroughbred lovers cheered him on in all places he went,” Becky instructed america Eventing Affiliation.

“However it’s the issues now not within the public eye that I need to percentage and provides thank you for. He beloved turnout. He nickered extra loudly for it than any meal or deal with. When in England, [his groom] Aubrey Dunkerton would take him on sumptuous grazes and regularly would get caught out within the box when he refused to go back to the barn.

“He regularly walked briskly out to paintings, excited for the day’s adventures after which dragged his ft coming house, taking any likelihood to divert again out for a bit longer. Each time I used to be within the barn, he tracked me and watched me intensely. Each time I picked up the trot on him, I smiled.”

Brave Comet’s occupation integrated 5 finishes at four-star (now five-star) point, with 2nd at Kentucky 3-Day Match in 2008 and 3rd in 2010 his perfect effects. He travelled to Europe to contest his first four-star, Luhmühlen Horse Trials in 2005, and to Burghley Horse Trials in 2006, the place he used to be fifteenth.

The pair additionally represented america on the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong and the 2010 Global Equestrian Video games in Kentucky – the place he used to be denied what will have been his biggest end result when he used to be withdrawn from the maintaining field on the ultimate trot-up, having held particular person bronze place in a single day.

Comet used to be retired from top-level pageant in 2012 and gave Becky’s husband Tom a style for eventing at grassroots fixtures.

“He used to be highly spiced and sassy during his retirement,” mentioned Becky. “It used to be our utter privilege to present him the retirement he deserved.”

Becky recollects Comet’s quirks fondly – he used to be fearful of strains within the floor the place arenas have been rolled, and colored poles at the floor. He would chew his groom Aubrey Dunkerton’s trousers whilst being plaited and used to be a masterful get away artist.

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H&H mag editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand enjoy of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and global CCI2*-L point, and has labored within the trade on a height match backyard. Pippa enjoys not anything greater than immersing herself within the recreation on the best point, reporting from the five-stars and global championships, together with the Olympics.