At the age of 30, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum's legendary Shutterfly (Silvio I x Forrest xx) has passed away. 

With Michaels-Beerbaum in the saddle, Shutterfly made history when winning the FEI World Cup Final three times – in Las Vegas in 2005 and 2009, and in Gothenburg in 2008. The pair also won individual gold and team silver at the European Championships in Mannheim in 2007, and double bronze at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen in 2006. Furthermore, Shutterfly and Michaels-Beerbaum won the Top 10 Final twice; in 2004 and in 2006.

Their list of notable victories goes on and on, the pair won the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen in 2005 and also brought home victories for Germany in the Nations Cup at the same venue on several occasions. Amsterdam, Berlin, Calgary, Hickstead, Lucerne, Lyon, Munich, s'Hertogenbosch and Stuttgart were some of the other big venues where the two recorded Grand Prix, Nations Cup and World Cup wins. 

After having won the prestigious Prize of Europe at CHIO Aachen in 2011, Shutterfly was retired later that same weekend with a standing ovation from fifty-five thousand fans. Since then, he has enjoyed his retirement at Michaels-Beerbaum's farm in Thedinghausen, Germany.

On her official Instagram account, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum paid tribute to Shutterfly and wrote: "It is with a very heavy heart that I am sad to announce that we lost Shutterfly this morning. He was a unique and irreplaceable part of our lives. I was lucky enough to spot Shutterfly as an immature and gangly talent at age 6 during the show in Rastede. He came to my stable a few months later. I was fortunate enough to share the next 24 years of his life with him. We just recently celebrated his 30th birthday. Shutterfly aka “Petey” started as a doubtful, unsure youngster and blossomed into one of the greatest horses to ever live. He won 3 World Cup Finals, 2 Top Ten Finals, the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen, amongst many other prestigious titles. He brought me to the top of the World Ranking list, as the only women ever, where I was able to enjoy #1 for 24 months. Shutterfly won the Preis von Europa in Aachen against the best in the world at age 18, just before his retirement ceremony there in front of his adoring crowd. We will miss the kind and sweet-hearted Petey who stuck his nose in the baby carriage and softly nuzzled my daughter Brianne just days after she was born. I am sure that caress gave her the passionate love for horses she has today. I will miss you my friend and I appreciate every moment I had with you. You were the greatest partner anyone could ever have. You will never be forgotten Petey. Rest in peace my love." 

At World of Showjumping, our thoughts are with Meredith and her entire team, as well as all those close to Shutterfly.