Very sadly, Katie Dinan’s Amaretto D'Arco has passed away due to complications following colic surgery.

The 16-year-old stallion by Darco x Tenor Manciais jumped at the highest level of the sport; first with Shane Sweetnam before Dinan took over the reins at the end of 2013. Amaretto D'Arco brought Sweetnam to many podiums around the world during their time together, in Nations Cups, World Cups and Grand Prix competitions and continued to compete successfully at five-star level with Dinan over the following two years.

"Amaretto D'Arco was one of the most majestic creatures I have encountered in my lifetime. He was a true gentleman in and out of the ring who always took care of the girl on his back. I will never forget his extraordinary athleticism over the jumps, his brave and enthusiastic demeanor on course, and his kind and loving attitude in the stable. It was a privilege for me to ride such an exceptional horse following his fantastic career with Shane Sweetnam for Ireland. We can only hope that his legacy will be continued with his offspring in the next generation. Darco, I love you, and it is with a heavy heart we said goodbye too soon," Dinan writes in a statement to World of Showjumping.

Our thoughts go out to Dinan and Sweetnam as well as their teams on the loss of a wonderful horse.

Text © World of Showjumping // Picture © Jenny Abrahamsson