Olympic Medalist Equestrian Ulla Salzgeber Mourns the Loss of Grand Prix Star Herzruf’s Erbe

Among other equestrian disciplines, dressage requires much more dexterity. Speaking of that, while the horses and the riders spend a good amount of time trying to perfect their manoeuvres, their comradeship reaches new heights as well. Especially athletes who compete at the Olympic Games dedicate more time to ace their sport. One such legend made headlines recently, but the reason behind it wasn’t pleasant.

Ulla Salzgeber, the German athlete who has brought a good name to the dressage world, has had many horses with work with. Her Olympic equine named Rusty was her sole support until it hung its saddles after the 2004 Olympic Games. A year later, another stallion bid goodbye, her beloved Grand Prix-level, Herzruf’s Erbe. And now, the 65-year-old bereaves post the loss of her 24-year-old pillar of strength.

Ulla Salzgeber’s International-level equine meets an untimely demise

On January 5, 2023, the 24-year-old horse, Herzuf’s Erbe, has passed away. To commemorate him and his indomitable spirit, his career-long rider has penned, “After a long, fulfilling evening of life, you have now set out on your final journey. You were a very special horse and will always be so for me! Thank you for all the unforgettable moments with you! Take care, Herzi!” Ulla Salzgeber has also written, “Between genius and madness probably describes you best. Your character was unique – the path I was allowed to take with you was a very special journey. Every triumph was thanks to you and every low welded us even stronger together.” Words would fall short while describing what Erbe meant to Salzgeber.

In 2005, the duo’s path converged, making their international small tour debut in September 2006. Two years later, in 2008, the horse-rider pair made their national Grand Prix debut, just the way the latter had imagined. But going further, a couple of injuries Erbe had faced blemished their road to success.

The human-equine duo’s wobbly journey

Undoubtedly, equestrian Salzgeber’s penultimate Grand Prix horse was a perfect sport partner. Having made the international Grand Prix debut in at the CDI in Mariakalnok in Hungary in May 2008, they further clinched Grand Prix and Special title. But at the CDIO Aachen, the Rhinelander gelding had met with an injury, thus putting himself in a hiatus.

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Though he returned in 2010 to finish third at the 2011 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, a recent injury in 2012 had sent him for a year-long rehabilitation. Finally, returning to the national show in Gut Aichet on October 2013, and international show at the CDI Stuttgart on November 2013, Erbe didn’t stop until he won the Olympic qualifier in 2015. Later that year, the 2020 Olympic team gold medalist had announced Erbe’s happy retirement at 16, sending him to Hungary, where his predecessor Rusty had spent his last years, too. May Herzruf’s Erbe rest in power.

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