April 17, 2009 -- Farewell, Brentina.
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- Debbie McDonald wipes away a tear as she and groom Ruben Palomera lead Brentina out of the ring after her retirement ceremony.
- © 2009 by Nancy Jaffer
The chestnut mare who won two gold Pan American Games medals, a World Equestrian Games Silver, the World Cup finals and Olympic bronze took her final bow this afternoon.
She's been given the appellation "America's Dressage Horse," but to my mind, she'll always be the real queen of dressage (as opposed to a dressage queen!)
The minute Debbie McDonald rode Brentina into the arena at the Thomas & Mack Center, she began wiping the expected tears from her eyes with a white-gloved hand. The Hanoverian mare looked very well after a colic scare and operation during the winter that prevented her from doing her signature freestyle again, but it was enough that she was able to appear "in person" for her 6,431 fans, who saluted her often and enthusiastically.
Also there to greet her were her family; her owners, Peggy and Parry Thomas (Thomas & Mack is named after him) and their daughter, Jane; Debbie's husband, Bob; Adrienne Lyle, Debbie's assistant, and so many others who played a role in her life. Right beside Brentina was her devoted groom, Ruben Palomera, who looked as emotional as Debbie.
None of us will ever hear "Respect" and "She's a Brickhouse" without thinking of Brentina. As Debbie led Brentina out of the ring, the music to which she performed here so memorably at the 2005 World Cup finals was playing. Brentina knew what to do -- she began passaging and brightened the moment.
Next for her is life as a broodmare, though surrogates will be doing the heavy work of carrying babies. She'll have plenty of rest and relaxation, as well as the continuing devotion of her many nearest and dearest.
Debbie, as always, handled the occasion beautifully. She and Brentina had been together for 15 years, since she had been purchased as a 3-year-old. Debbie is retired from competition now, too, though she will continue to work with Adrienne and the Thomases horses, as well as giving clinics.
I caught up with her back at the stable to get her thoughts on how things went this afternoon.
Listen: Debbie McDonald
- Debbie and Bob McDonald with Peggy, Jane and Parry Thomas
I spent part of my day talking to people who admired Brentina to get their take on the "end of a chapter," as Debbie put it. Dr. Ludwig Christmann of the Hanoverian verband noted, "She was a very good ambassador for the Hanoverians. She stands for many qualities of the Hanoverian horse, like honesty and the willingness to perform. I think that made her very special."
Parry Thomas, dignified as always, summed up his feelings.
Jessica Ransehousen, a pillar of the dressage community, also had some thoughts.
Adrienne Lyle, Debbie's assistant, found the ceremony touching and emotional.
Everyone involved with Brentina was upbeat and grateful for having known her . I count myself among them. When I wrote the book, "Riding Through," with Debbie, I spent a lot of time watching her and Brentina and came to love the mare better known as Mama.
"It's been a wonderful ride," said Jane Thomas, Peggy and Parry's daughter, speaking for all of us whose lives Brentina touched.
"We've loved every minute of it."
