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Rembrandt
October 31, 2001

Rembrandt at his retirement celebration
Stuttgart, 1996

Rembrandt, who competed in three consecutive Olympics (Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, and Atlanta 1996) winning both Team and Individual Gold at Seoul and Barcelona, has died at the age of 24. Rembrandt, a Westfalian gelding by Romadour II, was purchased at the age of three for his life time partner, Nicole Uphoff. Rembrandt's dam, Adone, was a full-sister to Ahlerich, Dr. Reiner Klimke's Olympic gold medalist at Los Angeles.

They began their Championship career by winning the Individual and Team Gold at the European Young Rider Championships in 1987. In addition to her father, Nicole trained with Uwe Schulten-Baumer who also coaches Isabell Werth; Klaus Balkenhol; and Harry Boldt.

In 1994, Rembrandt won the Grand Prix Special at Steinhagen, his first competition after a near career ending injury when he was kicked by another horse during an award ceremony at CHIO Aachen. Surgery for the broken bone was successful.

Nicole and Rembrandt did not make the German team for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics but were allowed to compete as an individual under the rule that allows the previous Individual Gold Medalist to defend the title. The Freestyle debuted in Atlanta to determine the individual medal winners. Rembrandt was 9th in the Grand Prix with a 70.04 and 8th in the Grand Prix Special 73.02 -- good enough to qualify for the Freestyle, but he did not pass the vet jog and Nicole withdrew him from the final. He was retired after the 1996 Olympics.

Stuttgart German Master, 1995
74.20 Grand Prix, 75.16 Grand Prix Special

In our Celebrity Chat on April 18, 1999, Nicole Uphoff told us about Rembrandt:

KyraBeth: How does Rembrandt like retirement?
Nicole: He is such a workaholic I was really scared he would be bored. We rode him each day and then he went out to the pasture. Last summer he became really lazy and really enjoyed being turned out. He really enjoys his pasture. It is lined with big chestnut trees. He's like the keeper of the gate.
KyraBeth: So Rembrandt is at the stud farm with you?
Nicole: Yes, I would never leave him alone.
KateP What are your plans for Rembrandt?
KyraBeth Rembrandt plans -- he is happily retired -- the only thing I want for him is to enjoy his life, he worked so hard in his life, I want his retirement to be as good as possible. We had very good offers to sell Rembrandt but we decided we wanted me to ride instead of just making money.
KateP Do you still ride him?
Nicole: Yes. I ride him occasionally but now that he is enjoying his retirement so much, I don't ride him every day. I could never have sold Rembrandt -- I could not imagine selling him. I have a funny story about Rembrandt. There was a phone call at the farm about a stud, then the man said, "Oh my girlfriend would have her birthday next week and she wants to ride Rembrandt next week. How much will it cost?"
And I said, "Pardon, do you really think I rent him? Please, forget it." I was really shocked that someone would think I would rent him to anyone to ride.

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