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Chacomo
December, 2001

Chacomo, Aachen, 2000
Photo with permission Bonnie Rombach

December 5, 2001 It was sadly confirmed that Chacomo has been put down.

November, 2001 A severe loss for German team gold medal winner, Alexandra Simons-de Ridder - her top horse, the 12 year old gelding, Chacomo, with which she won team gold in Sydney, was retired as a consequence of an inoperable tumor behind the lungs. The horse had been suffering from health problems for quite some time and was unable to take part in this year's European Championships in Verden. Chacomo was considered one of the dressage sport's outstanding horses. The loss of "Chacomo" leaves Alexandra Simons-de Ridder without an appropriate mount for championship team competition and she will for the time being no longer be a team member.

Chacomo was born in 1989, a Holsteiner gelding sired by Calypso I, out of Paranka v Marmor.

CHIO Aachen, 2001, was his last competition where he finished 6th in the Grand Prix Freestyle with 77.19%.
9s Total 11
9s Technical Extended canter, extended walk, one-tempis,
9s Artistic Rhythm, choice of music, choreography, degree of difficulty
8.5s Artistic Rhythm, harmony, choreography, choice of music, degree of difficulty
8s Technical Collected trot including half-pass right and left, extended trot, collected canter including half-pass right and left, two-tempis, passage, extended walk,
8s Artistic Degree of difficulty, choice of music, choreography

Chacomo won Aachen in 1999, competed at Sydney winning a team gold. Simon Bain's comments: Alexandra & Chacomo absolute harmony with minimal movement and minimal display of the aids by the rider. The canter pirouettes I saw them do one day in training seemed so close to my idea of perfect that I had tears in my eyes
Alexandra & Chacomo were tied with Ulla Salzgeber and Rusty in total points after the Grand Prix Special at Sydney. The German Team Chef d'Equipe had to decide which pair would compete in the Freestyle because only three competitors were allowed to advance per country. Ulla and Rusty were chosen because they had the better Grand Prix Special score and they came from behind to win the individual Bronze.

Bonnie Rombach on 2000 CHIO Aachen Kür: Chacomo and Alexandra Simons de Ridder were so elegant, I just watched. The pouring down rain didn't seem to faze them at all. Music was Neil Diamond including Stargazer. The crowd appreciated music they knew and could even sing along

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