Kroon Gravin, one of the great competition horses of the early 21st Century, has died in retirement at the age of 30.
The two-time winner of the American Invitational (2001 and 2002), ridden by Molly Ashe Cawley, also was the first U.S entry to win Berlin’s Eternit Grand Prix in 2000 and also was a winner the next week of the Audi Grand Prix in Maastricht, Holland.
Her resume includes a victory in the Grand Prix of Devon in 2001, the year before she won the selection trials for the USA’s World Equestrian Games team, but then withdrew due to an injury. She recovered and went on to continue her notable career.
Kroon Gravin. (Photo courtesy of Molly Ashe Cawley)
The Dutch warmblood mare (Grandville-Dalgravin X G.Ramiro Z) “picked her people and if you were one of the chosen ones, life was good,” recalled Molly, who enjoyed that privilege.
“If you weren’t, she wanted nothing to do with you and there was no changing her mind. She was afraid of people in general but she was such an incredible athlete. She taught me so much and I will always be grateful,” said Molly.
“She was just one of those special horses. I was lucky to have her.”
Kroon was retired in 2008, and spent her remaining years in Holland at the home of her farrier, Peter Van Houp and his wife Inge “so she got well-cared-for, always,” Molly emphasized.
“I will miss her always,” said Molly. While agreeing that 30 is a good age for a horse to reach, she said wistfully, “You could ask for forever, but you’re never going to get it.”