Bella Rose, ranked as the world’s number one dressage horse with Isabell Werth of Germany, is retiring. The silver medal individual test she performed yesterday will be her last.
Isabell Werth of Germany and Bella Rose.
Breeding could be in the future for the 17-year-old daughter of Bellissimo M, who took Isabell to gold in the world and European championships in 2018 and 2019. She is Isabell’s favorite horse, who was a star at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games, then did not compete again until 2018 as she recovered from injury.
Tokyo was her first defeat since finishing second to Valegro in the Grand Prix at the 2014 WEG. Isabell cites the mare’s determination to dig in and give all she had as what made her great.
Isabell noted she was “completely satisfied” with her freestyle, adding she doesn’t have a monopoly on gold medals.
Interestingly, despite handfuls of world and European championships and World Cup finals wins, Isabell has won the Olympic individual title only once, in 1996.
