Three-time Kentucky 4-star winner Winsome Adante has died at the age of 26. He and rider Kim Severson won individual silver and team bronze at the 2004 Olympics, during a career in which he earned many more accolades. He was U.S. Eventing Horse of the Year, was inducted into the USEA Hall of Fame and was the USEA’s All Time High Point Horse Leader for more than 10 years.
Kim Severson and Winsome Adante during the horse inspection at Rolex Kentucky. (Photo©2005 by Nancy Jaffer)
As Kim posted on Facebook, “Every man gets an opportunity once in a lifetime.” – Will Rogers.
“My opportunity came in the form of a 16.1H bay gelding from England; his name was Winsome Adante, otherwise known as Dan, and sometimes lovingly referred to as Danimal the Wild Animal. So many of my firsts in the world of eventing came from my partnership with Dan: Badminton, Olympics, World Equestrian Games, Burghley, and more. Now, when I think back about our time together, two words come to mind: opportunity and gratitude. What an amazing, once in a lifetime opportunity to find Dan, and then be supported in our partnership by so many wonderful people.
Dan, thank you for your willingness to come to work every day, your unbelievable work ethic, incredible heart, and occasionally cheeky behavior that literally kept us all on our toes! Thank you for being my partner, friend, and making my childhood dreams and ambitions come true.
Heartfelt gratitude to Linda Wachtmeister (along with her family: Bob, Lucia, and Benita Strini) of Plain Dealing Farm, who purchased Dan and supported us along the way; thank you all for your friendship.
No partnership works alone, and ours was supported by many wonderful people in which I would like to give thanks: Molly Bull, Lili Bennett, Caroline Goldberg, the team at Plain Dealing Farm, Dan’s breeders, Janet and Chris Gooch, Dr. Keith Brady, Dr. Brendan Furlong, Butch Sclater, Todd Meister, Steve Teichman, Scott Anderson, and Jan and Craig Thompson who made that fateful call about a horse for sale in 1999.
Thank you to our sponsors, coaches, team members, event organizers, event volunteers, and fans who played an important role in our journey in their own way, and cheered Dan on from the sidelines.
“A great horse will change your life. The truly special ones define it…” – Author Unknown
Rest in peace, Dan. You were truly special, you were loved, and you will be missed.”