Simone Pearce and Destano. Image: Anett Somogyvari.

Simone Pearce and Destano reunite

By Equestrian Life

Australian dressage rider Simone Pearce has been reunited with her Tokyo Olympic partner, 16-year-old Hanoverian stallion Destano (by Brentano II x Imperator x Wenzel).

Simone rode Destano when previously based with Gestüt Sprehe in Löningen, south-west of Bremen. She then moved on to Gestüt Bonhomme near Berlin, and Destano remained at Sprehe and became a schoolmaster for Albert Sprehe’s daughter, Kristin Biermann. Simone has recently moved on to work for the Ritzinger family in Bavaria, and it was recently agreed that Destano could make the move south.

“The big boss Destano is back and there is nothing to say but thank you! A million times thank you to Gestüt Sprehe and [Sprehe’s dressage stable manager] Sabine Rueben for this incredible opportunity, to allow me to once again ride my ‘heart horse’ who was the one who changed my career.

“[Destano] took me to the Olympics, made the podium in the 5* at CHIO Aachen, broke all the Aussie records and allowed me to reach dreams I never thought possible; it is really a dream come true and I am still just blown away by the generosity of all of you.”

“And of course a huge thank you to Family Ritzinger who allow me to take such fantastic opportunities and with whom I’m so happy and proud to be building something really special with.

“Seeing [Destano] standing in the stable is just surreal and I can’t wait to see where the future will lead us now that our paths have crossed again!”

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