How does an elite level showjumping horse adjust to losing an eye yet still face a 1.60m jump at high speed? Easily, apparently, if you are the super cool stallion Cornado NRW.
Marcus Ehning on Cornado NRW in the CSI5* at LCGT Rome, 2019. By this time, the horse was competing with one eye. © Michelle Terlato Photography
“Cornado adjusted
quickly, it didn’t seem to
bother him at all.”
Marcus Ehning and Cornado at WEG in 2014, before the horse lost his eye. © Michelle Terlato Photography
This 17-year-old experienced superstar of Germany’s skilful Marcus Ehning injured his right eye just prior to Christmas in 2018. It didn’t heal, so the choice was made to remove it. This was a huge decision in a prosperous partnership that had won the Sauté Hermes in Paris in 2014, taken out fourth place at the FEI World Cup in Sweden in 2016 and placed tenth individually at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, to mention just a few of their successes.
“Cornado adjusted quickly, it didn’t seem to bother him at all,” said Ehning in March 2019. “It’s like nothing changed for him.” The amazing team made a triumphant return to competition at the Dutch Masters in Sweden in s’Hertogenbosch in March 2019 and jumped as well as ever. Obviously there is so much trust in their relationship to adjust so quickly to the injury and return to top-level competition in such a short time. Amazing!
The pair competed at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Rome, with equine photographer Michelle Terlato there to capture the moment.
Marcus Ehning and Cornado at WEG in 2014. © Michelle Terlato Photography
FAMOUS & SUCCESSFUL ONE-EYED HORSES
- Adventure de Kannan was a gelding that won the Hickstead Derby in 2014.
- Stallion Tornesch from Sweden was a top-level showjumper who took out third place in the FEI World Cup at Olympia in 2014.
- Racehorse Material World won five times despite losing an eye before her career even began.
- Dressage stallion Santana lost an eye in 2009 but competed in the London 2012 Olympics representing Sweden where the team placed fifth.
- Eventer Briarlands Blackberry still competed at Blenheim, Burghley, Bramham and Barbury horse trials between 2008-2011 ridden by Izzy Taylor, who said: “Sitting on top you wouldn’t know he only had one eye”. EQ
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