Pierre Volla and Badinda Altena salute the crowd on day two of the dressage in Rio 2016
© Eric Knoll
By Equestrian Life
French dressage rider, Pierre Volla has made the decision to sell his 2016 Rio Olympic mount, Badinda Altena to Danish Grand Prix rider, Charlotte Heering.
Pierre Volla found the now 13-year-old KWPN chestnut mare when she was three-years-old, and being consigned for slaughter. He bought the mare in hopes of selling her, but decided to keep her for himself instead.
Pierre Volla and the talented chestnut mare have had a very successful career together, with the combination representing France at the 2012 World Young Horse Championships in Vereden, where they placed 13th in the finals. The duo went on to represent France at the 2015 and 2018 European Championships and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Pierre made the decision in the summer of 2018 to not compete in the French team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games of Tryon, which ultimately led to France not sending a dressage team at all. Volla announced then that he would be selling his main Grand Prix horse.
