Hopes for Another Brentina

Chances are there will never be another Brentina. The chestnut Hanoverian mare that became the darling of American dressage was, no doubt, a once-in-a-lifetime horse. While her hind tendon continues to heal, Debbie McDonald is cautiously optimistic that she’ll be riding the mare in grand prix competition this fall. Perhaps the two will represent the United States one more time at the Olympics. But if that doesn’t come to pass, there is another star waiting on the horizon for McDonald. It’s not a mare, though. It’s a 10-year-old gelding named Felix that she’s shown since he was a youngster. He’s doing well at grand prix now. The horse that McDonald describes as “a character to be around” will hopefully be around for a long time in international dressage competitions.