Beezie Madden has announced the passing away of her legendary Cortes 'C'. Together with the Belgian bred gelding, Madden jumped up to the highest level. Cortes died 21-years-old.
We are saddened to announce that Cortes ‘c’ passed away peacefully yesterday. Cortes, ironically nicknamed “Tiny” in the barn, due to his huge size, joined our team in 2011 when he was purchased by Mrs. Abigail Wexner. With his signature leg crossed style over the jumps, he'd won over legions of fans, and was immortalized as a Breyer Horse in 2016.
Tiny contributed to numerous U.S. Nations Cup teams, including at the 2013, ’14 and ’15 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Finals (Spain). In 2013, they won the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Chantilly (France). Tiny also was a back to back winner of the Longines King George V Gold Cup in 2014 and 2015. At the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, he helped the US Team to a bronze medal before Cortes was ridden in the "Final Four" competition, jumping four clear rounds and earning the "Best Horse" title, and Madden the individual bronze medal.
Cortes helped Team USA towards a silver medal in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio before an injury sidelined him before the team final. He was officially retired from competition in 2017.
Clark Shipley, his former groom who passed away in 2020 after a battle with cancer, once said to the Chronicle of the Horse that Tiny was “the friendliest horse you’ll ever meet in your life. He’s all over you at all times, mauling you. He loves attention. You could pretty much do anything to him. If you walk him around, he mauls every person standing around. He drags you over there. He’s always had this personality. He’s been friendly from the start.” We have no doubt Clark was waiting for Tiny yesterday with bags of carrots on the other side.
He stayed the friendliest horse on the farm until the end, loving to greet tours and take pictures with fans who visited him in Cazenovia, New York. There was no one who had the pleasure of meeting or working with Tiny, whose life he didn’t impact.
“Tiny was one of a kind. With top results as a young horse with Gregory Wathelet and then years of being at the top of the sport with our team, I was blessed to have him in my life. I will forever be thankful to Tiny and Mrs. Wexner for our years together. His passing leaves a hole in all our team’s hearts.” said Beezie Madden.
Cortes ‘c’ was a 2002 Belgian Warmblood sired by Randel Z bred by Bart Clement.
We are saddened to announce that Cortes ‘c’ passed away peacefully yesterday. Cortes, ironically nicknamed “Tiny” in the barn, due to his huge size, joined our team in 2011 when he was purchased by Mrs. Abigail Wexner. With his signature leg crossed style over the jumps, he'd won over legions of fans, and was immortalized as a Breyer Horse in 2016.
Tiny contributed to numerous U.S. Nations Cup teams, including at the 2013, ’14 and ’15 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Finals (Spain). In 2013, they won the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Chantilly (France). Tiny also was a back to back winner of the Longines King George V Gold Cup in 2014 and 2015. At the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, he helped the US Team to a bronze medal before Cortes was ridden in the "Final Four" competition, jumping four clear rounds and earning the "Best Horse" title, and Madden the individual bronze medal.
Cortes helped Team USA towards a silver medal in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio before an injury sidelined him before the team final. He was officially retired from competition in 2017.
Clark Shipley, his former groom who passed away in 2020 after a battle with cancer, once said to the Chronicle of the Horse that Tiny was “the friendliest horse you’ll ever meet in your life. He’s all over you at all times, mauling you. He loves attention. You could pretty much do anything to him. If you walk him around, he mauls every person standing around. He drags you over there. He’s always had this personality. He’s been friendly from the start.” We have no doubt Clark was waiting for Tiny yesterday with bags of carrots on the other side.
He stayed the friendliest horse on the farm until the end, loving to greet tours and take pictures with fans who visited him in Cazenovia, New York. There was no one who had the pleasure of meeting or working with Tiny, whose life he didn’t impact.
“Tiny was one of a kind. With top results as a young horse with Gregory Wathelet and then years of being at the top of the sport with our team, I was blessed to have him in my life. I will forever be thankful to Tiny and Mrs. Wexner for our years together. His passing leaves a hole in all our team’s hearts.” said Beezie Madden.
Cortes ‘c’ was a 2002 Belgian Warmblood sired by Randel Z bred by Bart Clement.