Olympic dressage gold medallist Anky van Grunsven’s grand prix ride IPS Painted Black has been sold to Spanish young rider Morgan Barbançon, 18.
Painted Black is a 13-year-old breeding stallion by Gribaldi and is approved by the KWPN (Dutch) and Anglo European Studbooks. Last year, he won the World Dressage Masters show in Wellington and a World Cup qualifier in Amsterdam, finishing third at the World Cup final.
Painted Black previously belonged to Joop van Uytert, IPS and Equestrian International BV. He currently stands sixth in the FEI world rankings.
Anky said: “I will miss this top horse, but I’m glad that he will stay at my barn and I’ll coach Morgan to help her know him. We agreed that Painted Black will be available as the reserve horse for the Dutch World Equestrian Games team for Kentucky and that I can compete him at a few more shows.”
Morgan, a student, has contested European championships as a pony and junior rider and won Addington international in May this year.
Anky’s top grand prix horse, Salinero, is back in training following an injury to his withers that took him out of contention for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky this September.
