The top sport horse sire Fleetwater Opposition, 28, died last week after a short illness. The popular Trakehner was put down at Landford Common Stud, his home for 20 years.
Bred by Louise King, Fleetwater Opposition was born in 1977; he was by Muschamp Danube out of the elite graded mare Opushka.
He first hit the headlines as a six-year-old when he won individual and team gold with Helen Brown at the junior European eventing championships. With his owner, the late Debbie Johnston, Opposition then competed in dressage to grand prix level before turning to stud duties.
Opposition produced winners in all three disciplines but he hit the headlines in eventing, in which his offspring included Summersong, the Olympic, World and European medallist.
In 2003, Opposition was awarded the British Breeding Lifetime Achievement award.
Event breeder Vin Jones has bred seven foals by Opposition including three by embryo transfer from the four-star mares The Wexford Lady and Erbium.
Jones said: “His stock have it all — movement, jump and temperament.”
“He would have been anybody’s horse of a lifetime,” added his owner John Johnston.
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