We are saddened to hear of the passing of Gemma Tattersall’s great thoroughbred Arctic Soul (Spike)
Arctic Soul remained a champion to the very end, winning an Open Intermediate section at Weston Park on Saturday
“Today he won his last ever event finishing on a lovely dressage, he flew around the xc with his ears firmly pricked finding the next fence on his own! Words don’t even come close to what I feel right now, literally horrendous, I will miss him terribly everyday” says Gemma on her social media
The ex-racehorse may never have won a race, but he has certainly made a name for himself in eventing as a cross country specialist, with Gemma`and Spike becoming an integral part of Team GBs successes in recent years. The pair were part of the British gold medal winning team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon and were aiming to contest their seventh Badminton together, having finished third in 2016
Arctic Soul was also the British Open Champion in 2017, when he flew around the Gatcombe Park course to move up through the leader board with the fastest time on cross country course (see video above)
“He owes us nothing and doesn’t need to prove anything, if he makes it to Badminton this year that would be amazing.” Gemma told us recently in an article about her 5* horses, Arctic Soul and Chilli Knight
He may not be at Badminton this year but many will be thinking of him on cross country day
Gemma and Arctic Soul finished third at Badminton 2016 on their dressage score
