Dolton

Photo courtesy of Lindsay Y. McCall
(2012 – )
Owned by Flintwoode Farms LLC and Karin Flint
Inducted: 2021

Photos

Photo courtesy of Erich Linder Photography
Photo courtesy of Tylir Penton Photography
Photo courtesy of Susan J. Stickle Photography
Dolton is a superstar in the para dressage world with rider Roxanne Trunnell. The Hanoverian gelding, born in 2012, was initially purchased by international para-dressage athlete Kate Shoemaker as a two-year old in Germany. Recognizing his potential as a sport horse, Shoemaker gelded him and imported him to the United States.

"He's the little prince, maybe a bit of a princess," Shoemaker said. "He's the goofiest horse in the barn. He can be a little territorial about his stall; he just likes to let us know that that's his space, especially when he's eating, but he never acts on his threats. He likes to put his ears back, then I'll give him a kiss. He's really quite a love."

Shoemaker brought him to Wellington in 2018 to be evaluated by Michel Assouline, USEF Head of Coach Development & Para Dressage Technical Advisor. Roxanne Trunnell was invited to ride him the following day.

"When I first tried out Dolton, while Kate was getting his bridle on he took a few steps over to where I was sitting to say 'Hi'. That was my first inkling that this could turn into a special partnership," Trunnell said.

Flintwoode Farms LLC and Karin Flint offered to sponsor Roxanne and Dolton with the goal of their competing on the 2018 FEI Longines World Equestrian Games (WEG) team. The pair was undefeated at the CPEDI*** level heading into the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games and after scoring the high score at the final mandatory outing in July, they secured an individual spot on the team and headed off to the WEG Games in Tryon, North Carolina.

The WEG team was triumphant landing in 5th place - the highest placing in the team's history. Trunnell and Dolton went on to win individual bronze in the Freestyle Test and become the first U.S. horse-and-athlete pair to medal at a para dressage world championship. He was the youngest para-dressage horse to win a medal at a major international championship. Following his medal win at the 2018 WEG, Flintwoode Farms LLC and Karin Flint purchased Dolton.

The partnership between Trunnell and Dolton clicked from the start, as if they had been a duo far before their first ride together. In his 36 starts Dolton has had 31 wins. Dolton's fantastic temperament helps him to carry himself throughout the entire test.

Despite a limited 2020 competition season resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Dolton and Trunnell continued to add to their remarkable record, scoring above 80% in all three tests at the 2020 Adequan Global Dressage Festival I. In doing so, they became only the second para dressage pair in history to break the 80% mark in an FEI Para Dressage Team or Individual test, and the first to do so since 2012. They went on to have an undefeated 2020 season, winning five national and six international starts.

Dolton and Trunnell were ranked No. 1 in the world across all grades in 2020 - the first American pair to top the ranking list. They have remained in the top spot for 10 consecutive month and led the U.S. team to No. 1 in the FEI Para Dressage World Team Rankings.

Trunnell is the first para dressage rider and only the eighth dressage rider to receive the USET Foundation Whitney Stone Cup in its 40-year history. In accepting the award, Trunnell said, "I was very proud of Dolton. It takes a special horse to become an outstanding Para-Dressage horse and Dolton at only eight years old has proved to be a very special horse. Thank you to the owner of Dolton, Karin Flint, for trusting me to pilot her special boy to become a superstar in the Para-Dressage world. Thank you to Anna Forbes, Dolton's groom, for taking the best care of him and my trainer Andrea Woodard for helping me and Dolton to become great partners."

Trunnell was not alone in receiving high honors in 2020. Dolton topped off the year with being named as an International Horse of Honor by the United States Equestrian Federation guaranteeing his place among the legendary inductees in the Horse Stars Hall of Fame.