United States Eventing Association

Winsome Adante (1993-2019)

The legendary Winsome Adante (Saunter x Juswith Genoa) has passed away at the age of 26. “Dan” was owned by Linda Wachtmeister, ridden by Kim Severson, and bred in England by Janet and Chris Gooch. In 2015 Dan was inducted into the USEA’s Eventing Hall of Fame, was USEA Horse of the Year three times, and for over a decade was on the top of the USEA’s Historic All Time High Point Horse Leaderboard.

From 2000 to 2007 Dan competed in 47 competitions placing in the top three in 39 of them. He started his winning ways by placing first in the 2000 Radnor CCI2* (now CCI3*-L) and the next year traveled back to his birthplace to win the Blenheim Three-day Event in England. In 2002 he laid claim to his first win in the Kentucky CCI4* (now CCI5*) when it was still in the traditional long format. In 2004, he won the Chatsworth, Georgia CIC3* (now CCI4*-S) just two weeks before winning the second of his three Rolex Kentucky Three-Day events. In August that same year, he and Severson won the individual silver medal at the Athens Olympic Games. He followed this up with his second Kentucky win in 2005 and in 2006 was on the gold medal team at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen. His last competition was at the Badminton Horse Trials in 2007, and he did it in usual Dan style by completing his career by placing third in one of the world’s preeminent events.

“So many of my firsts in the world of eventing came from my partnership with Dan: Badminton, Olympics, World Equestrian Games, Burghley, and more. Now, when I think back about our time together, two words come to mind: opportunity and gratitude. What an amazing, once in a lifetime opportunity to find Dan, and then be supported in our partnership by many amazing people,” Severson said in an announcement about Dan’s death today.

“Dan, thank you for your willingness to come to work every day, your unbelievable work ethic, incredible heart, and occasionally cheeky behavior that literally kept us all on our toes! Thank you for being my partner, friend, and making my childhood dreams and ambitions come true . . . Rest in peace, Dan. You were truly special, you were loved, and you will be missed,” said Severson.

The USEA extends our heartfelt condolences to Kim Severson, Linda Wachtmeister, and all of Winsome Adante’s connections.

Watch Winsome Adante's induction into the USEA's Eventing Hall of Fame: