Rafalca

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Rafalca
BreedOldenburg
SireArgentinus (Hanoverian)
GrandsireArgentan I (Hanoverian)
DamRatine (Oldenburg)
SexMare
Foaled1997
CountryGermany (birth)
United States (standing)
ColourBay
BreederErwin Risch
OwnerJan Ebeling
Ann Romney
TrainerJan Ebeling
Last updated on: 16 July 2013.

Rafalca is a dressage horse co-owned by Ann Romney[1] that performed in the equestrian competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, with rider (and co-owner/trainer) Jan Ebeling.[2][3]

Biography[]

Rafalca is a bay mare with "a milk chocolate coat, raven tail and white socks above three of her hooves". She is an Oldenburg, a warmblood horse breed from the north-western corner of Lower Saxony. She was born in Menslage in Germany in 1997, and bred by Erwin Risch.[4][5]

Rafalca's sire was Argentinus, a Hanoverian jumping stallion, and her dam Ratine was an Oldenburg.[6] Her damsire was Rubinstein, also a dressage horse.[4][7]

Career[]

Rafalca has competed with Ebeling at the Grand Prix level, the highest competition level in dressage, since 2007, and was a representative for the United States in the Dressage World Cup Finals in 2009, 2011, and 2012.[8]

In June 2012, Ebeling and Rafalca won a spot on the U.S. Olympics dressage team.[9] At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, after participating over several days, Ebeling and Rafalca finished in 28th place with a score of 69.302 and did not qualify to move on to the final round for individual medals.[10][11] They were part of a 6th place overall finish for the U.S. team.[11] Romney said of her horse, "It was wonderful. She was elegant and consistent again. We just love her."[10]

In popular culture[]

Rafalca is referred to in the show 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live, as well as The Newsroom and Tooning Out the News.

References[]

  1. ^ Phelps, Mary (14 March 2012). "Jan Ebeling and Ann Romney's Rafalca Reach New Heights to Represent the USA at the Reem/Acra World Cup Final in April". Dressage Daily. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  2. ^ Pilon, Mary (August 3, 2012). "A High-Profile Cheering Section for a Horse's Olympic Debut". The New York Times. p. B17. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  3. ^ Abcarian, Robin (August 2, 2012). "Ann Romney 'thrilled' by horse's performance in Olympics". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 3, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Pilon, Mary (26 July 2012). "Behind a Gifted Horse, a Powerful Part-Owner". The New York Times. p. B12. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  5. ^ Nelson, Colleen McCain (18 June 2012). "Ann Romney's Horse Wins an Olympics Berth". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Rafalca". SportHorse-Data. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  7. ^ Ebeling, Jan (3 April 2012). "Road To The Olympics: Jan Ebeling, Part 1". The Chronicle of the Horse. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  8. ^ Braddick, Kenneth J. (21 July 2012). "Jan Ebeling & Rafalca Training in "Bubble" Away from Distractions of Politics, Media". Dressage News. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  9. ^ Gabriel, Trip (June 17, 2012). "Romney Horse Wins Spot on Olympic Dressage Team". The New York Times. p. A19. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  10. ^ a b Freeman, Margaret; Winfield, Nicole (August 7, 2012). "Britain wins 1st Olympic team dressage medal: gold". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  11. ^ a b Pilon, Mary (August 7, 2012). "Rafalca, Owned by Romney's Wife, Does Not Advance in Dressage". The New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2012.


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