Top FEI competitor Susan Dutta retired her famous grand prix partner of many years, Gumshoes DC, a 17-year-old Dutch gelding in a touching ceremony held in the International ring at the Zada Enterprises CDI show in Wellington. Her husband, Tim Dutta, son Timmy, and groom Robbie Sanderson accompanied Gumshoes into the ring where a well-deserved shawl of red flowers draped his shoulders.
After a decade of being a consistent finisher in both the large and small tour FEI competition, Dutta considered the ceremony a fitting end to a career that spanned 11 years in the dressage arena. “Gummy” was trained by Norman Dello Joio and competed as a jumper until he was six years old and was traded to the Duttas for shipping money. He briefly showed in the small tours graduating to his first Winter Equestrian Festival Grand Prix at nine years of age.
He successfully competed across North America and Europe and has been on the prestigious long and short lists of the United States Equestrian Team since 2000. The dark bay gelding chalked up an impressive career making the short list for the FEI World Equestrian Games twice, the short list for Athens (2004), entering the finals for the World Cup League three times, qualifying six times for the USET National Championship (finishing third in 2003 and sixth in 2007), winning a Bronze medal at Coupe De Americas in Canada and consistently placing or winning CDI W’s coast to coast.
Team Dutta was tearful during the ceremony and Susan Dutta voiced a special thanks to their team of Dr. Rick Mitchell, Robbie Sanderson and Lars Petersen for the individual talents they brought to Gumshoes’ career. “My favorite win was the National Horse Show in 2006. It was his first show back after he recovered from his injuries. The last year has been such a bonus. I was grateful every time we showed. Sixth at Gladstone in the Grand Prix National Championship was huge. He went three days strong, fresh and happily. He always took me to the biggest shows in the country!”
Gummy was well known for his famous Elvis Freestyle, which always ended with Elvis’ sultry voice saying, “Thank you. Thank you very much.” Many spectators, judges and certainly the Dutta's want to say, “Thank you. Thank you very much,” to Gummy for his devotion to the sport and truly being a King!
Dutta is retiring Gumshoes to a beautiful farm in Pennsylvania that is owned by a family friend. “He is still fit and fresh,” said Dutta with a smile. “It was important to Tim and I to retire him in good shape and sound. He is totally enjoying himself and doesn't seem to miss being ridden.”