Katie Dinan’s Amaretto D’Arco Lost to Complications from Colic

Katie Dinan & Amaretto D’Arco compete at LGCT London 2015.

The 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion Amaretto D’Arco has passed away due to complications from colic surgery. Owned and ridden by the USA’s Katie Dinan since 2013, Amaretto D’Arco competed successfully at the international CSI level for seven years.

“Darco was truly a wonderful horse, and I was so lucky to have him in my life,” Dinan said. “I will miss him dearly.”

Initially ridden by Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam, Amaretto D’Arco recorded his best career finish in the 2011 La Baule Nations Cup CSIO5*, helping Ireland win the competition with Sweetnam at the reins.

Sweetnam rode Amaretto D’Arco to many competitive finishes in grand prix and Nations Cup competition before his sponsor Spy Coast Farm sold the stallion to Dinan’s Grand Road Partners LLC. Spy Coast Farm successfully bred Amaretto D’Arco and has many of his progeny on the ground. Dinan competed Amaretto D’Arco in Europe during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, as well as on home soil in the USA.