MMB | Shutterfly

Shutterfly

* January 14th, 1993 ~ HANN gelding

Barn name: Petey

Height: 1.66m

Breeder: Uwe Dreesmann

Owner: Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum

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Just do it

"For me, Shutterfly was the most perfect horse in the world!"

- Meredith

When he was born, Shutterfly had such a messy, tousled mane that his breeder named him "Struwwelpeter" after the German cartoon character who resembled Edward Scissorhands. But it didn’t take long for him to mature into an elegant six year old gelding who caught Meredith's attention at a show in Rastede in 1999. When Meredith originally asked his owner and breeder Uwe Dreesmann if he was for sale, Dreesmann was negative. However, six months later, Dreesmann got in touch with Meredith and shortly thereafter Struwwelpeter came to Thedinghausen. Jim and Nancy Clark purchased Struwwelpeter and he was renamed Shutterfly, because his name was so difficult for Americans to pronounce. He was called Petey as a nickname.

Meredith recalls that Shutterfly was extremely sensitive and nervous. "He only became great when he entered the ring. There he knew he had ability and he became confident. Over many years, he gradually learned to trust the people around him, including the grooms in the stable. He was always delicate, but became easier to handle once he trusted you."

At the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen Shutterfly's sensitivity was obvious to everyone. Meredith and Shutterfly had reached the Final Four of the show-jumping event, where the riders switch horses. A change of riders meant a change of saddles and that meant stress for Shutterfly. With every change, Shutterfly became increasingly upset and difficult to saddle. Although he was panicked and was dripping with sweat, he still did his job in the course. Afterward, Meredith promised him that he would never have to do anything like that again.

Shutterfly’s successes total more than 3.5 million euros, making him the most successful show jumper in the world at that time. Some of his great victories include three time winner of the World Cup Final, the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen 2005, two time winner of the Top Ten Final, two Bronze Medals at the World Equestrian Games 2006, individual gold and team silver at the European Championships in Mannheim. He and Checkmate helped Meredith win the lucrative title of Rider of the Year three times. Last but not least, Shutterfly won the Prize of Europe at Aachen 2011 at age eighteen. He was retired there in Aachen on the same weekend where fifty-five thousand adoring fans gave him a standing ovation. Shutterfly is now enjoying his well-deserved retirement in Thedinghausen.