Jessica Kurten, who slotted Paavo N into fifth place in the Amsterdam World Cup qualifier on Saturday night, confirmed yesterday her European gold medal ride Bonita has been sold to America.

The 12-year-old Rheinlander mare, part of Ireland's triumphant European show jumping team in Holland this summer, will be leaving for her new base with Jeffrey Welles in Connecticut after Christmas.

Kurten said the mare she has ridden since April of last year for German owner Agnes Grottmans, had been sold for a "large" sum. Although she declined to give details, Kurten said it was "the sort of money you just don't say no to".

The sale means Kurten has no horse for next year's World Equestrian Games in Spain, even though Paavo is back to his best after a five-month break from competition due to injury, with top six placings at both the Amsterdam and Geneva World Cup qualifiers in the past week.

"The championships are out of the question for me next year," Kurten said yesterday. "I won't be taking Paavo. He'll be there for Nations Cups, but I won't be putting him forward for the championship team."

The loss of Bonita to the Irish team comes just a week after confirmation that the Harvey family's mare Liscalgot, another of Ireland's gold medal quartet, is also on the market.

The owners, who bred the mare at home in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, have given rider Dermott Lennon the opportunity to put together a syndicate, but Liscalgot has attracted huge interest on the international circuit and the offers may be too big to turn down.