When Edward Gal and Moorland’s Totilas won their second dressage gold medal in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in the Grand Prix Special, the NBC announcer made a comment that the record breaking horse had been sold to someone in the United States.

Totilas’ connections quickly denied that the horse had sold. “I can confirm that there is nothing going on,” said Gal in that night’s press conference. However, that didn’t stop the rumors from taking off, and they’ve been flying ever since.

This morning, Oct. 14, Cees Visser, owner of Moorlands Stables, launched a press release that finally confirmed that Totilas has been sold to Paul Schockemohle. The the German Olympian and breeder purchased the stallion for a rumored U.S $21 million. “The past two years we’ve been living a dream, and we enjoyed every moment with Edward and Totilas,” said Visser. “After Kentucky it was impossible for us to refuse the offers on Totilas. We have now come to the point that we decided, in good agreement with all parties, to let him go.”

Totilas and Gal broke records all over the world for the past year—becoming the first pair to score above 90 percent and sweeping the WEG dressage with three gold medals. “It is unreal to me that Totilas is leaving. From the first moment I rode him I knew he was a once-in-a-lifetime horse,” said Gal. “I understand Moorlands’ decision, but I’m sad.”

Gal will continue to ride and compete Moorlands horses, including Uusminka, a full sister to Totilas.

Totilas (Gribaldi x Lominka), a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood, will join Schockemohle’s barn full of some of the most elite breeding stallions in the world.