US showjumper Laura Kraut pronounces retirement of Confu aged 17

Showjumper Laura Kraut has paid an emotional tribute to her great associate of the previous 9 years, the tremendous gray Confu. She introduced the 17-year-old gelding’s retirement “by way of joyful tears”.

The pair have been core to USA groups in Nations Cups, together with on the Barcelona last in 2017, in addition to profitable four-star grands prix in Wellington, Florida, and one of many duo’s earliest five-star achievements was claiming victory within the Aachen pace stakes in 2016.

“He has been a loyal good friend and competitor, all the time accepting any problem that was put in entrance of him,” mentioned Laura of the German-bred son of Contact Me, recognized at house as Rocket.

The Holsteiner gelding was bred by Kai Gerken and was produced by French rider Fabrice Schmidt earlier than Laura first took the reins on the finish of 2015.

“He jumped double clear in each Nations Cup he competed in for the USA, and gained many courses all over the world,” mentioned Laura. “We used to joke that he was all the time up for something we requested of him, he was that child within the schoolroom that raised his hand to volunteer!”

On the finish of 2021, Confu suffered from a critical virus and his future had been unclear. It made his profitable return to the winner’s enclosure in 2022 as “an emotional one”. Laura mentioned on the time, “The win tonight means every little thing. Just a few months in the past, we have been crying as a result of we weren’t positive he was going to make it.”

Laura Kraut and St Bride’s Farm’s Confu compete within the King George V Gold Cup on the Royal Worldwide in 2019.

Laura Kraut on Confu: “No horse deserves the lifetime of leisure as a lot as him”

This week, Laura paid a particular thanks to his house owners Barb and David Roux of St Bride’s Farm “for permitting me to have such a particular animal”. Confu will now get pleasure from his retirement along with his house owners in Virginia, USA.

“I do know that you just each will get pleasure from having him at house and he might be handled just like the superstar that he’s!” mentioned Laura, admitting that it will be onerous not to think about Confu being within the secure “to greet us every day”.

“I’m proud to say that he’s as sound as a younger man and can love the gorgeous rolling fields at his house in Virginia.”

Folks would bounce on the probability to journey secure star Confu

Laura Kraut additionally thanked the “in depth” checklist of people that have performed an element in Confu’s phenomenal success through the years.

“Emile Hendrix, thanks for locating him for me, I knew after I walked into the secure that day and noticed him standing within the cross-ties that he was coming house with me,” she mentioned.

“Mary Elizabeth, my sister, for treating him like her son and serving to to maintain him in excellent situation. Margo Thomas, Alex Tyler-Morris, Dale Hailstones and Johanna Burtshoff for being the most effective caretakers a horse may ever ask for. Christiana Ober for being his vet and maintaining him younger, in addition to Edwin Enzerink and Melissa Welker.

Laura Kraut of USA completes a transparent spherical over the ultimate impediment on Confu to safe victory for her nation within the FEI Nations Cup throughout the Dublin Worldwide Horse Present at RDS, Ballsbridge in Dublin. (Picture By Cody Glenn/Sportsfile through Getty Photos).

Laura Kraut: “Thanks for every little thing Rocket, you might be my hero”

Laura continued: “Paul Bocken, Arnie Gervais, and Ian ‘Spud’ Allison for the gorgeous job you all did along with his shoeing. Steve Engle, to your chiropractic work, regardless that he wasn’t an enormous fan. Together with many different physios, Janus Marquis, Wolfie Mayrhofer, and so on.

“Julie Welles for serving to me maintain him match whereas I used to be away, together with the entire remainder of the riders at house who would bounce on the probability to get to journey him!”

Laura summed up by saying, “Thanks for every little thing Rocket, you might be my hero and I can’t wait to come back for a go to and see you with the massive stomach you all the time wished!”

You may additionally be fascinated by:

H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her position as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her all over the world reporting from exhibits and interviewing riders, connections and people concerned behind the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on each topic throughout the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to secure administration — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand expertise of working within the equestrian business as a using teacher and yard supervisor.