An Olympic equine star nonetheless thriving aged 33, as different high horses retire

In every week when so many have felt affected by the tragic information of Georgie Campbell’s passing at Bicton Worldwide Horse Trials, we carry you some uplifting tales from throughout the equine world.

1. Retired Olympic star turns 33 years previous

Rascher Hopes, Emile Faurie’s crew bronze-medal profitable trip on the 2003 European Dressage Championships and the highest-scoring British horse on the 2000 Sydney Olympics, just lately celebrated his thirty third birthday and is flourishing in retirement. Rascher Hopes – or Streaky as he’s identified at house – has been primarily based with Hilary Macdonald in Gloucestershire since his retirement in 2006. “He nonetheless goes out for the odd little potter as soon as every week or so which he appears to essentially get pleasure from. He’s slowed down so much now however he’s simply been probably the most extraordinary horse, and he’s nonetheless an actual character and the yard favorite,” Hilary advised H&H.

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2. “The little lioness that would” retires

Sameh El Dahan using Suma’s Zorro in Paris, in 2018.

Suma’s Zorro, the distinctive mare partnered by Britain’s Sameh El Dahan, has retired from showjumping “wholesome, sound and contemporary” aged 20. The little chestnut mare landed the game’s richest prize in profitable the 2018 $1million CP Worldwide introduced by Rolex at Spruce Meadows. The pair additionally competed on the World Equestrian Video games in 2014 and 2018, and in whole, the mare jumped near 400 courses in a world profession that spanned greater than 11 years. Sameh mentioned: “I’m for ever grateful that I’ve met you. In the present day was your big day, a bit of tribute to how wonderful you’re, you’re my dwelling legend and I’m over the moon that you just look the way in which you regarded at present at 20 years younger.”

Learn what else Sameh needed to say about his accomplice

3. 4-star winner switches to a brand new sport

Elizabeth and Dargun at Cornbury in September 2023.

Dargun, the previous high trip of Emily King, and later Piggy March, who most just lately has been ridden by teenage eventer Elizabeth Barratt, is retiring from eventing. The 16-year-old gelding is switching sports activities to compete in dressage with junior rider Megan Fields. Earlier than becoming a member of Elizabeth, Dargun gained crew gold on the younger rider Europeans with Emily King in 2015, they usually had been Bramham u25 champions in 2018. After Emily’s proprietor Jane Del Missier moved away from the game in 2019, Dargun joined Piggy March’s string. Piggy and Dargun had been second on the Little Downham CCI4*-S in October 2020, and gained the Burnham Market CCI4*-S in April 2021. The gelding’s greatest outcome with Elizabeth got here in September 2023 after they gained the Cornbury younger rider CCI3*-S.

“A troublesome determination, however the suitable one for him”

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H&H web site editor

Carol is an skilled journalist and editor, who can be a passionate novice rider and devoted horse proprietor, having ridden since childhood. She has a specific curiosity within the emotional well-being and moral coaching of horses, alongside veterinary issues, having garnered intensive first-hand expertise of quite a few equine well being circumstances by greater than 30 years of horse possession.