William Fox-Pitt’s five-star winner Seacookie TSF has been put to sleep aged 25 after a stellar profession – and nearly 10 years of completely happy retirement.
The Trakehner gelding, who gained Pau and Blenheim, and got here second at Burghley and Kentucky, retired on the finish of the 2014 season, and loved the remainder of his days with proprietor Catherine Witt.
“It’s so unhappy to see him go – however what recollections he left us with,” Catherine informed H&H.
Cookie had been produced by German Olympic rider Ingrid Klimke and William had seen and admired him at Boekelo, when Catherine was seeking to purchase a horse for William to journey.
“That’s the way it began,” William informed H&H.
“He was an actual athlete, who seemed like he discovered eventing really easy, so mild and indulgent. It was like using an elastic band. He had his little quirks; he was fairly spooky and had his personal little opinions – however very good ones; he didn’t have a nasty bone in his physique. And he gave me some superb rides at five-star degree.”
William and Cookie competed at Badminton in 2010 however didn’t full as a result of the horse tied up. However they got here second at Burghley that yr, gained Blenheim in 2012 and got here second at Kentucky in 2013, the yr additionally they gained Pau.
“Second at Burghley was very candy, however with somewhat edge as we got here so shut, and he was superb,” mentioned William. “He was such a fighter; he’d by no means hand over. He perhaps wasn’t the very best galloper and didn’t have the very best stamina, however he was up for every thing.
“And to have been so shut so many instances, to lastly win Pau; it was an enormous aid as he actually deserved it.”
William paid tribute to Ingrid’s manufacturing, including: “I believe I by no means fairly obtained the very best out of him on the flat; together with her he should have been fairly just a few p.c higher however he nonetheless obtained fairly good marks with me, so goodness is aware of what he’d have achieved together with her!
“He was very particular and I’m very fortunate Catherine purchased him for me. We had good enjoyable, then he lived in luxurious together with her, Parklane Hawk and Bay My Hero, three five-star winners all out collectively.”
Catherine defined that Cookie was her first horse with William, so he began the partnership Parklane Hawk and Bay My Hero later joined.
“Cookie by no means gave me a day’s anxiousness,” she mentioned. “I’m probably the most nervous homeowners ever; I don’t actually get pleasure from it until the Wednesday after the occasion! However I didn’t have a priority with him; I believed in William. He was an ideal horse
“He knew his job, by no means obtained overexcited, he simply did every thing, and we had been very fortunate. Then he retired sound, and I had him for almost 10 years extra.”
Catherine mentioned Cookie was a really mild horse to have round, with a cheeky facet.
“The others most likely obtained all of the blame for something that occurred as a result of it couldn’t have been him!
“He didn’t seem like an occasion horse; he was too fairly, however he stored up with all of the others, and when he got here second at Burghley and Kentucky, we knew sooner or later he was going to have a win. William had three horses at Pau that yr but it surely was Cookie who gained, and it was sensible.
“He was stunning. I really feel very blessed to have had such good horses, and blessed to have had him so lengthy.”
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Have a look again in photos at a few of the horses which have helped form William’s profession
Credit score: Libby Legislation Images
Take a look at all of the Pau Horse Trials winners because the French occasion turned a five-star in 2007 – which had been
Credit score: Future
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