BRITISH event rider Oliver Townend has announced the retirement of his Olympic gold medal-winning partner, Ballaghmor Class. The Irish Sport Horse (Courage II x I’m A Star), who was bred by Noel Hickey and initially produced in Ireland by Katherine Charlton, is one of the most successful event horses of all time. During the course of the eight years he spent competing with Townend at the very top of the sport, he finished in the top five at CCI5* level an incredible 11 times. The combination won at Burghley twice, as well as at Kentucky and Maryland, and were part of the British team crowned Olympic champions in Tokyo.

On social media, Townend said: “What a horse. ‘Thomas’ has been one of the most successful event horses in history and a phenomenal partner to me, and his consistency at the top of the sport has been well documented. Thank you to Thomas’s owners Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan for supporting the fantastic journey we have all been on together with this incredibly special horse, and to our team who have looked after him so beautifully over the last 14 years.”

Ballaghmor Class competed at Burghley four times in total, finishing in a podium position on every occasion, and it is fitting that his retirement will be marked with a ceremony on the Sunday of this year’s Defender Burghley Horse Trials, which will run from September 3rd to 6th.

“I think he will love the whole thing and will feel like he has won another Burghley,” said Townend, while Event Director Martyn Johnson said: “We very much look forward to giving Thomas a proper retirement at this year’s event. He was never out of the top three here on any of his runs, and he and Oliver have given the sport and his fans some memorable performances, which will always stand up as some of the greatest Burghley moments.”

Townend confirmed that Thomas will live out his retirement at his Shropshire base.