IRISH show jumping fans will remember seeing six-time US Olympian McLain Ward win twice at the Dublin Horse Show last year; in the Aga Khan Nations Cup and the Dublin Stakes, a win which came aboard the chesnut gelding Contagious.

Last week, Ward announced that the Cantagio gelding, who was last seen competing in December at CHI Geneva, was retiring from the sport. He took Ward to the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 where they won team silver, as well as team gold and individual bronze at the 2023 Pan American Games.

Writing on social media, Ward said: “With a tremendous amount of pride and gratitude, we would like to announce the retirement of Contagious. Contagious is horse who has always given his best and at times more than that. We hoped for him to be a successful Grand Prix horse. In the end he became a championship star, competing successfully at a World Games, two World Cup finals, a Pan Am Games, winning team gold and individual bronze.

“His crowning achievement was being a member of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic team that brought home a silver medal.

“Contagious will enjoy his retirement at the beautiful Beechwood Stables in Weston, MA. Special thanks to all of our team who worked with and cared for him so diligently over the years, especially our home team led by Lee and Erica McKeever, Owen Rogers and Virginie Casterman.”