HARRY Charles announced the retirement of his Paris Olympic Games gold medal-winning horse Romeo 88 (Contact vd Heffinck x Orlando) this week.

Charles took over the ride on the now 16-year-old gelding from Darragh Kenny in 2021 and shortly after they represented Britain at the Tokyo Olympic Games. A year later they were part of the team who won bronze at the World Championships in Herning and finished fourth in the World Cup Final in Leipzig.

They were sensational at the Paris Games last summer to help Britian win the team gold. In the lead-up to Paris, Romeo 88 was ridden by Harry’s father, Peter Charles - himself an Olympic gold medallist (London 2012) who rode in the green of Ireland for part of his career, after Harry broke his wrist in a fall at Aachen. Harry said the horse is retiring to his owner, Ann Thompson, and is sound and well.

“Romeo, thank you for everything,” Harry said, announcing his retirement.

“You changed my life and I’ll forever be grateful. You were with me all the way and I loved every second. Romeo will have the best retirement; it makes me happy that he will leave the sport on the highest of the highs and have the long, healthy retirement he deserves. Thank you will never be enough – happy retirement, my friend.”