THE great show jumping horse World Cruise passed away on Monday, aged 25. Owned by Vinnie Duffy from Ballina, and bred at Waterside Stud in Meath, the Cruising gelding jumped on the world stage with Tipperary’s Shane Breen.

The pair represented Ireland at the 2006 World Equestrian Games and jumped a double clear round in the Aga Khan Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show, among other top results. The horse was then ridden for periods by Vinnie’s young sons, Alex and Michael, who both went on to become international show jumpers.

Vinnie, in an interview in this paper in March, spoke fondly of the gelding, who spent his final years on Tiernan Gill’s farm in Ballina. “He changed everyone’s lives, he was a dream horse,” said Vinnie.

Writing on social media, Shane Breen said: “My dear old friend World Cruise passed away last night age 25. A life-changing horse for me. My proudest day was jumping double clear in my first RDS Dublin Aga Khan Nations Cup. We had so many memorable times competing and being placed in five-star Grands Prix around the globe, including the World Equestrian Games in 2006 and European Championships.

“He had wonderful owners in the Duffy family - Sandra, Vinnie, Samantha, Audrey, Martin, Alex, and Michael. There is not a week that goes by, when schooling my current horses, that I don’t think of Cruise. He will remain firmly in my thoughts. RIP World Cruise. What a horse, goodbye my friend.”