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.”