The 2010 Badminton winner Inonothing has run his last event. The 17-year-old will have an official retirement ceremony at the scene of his big win on Monday 6 May.
Inonothing, by Basildon Bond, was ridden by Australian rider Paul Tapner. He was bought by Jenny Waaler as a weanling foal for just £500, and will spend his retirement in a field on her estate.
His team decided “he was telling us he had had enough”.
“We always said he would tell us and at the end of last season he started to struggle making distances,” said Paul.
“His old body has taken a bit of a battering and the other hindleg was struggling after having to take all his weight during his recovery [from a stifle injury in 2010]. This was his way of telling us, and we feel sad but happy with our decision.”
Inonothing completed eight CCI**** competitions, with six top-10 placings. He represented Australia at the World Equestrian Games in 2010, where he fractured his stifle. He returned to competition in 2012, and finished 10th at Luhmuhlen CCI****.
“He epitomises the importance of a trusting partnership between a horse and rider,” said Paul, who remembers him being sent home from the hunting field as a young horse for “exceptionally disruptive behaviour”.
“He always gave his all and dug deep when it counted. The team feels privileged to have had him.”
