Lenamore, one of the most popular and enduring event horses of all time, has been retired aged 20.
Owners Lexi Jackson, her mother Janie Mackinnon and rider Caroline Powell made the decision last Friday (8 March) after a routine pre-season veterinary check-up.
“He went to Rossdales in Newmarket for his yearly inspection and they discovered a little more wear and tear than we thought,” said Caroline. “He’s not lame and not injured — it’s just old age.”
Lexi said: “The difficult thing is that he looks amazing — so fit and well. We were all in floods of tears as we made the decision.”
The Seacrest gelding, bred by trainer Ted Walsh in Ireland, evented with Lexi up to three-star level. She handed the ride over to Caroline in 2004 and the partnership was an instant success.
They represented New Zealand at two Olympic Games — Hong Kong and London, winning team bronze at the latter — and the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, 2006.
Caroline and “Ed” completed Badminton seven times in a row, finishing in the top 12 five times. But their greatest day came at Burghley in 2010, when they completed on their dressage score of 38.7 to win.
- Enjoy our picture gallery celebrating Lenamore’s career
Read our full exclusive story about Lenamore’s retirement, including more reaction from Caroline and Lexi, plus their plans for his future, see the current issue of H&H (14 March 2013)
