Eventer who contested eight championships and won four medals dies

Expo Du Moulin, a stalwart of French eventing teams for nearly a decade when ridden by Arnaud Boiteau, has died at the age of 24.

Arnaud revealed the news on his Facebook page this week, saying that Expo went out peacefully after five years of happy retirement.

“More than a horse, I lose a friend, a companion on great sporting adventures and more… thank you for all this, champion!” he wrote.

Expo Du Moulin was by the selle Français stallion Royalmé (by Almé Z), out of the thoroughbred Madame Christelle (by Air De Cour).

Remarkably, he competed at the senior championship every year between 2002 and 2010 except for 2008.

He won four medals — team gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics and team silver at the 2003, 2005 and 2007 European Championships, in Punchestown, Blenheim and Pratoni del Vivaro.

Expo’s best individual championship performances were eighth at the Blenheim Europeans in 2005 and 10th at the Punchestown Europeans in 2003.

Arnaud Boiteau riding Expo du Moulin

Although he had an amazing selection record, he did fail to complete at half of his championships, either through problems across country or, on one occasion, withdrawing at the second horse inspection.

Expo Du Moulin was also placed in the top 10 at international competitions on numerous other occasions. He won the World Cup qualifier at Martinvast in August 2004 and a CIC3* at Vittel in July the same year. He was also second in the competitive CCI3* at Saumur in 2009. In 2006, he was fourth in the World Cup final in Malmö.

Related articles:

• French riders take the Saumur spoils
• Event riders on the mend following Badminton falls
• Mother thanks Badminton riders for wearing ribbons in memory of young eventer

Full record of Expo Du Moulin’s championship performances:

2002 World Equestrian Games (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain), individual: 42nd

2003 European Championships (Punchestown, Ireland), team: 10th individually, team silver

2004 Olympics (Athens, Greece), team: eliminated individually cross-country, team gold

2005 European Championships (Blenheim, Great Britain), team: eighth individually, team silver

2006 World Equestrian Games (Aachen, Germany), team: eliminated individually cross-country, team seventh

2007 European Championships (Pratoni del Vivaro, Rome), team: eliminated individually cross-country, team silver

2009 European Championships (Fontainebleau, France), individual: eliminated second horse inspection

2010 World Equestrian Games (Kentucky, USA), team: 27th individually, team eighth

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.