Oliver Townend has paid tribute to Ballaghmor Class, the horse who excelled on the prime of his sport for nearly a decade, helped him obtain his childhood goals – and is “my Milton”.
“Thomas”, owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan, has retired aged 19, after a stellar profession through which he and Oliver received 4 instances at five-star, took Olympic workforce gold and confirmed big consistency on the prime degree.
The Irish-bred gelding will spend the remainder of his life with Oliver, having fun with scaled-down work to maintain him pleased, and in the identical routine from which he has all the time benefited.
“I’ve been fortunate sufficient to trip some excellent horses, and have a great profession earlier than him however with him I’ve had the head of my profession,” Oliver instructed H&H.
“He’s enabled me to realize a whole lot of my childhood goals, he took me locations I by no means actually believed I’d get to or aimed for. I by no means actually thought I’d get to an Olympics; it was all about five-stars and making a residing. However to carry out from begin to end the best way he did, on the prime degree, made him a star throughout the sport, and the Olympics made him a star exterior the game.”
In 13 years of eventing, Oliver and Thomas received Burghley twice, and the Kentucky and Maryland five-stars as soon as every, and secured 10 top-five CCI5* locations in addition to numerous different worldwide wins – and Olympic workforce gold in 2021. Ballaghmor Class completed his final competitors, Pau CCI5*, sound and pleased final yr, bowing out on the prime of his recreation.
“He’ll preserve doing issues, to maintain him pleased, and he’ll spend the remainder of his life right here,” Oliver stated. “He’s very a lot bought his personal routine and everyone has to work spherical him.
“I grew up watching John Whitaker and Milton and for me, he’s the equal, my Milton.”
Thomas might be formally retired at Burghley this yr (3-6 September).
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Ballaghmor Class’s unimaginable profession stats embrace an Olympic workforce gold medal, 4 CCI5* wins, 10 consecutive top-five placings at CCI5* and a pair of,845 British Eventing factors.
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Oliver Townend is overcome with emotion as he wins the 2024 Maryland 5 Star on Ballaghmor Class.
Credit score: Amy Dragoo
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Oliver Townend on his technique to successful Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2023 with Ballaghmor Class.
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H&H information editor
Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Obsessed with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all features of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of alternative is showjumping, through which she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping exhibits by to worldwide championships.
