Tamie Smith’s five-star hero Mai Baum signed off from his stellar profession with a win at his last occasion.
Rebecca Farm in Montana had been earmarked for Mai Baum’s swansong and the 19-year-old gelding waved an excellent farewell to his sporting profession with victory within the CCI4*-S at The Occasion. The pair added solely time-faults to their dressage rating of twenty-two, sealing the win earlier than a retirement ceremony after prize giving on Sunday (20 July).
Alex Ahearn, who owns “Lexus” along with her dad and mom Eric Markell and Ellen Ahearn, rode him within the lap of honour and the retirement ceremony. His saddle was then eliminated and a wreath positioned round his neck, earlier than he posed for photographs with followers and loved a stroll with groom Alyssa Dobrotin.
The north west of the US and Rebecca Farm have been a significant a part of Mai Baum’s profession – this win was his third victory on the venue – and Tamie mentioned that it felt “very becoming that he have his final hurrah within the very place he started”.
“He has nothing to show and deserves to retire as wholesome as he’s. Lexus isn’t a commodity to us, he’s our household, and he deserves to complete his competitors profession with a large social gathering,” mentioned Tamie, when his retirement plans had been introduced.
“Mai Baum has been my magic carpet and I really feel so privileged for all he and I realized collectively. He’s the horse that put me on the map, helped me earn that pinque coat, and win medals at many crew championships and Nations Cups.”
She added that though it was his final aggressive outing, however he’ll keep in work when he returns dwelling to California as “he likes to bounce round”.
Michele Pestl and Ellen Ahearn discovered Mai Baum on the Munich Public sale in Germany and imported him to the US. He began his profession with Alex, who initially labored for Michele in Washington state and who then later moved with the horse to Tamie’s base in Temecula.
Alex and Mai Baum made their worldwide debut at Rebecca Farm again in 2013, ending ninth within the CCI1* (now CCI2*-L), and she or he produced him to two-star (now three-star) earlier than Tamie took on the trip.
Successful the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Occasion in 2023 was a career-defining second in his and Tamie’s journey. Their CV additionally boasts crew gold on the 2019 Pan American Video games, world crew silver in 2022, and ninth at Badminton.
The gelding completed within the prime 10 on 27 of his 35 worldwide begins, together with 14 wins and 7 different podium finishes. He additionally recorded a ninth place end at Kentucky CCI5* in 2021 and travelled to Tokyo because the alternate for the US Olympic crew the identical yr.
“I’m very grateful to have had the journey we’ve had collectively together with Eric, Ellen and Alex,” mentioned Tamie. “It’s been one hell of a trip, from the very best of highs to the bottom of lows and quite a bit in between.
“However what has been the perfect of this wonderful journey has been the numerous locations we’ve travelled to and the many individuals we’ve got met all through the years. Lexus and I broke by way of many glass ceilings to attain what we did. I feel it’s a testomony to his coronary heart and my perseverance, in addition to his wonderful crew who helped all alongside the way in which.
“I owe a lot to Mai Baum and his household. I owe a lot to everybody who has believed in me all through the years and I can’t look ahead to the subsequent chapter.”
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H&H senior information author
Lucy is an skilled information journalist, reporter and presenter. Since becoming a member of the Horse & Hound crew in 2015, Lucy has reported from main world sporting occasions together with the Tokyo Paralympic Video games and a number of European Championships, in addition to Badminton, Burghley and London, to call just a few. She has coated present affairs and sports activities information throughout the total spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, in addition to human and equine welfare, trade information and courtroom circumstances.
