The house owners of a prime nationwide and worldwide showjumping pony who has sustained a career-ending damage aged 17 stated their one goal is for him to benefit from the joyful retirement he deserves.
Vaughann de Vuzit, who has represented Britain on pony European championship and Nations Cup groups, received on the nationwide championships and London Worldwide and been positioned on the Horse of the Yr Present, will spend the remainder of his days along with his present house owners, the Purdham household.
Sarah Purdham instructed H&H the household purchased Vaughann final September and her daughter Estelle had solely been competing with him for about six months however the pair had solid a powerful partnership.
“She’s flattened,” Sarah stated. “All her desires have gone. But when she will perhaps sit on him once more at some point, simply to provide him a cuddle, it’ll be like we’ve received the lottery.
“We haven’t had him lengthy, however he’s nonetheless a part of the household, and we’re going to take care of him for the remainder of his life. After what he’s achieved for the game, and we love him dearly. She perhaps hasn’t bought on the British group, she’s not going to HOYS. However if you purchase a horse, you make that dedication to take care of them for the remainder of their life.”
Vaughann initially competed internationally with French rider Anna Szarzewski, successful group gold on the 2021 Europeans. He then went to Madison Seedhouse, with whom he received group European bronze two years later. He contested Nations Cup competitions with Madison and Maisie Allsop, successful the ultimate with Maisie in 2024.
Estelle and he had not but had the chance to go for group choice however had already had nationwide success, successful at 1.20m stage and being positioned at Pony of the Yr Present.
However a freak stumble led to the damage.
“We do every little thing proper however these items can occur,” Sarah stated
“He was top-of-the-line ponies in Europe; he’s made the desires of 4 little women come true. He made Estelle consider, and he or she’d certified for every little thing. If he hadn’t been injured, I’m positive they might have been on the group at some point as a result of he was such a particular, particular pony.
“He’s so affectionate and straightforward, an absolute gem with the guts of a lion who would do something for Estelle, and the identical for his different jockeys.”
Sarah stated that it will likely be an extended journey again to discipline soundness however so long as she and the vets are positive Vaughann is comfy, they may do all they will to make this occur.
“We’ll do one of the best we will for him so he can spend the remainder of his life in a discipline with our different ponies,” she stated. “Our title is within the passport of each pony we’ve owned so once they retire they will come again and have a beautiful life with us.
“I’m simply going to take care of Vaughann and my little lady and hopefully our fortunes would possibly change. I don’t know if I’m going to have the ability to purchase her one other pony, however she loves him dearly, she’s doing every little thing she will for him – and he’s nonetheless smiling at us.
“We’ve bought to undergo life doing the best factor, and that’s what we’re going to do, strive our greatest to get him a cheerful life within the discipline. That’s what he deserves.”
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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. Captivated with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all features of the business, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of selection is showjumping, by which she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping reveals by to worldwide championships.