RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 14: Elizabeth Madden of United States riding Cortes'c' competes during the Jumping Individual and Team Qualifier on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Equestrian Centre on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
As 2023 comes to a close, join us in celebrating the incredible achievements of these top showjumping horses, who notched up a tremendous number of victories all over the world. Our thoughts are with connections of all horses that left us during 2022.
The legendary Olympic showjumper won three World Cup finals, the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen, world team and individual bronze and individual European gold.
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2E80XAA Noltes Kuchengirl ridden by Germany's Ehning Marcus during the International jumping in La Baule, France on May 11, 2007. Photo by Gael Gotonnec/Cameleon/ABACAPRESS.COM
(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)
The Lord Z x Cambridge Cole mare won her first grand prix with Johannes Ehning, before brother Marcus took over the reins. They won grands prix in Aachen and La Baule, and the World Cup final in Geneva, before Küchengirl became a broodmare.
The showjumper was best known for winning the Hickstead Derby with Tina Fletcher in 2011, but also won the HOYS puissance, area trials and international stairway classes and were placed in many top classes. After he retired from international jumping, he won the Pony Club Area Championship with Jess Paramor.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 14: Elizabeth Madden of United States riding Cortes'c' competes during the Jumping Individual and Team Qualifier on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Equestrian Centre on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The huge Belgian-bred 17.1hh gelding – “the friendliest you’ll ever meet” – joined US rider Beezie Madden in 2011 and together the pair won world and Olympic medals as well as top grands prix.
Known for his signature cross-legged pose over a fence, “Tiny” – who was owned by Abigail Wexner – was immortalised as a Breyer model horse in 2016.
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The stallion, by Libero H x Lord Calando, was an international 1.50m showjumper in his own right and went on to become an exceptional sire. His offspring include 2012 Olympic team silver medallist Sterrehof’s Tamino and World Cup finalist Uno De La Roque.
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Former web features editor, point-to-point editor and digital racing editor
Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.
