Olympic showjumper Yuri Mansur has said an emotional farewell to 12-year-old mare Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm, with whom he competed at Paris 2024.

The pair represented Brazil at last summer’s Olympic Games, also winning many of the biggest grands prix in the world, including the CSI5* Hamburg last year, Fontainebleau in April and the Rolex grand prix of Rome last month.

But the bay daughter of Chacco-Blue died on Tuesday (24 June) owing to “complications arising from colic”. Yuri paid heartfelt tribute to his beloved mare “who changed my career”. The leading Brazilian rider also expressed his gratitude “to an individual, a phenomenon, an angel named Miss Blue”.

“I’ll never forget a single moment, every part of the story,” he said. “From the very beginning – watching a video during the Tokyo Olympic Games, her first jump, and of course, all the great victories that followed.”

Yuri Mansur on Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm: “Sheer brilliance over the jumps”

Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm was bred in Brazil at Haras Rosa Mystica and originally went under the name Miss Blue Mystic Rose.

Her VDL Zirocco Blue-sired dam Magnolia Mystic Rose had also jumped to five-star level, most recently with Brazilian showjumper Eduardo Pereira De Menezes but she also represented Guatemala at the 2019 Pan-Am Games.

Miss Blue was bought as a two-year-old by long-time owner Thalita Olsen de Almeida and Yuri began the mare’s international career in 2022, after which they quickly became one of the most consistent combinations at the top level and a joy to watch over the biggest tracks.

“She’s barely gone and I already miss her grumpiness in the stall, her enthusiasm for work, and her sheer brilliance over the jumps,” said Yuri. “As with every great achievement, it always takes time for the reality to sink in. I still can’t believe I won’t see her again – that I’ll never again spend my days by her side.”

Gratitude for a “special soul”

But Yuri Mansur revealed that an “overwhelming feeling of gratitude” was giving him and his family “strength and comfort”.

“For giving me, even if just for a short while, the chance to share life with such a special soul,” continued the 2017 King George V Gold Cup-winning rider. “She changed my career, and lit up my family and my team with her talent and brilliance.

“A flame that burns so bright and so beautifully can never burn for long. Thank you, Miss Blue, for everything. One day, we’ll be together again.”

The Brazilian equestrian federation posted its own tribute to Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm, describing her as “a queen – a reason of great pride” for the Brazilian production process and the country’s horsemanship.

“She was admired by the elite and fans of the sport around the world,” a spokesperson said. “Without a doubt, Miss Blue Saint-Blue Farm is a unique star.”

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Brazilian combination Pedro Veniss and Nimrod De Muze have been eliminated from the Olympic team showjumping qualifier at the Paris Games as “minor blood” was found on the horse’s flanks.

The combination had jumped a beautiful clear as the first to go for Brazil but the small amount of blood was found at their post-round check, leading to their elimination.

“Elimination under this rule does not imply that there was any intention to hurt or harm the horse, but the FEI discipline rules have been put in place to ensure that horse welfare is protected at all times,” the FEI statement in relation to the elimination reads.

The Brazilian team is not eliminated as a whole, but will be ranked below all teams that finish with all three combinations.

“The rules relating to blood on the horse are discipline-specific due to the different requirements of each of the FEI disciplines,” the statement reads. “Under the FEI jumping rules, blood on the flanks or in the horse’s mouth results in elimination.”

The 13-year-old gelding had looked on fine form in his round this morning, and his and Pedro Veniss’s clear was followed by a four-fault round from their teammates Stephan de Freitas Barcha and Primavera. But, after news of Pedro and Nimrod De Muze’s elimination emerged, Rodrigo Pessoa withdrew Major Tom, clearly saving him for the individual competition, which starts on Monday (5 August).

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The stars of team Brazil at the Agria FEI World Showjumping Championships yesterday (11 August) were Yuri Mansur and a horse who only started jumping at the age of eight, having previously been “in the woods and doing dressage”.

QH Alfons Santo Antonio and Yuri chalked up the only clear for their team on Thursday, a class round that lifted them from 35th place after day one to 14th going into the team final.

The Estonian-bred gelding, who was on the team that finished sixth at the Tokyo Olympics last year, is 15 but, as Yuri explained, was a late starter in showjumping.

“He only started jumping when he was eight; before that he was in the woods a bit, doing a little bit of dressage,” he said. “But he loves what he does now.”

Yuri said that although the course for the second team qualifier was not easier than yesterday’s, it was one that suited the horse, who he owns with Santo Antonio Horses BV and Clear Round BV.

“Today was more his class; yesterday was more stressful because he’s a slow horse and I knew that to play the game well, I had in mind I couldn’t be more than four points behind the leader,” said Yuri, who was and still is on 3.65 penalties. “I was just within the limit! I tried to keep calm today because I know we can go to the end [of the World Showjumping Championships ] and it’s a long way yet, the week is just beginning. But the horse is really good and he’s fighting to be there.”

Yuri added that is feeling on top of his game.

“He’s a funny horse; he really has a strong personality,” he said. “But once he trusts you, he gives everything.”

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Picture Brazil and certain stereotypes spring to mind — the soccer, the samba, the sun-kissed beaches... but horse sport? A vibrant equestrian culture is one of the many surprises this sprawling South American country has to offer, if you’re prepared to dig a little deeper than the clichés, says Andrea Oakes

1. There is a diverse interest in horse sport

A look at the stats reveals a diverse equestrian scene, two-thirds of it made up of western events such as barrel racing, reining and cutting. The remaining sector more closely resembles our own, comprising the Olympic disciplines plus vaulting, driving, endurance and a fast-developing racing industry.

“The equestrian competition scene in Brazil is small compared to those in Europe and the United States, but it has been growing year by year,” says Juliana Machado, a journalist at the country’s monthly magazine Revista Horse.

“More than a million horses are used in Brazil today for sport, be it classical or western. The number of competitions has also increased considerably in recent years, which has helped the technical improvement of the athletes.”

2 . Brazil’s version of the BEF is the Brazilian Equestrian Confederation (CBH)

An unprecedented push for success at its home games has been driven by the Brazilian Equestrian Confederation (CBH) — an umbrella organisation similar to our British Equestrian Federation (BEF). “The CBH has conducted several clinics with renowned professionals, brought in foreign technicians to train teams and invested in horses and events in general,” explains Juliana.

3. The size of the country can be a problem for equestrians

British trainer Nick, who was coach and manager of the Brazilian three-day eventing team from 2009-2012, says that the sheer scale of the country — it’s a whopping 35 times the size of the UK — poses a challenge to the keen rider.

Most of the eventing, a relatively small sport, is centred in São Paulo state. “The level in eventing has improved no end,” he says. “I tried to introduce more foreign judges, which is now becoming the norm. With higher-level ground jury members the riders have a better idea of where they are.

“At the top level they’re very keen to make progress and this can be seen in some of the results,” adds Nick, pointing out that riders are avoiding the “big fish in a small pond” syndrome by travelling to Europe and the States and even basing themselves abroad for training. “Those riders hungry for more success are investing time, money and effort to expose themselves to what others are doing.”

4. Eventing is starting to hit the headlines

Eventing may account for just 0.9% of the country’s horse sport by participation, yet the Brazilian riders are starting to hit international headlines. Extra investment in training seems to be paying off. While Nick had to manage the team single-handedly, the eventers have campaigned for Rio under the expert eye of New Zealand Olympian Mark Todd, with British rider Anna Ross concentrating on the dressage side.

“They’ve made a concerted effort to improve,” says Mark, explaining that certain aspects of horsemanship needed attention. “They won the South American championships in 2014 and last year came second in the Pan Am Games, giving the Americans a real fright.”

5. The horse world is a tight knit community

According to Mark, it’s a close-knit community. “It reminds me of the New Zealand eventing scene 30 years ago,” he says. “Everyone knows everyone. In the UK people are in such a hurry to get away after an event, but competitions in Brazil are a social occasion. There’s always a barbeque with a few drinks afterwards and the whole family is often involved. It’s a lovely atmosphere.”

6. Riding clubs are often like upmarket sports complexes

Anna visits the country regularly to coach the eventers and also teaches in some of the big riding clubs in São Paulo. “A lot of people keep their horses at these clubs,” she explains, describing them as the equivalent of an upmarket sports complex.

“Most competitive riders treat their horses as we do in Europe. One club I go to has its own sushi restaurant and swimming pool, and there’s often a vet based on site.”

7. There’s no Pony Club — but riding is still popular among kids

“There’s no Pony Club, as such, but you do see a lot of kids riding,” adds Anna. “Quite a few children ride horses, usually kind, well-behaved animals.”

Youngsters hoping to progress must largely rely on financial help from their parents. Funding is limited at all stages and what there is available is difficult to obtain, although some sponsorship exists, mostly in the high-profile sport of showjumping.

8. Brazil is proud of its showjumping legends

Brazil’s climate means that the showjumping circuit is outdoor-based and year-round, except for the very hottest part of the summer, when most competitors take a break. There’s a lively amateur scene and a clique of professionals holding their own internationally.

Chief among these is Rodrigo Pessoa, whose father Nelson — known as “The Wizard”, for his bewitching riding style — made his first Olympic appearance in 1956. Rodrigo has dominated at the highest levels for decades and aims to make history on home turf this summer as the first Brazilian to make seven Olympic appearances.

With multiple Olympian Doda de Miranda in the running and legendary American rider-trainer George Morris at the helm as team coach, the Brazilian team could be formidable. Belgium-based Pedro Veniss is also hotly tipped.

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9. There is growing enthusiasm for dressage

The country’s dressage is largely centred around the riding clubs, using quality Lusitano horses. With little in the way of dressage heritage and a limited grand prix scene, ambitious riders are travelling to the sport’s leading nations to train and compete. A surprising number are campaigning for a place on the Olympic team, under the shrewd management of Belgian former international dressage judge Mariette Withages.

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Brazilian eventing reserve Carlos Paro says he will not be able to ride for his country after getting the call-up – because he does not have the correct accreditation.

Mr Paro, who is based in Shropshire, was named as third reserve for the Brazilians in June.

But the two riders above him on the list – Gustavo and Marcelo Pagoto – were suspended for nine and six months respectively by the FEI on Monday (23 July), for testing positive for the banned substances isometheptene and metabolites at Colina CIC*** (21-22 April).

So following the news yesterday (26 July) that Renan Guerreiro’s horse “Kenny” was injured, Mr Paro got the call-up from chef d’equipe Nick Turner.

But Mr Paro was not allowed to enter Greenwich Park.

“I drove down to Greenwich with my horse Political Mandate last night,” Mr Paro told H&H, “but I was told I was not accredited.

“I stayed nearby last night but this morning I was told there was no way I could compete.”

He claims a form that should have filled out by 24 March had not been returned by the Brazilian federation.

A statement put out by the Brazilians said the eventing team would run a man short, but made no mention of Mr Paro’s situation.

Nick Turner was not available for comment.

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Brazil’s Olympic showjumping team has been announced. The riders and horses who are going to London are:

• Rodrigo Pessoa (pictured) on HH Rebozo LS
• Alvaro de Miranda on AD Bogeno
• Luiz Francisco de Azevedo on Special
• Jos © Roberto Reynoso Fernandez jr on Maestro St Lois

The reserve rider is Carlos Ribas with Wilexo.

The Brazilian eventing team for the 2012 London Olympics is:

• Serguei Fofanoff riding Barbara TW
• Ruy Fonseca riding Tom Bombadil Too (pictured)
• Renan Guerreiro riding Kenny
• Marcio Jorge riding Josephine MCJ
• Marcelo Tosi riding Eleda All Black

Reserves in the following order:

1) Gustavo Pagoto riding Ojo D Agua

2) Marcelo Pagoto riding Land Ola Ola

3) Carlos Paro riding Political Mandate

“Congratulations to all of the riders, owners and back-up teams,” said Brazil’s team manager, Brit Nick Turner. “All of the riders have done a great job so far and now the focus is on producing excellent individual performances at the Olympic Games for a good team result.”