‘Always in my heart’: top showjumper pays tribute to star horse
Top showjumper and World Cup contender Forlap has died aged 13.
The gelding, owned by Belgian Gregory Wathelet, was put down after complications following surgery on his fetlock.
Gregory bought back his former ride from the Ukraine’s Alexander Onischenko in November 2016 and the pair competed at last year’s World Cup final.
“Despite a strong character and temperament, you immediately became someone very special to me,” said Gregory in a tribute to his horse.
In 2012, Forlap and Gregory won the Belgian championship for seven-year-olds.
The following year they took the title of senior Belgian Champion and won a five-star grand prix in La Corunna, Spain.
As a nine-year-old, Forlap was second in a five-star grand prix in Doha and jumped two Nations Cup double clears, in Lummen, Belgium, and La Baule, France.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
That year Forlap was sold to Alexander, but Gregory bought him back two years later.
“My dream had always been for Forlap to come back home,” said Gregory,
“I thought he was back for the rest of his life and for many long years.”
In December Forlap had an accident while being lunged and fractured the fetlock joint in his off foreleg.
“After this accident the whole team did everything in its power to save him so that he could enjoy a beautiful retirement,” said Gregory.
“While he was showing all his strength of character and incredible intelligence to overcome this situation and repair the fracture, the last two weeks were more difficult for him with several complications.
“Again he fought like never before, but unfortunately he couldn’t win this last battle.
Continued below…
Popular Spanish showjumping tour cancelled
The tour, held in the Costa de Sol, is popular with British riders, but will sadly not be going ahead
Champion jockey’s jumping son targets HOYS
The youngster also hopes to represent England this year
“Destiny decided otherwise, and with immense sadness we had to make the decision to let him go and so put an end to his suffering in this last battle.
“I’m so sad of his departure that I still have to realise that he will no longer be there.
“A lot of people will miss him here at the stables and even outside. But for me he will always be there somewhere in my heart and thoughts.”
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.