Top horse claims 58th international grand prix victory in his ‘farewell dance’

Emilio 107, the world number five-ranked ride of Isabell Werth, has retired from competition on a high having posted his 58th international grand prix victory.

Isabell and 18-year-old Emilio (Ehrenpreis x Cacir Aa) enjoyed their swansong at the Wiesbaden CDI4 (18-19 May), where they won the grand prix on 75.07% and the freestyle on 83.30%.

“Tonight is the night! Now it’s time to cross your fingers once more for our farewell dance,” said Isabell ahead of their freestyle performance.

Isabell had previously indicated that Emilio, whom she co-owns with Madeleine Winter-Schulze, would retire at the end of 2023, however following a double victory at the Stuttgart World Cup qualifier in November it was decided that Emilio would contest the World Cup Final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (16-20 April).

They were among the favourites to win the competition, but when Emilio became unwell with periostitis (inflammation) he was withdrawn. Instead Isabell rode DSP Quantaz in Riyadh, finishing fourth in the grand prix and third in the freestyle.

Isabell and Emilio made their international debut together at the Odense CDI2*, Denmark, in October 2014. Their first grand prix victory came the following year on home soil at the Perl CDI4*.

Emilio bows out from the sport at number five in the FEI dressage horse world rankings. He never contested an international championship with Isabell, with Weihegold OLD, Bella Rose 2, and DSP Quantaz taking on team duties during the past eight years, but he was part of the winning German Nations Cup team at Aachen in 2018, where he and Isabell won the freestyle and grand prix special.

During his career Emilio recorded 58 international grand prix wins, including 15 World Cup qualifiers.

Isabell said she was “very proud” of Emilio following their final performance at Wiesbaden.

“He deserves to say goodbye in front of such a great setting,” she said.

You might also be interested in:

‘As always, our horses lead the way’: World Cup Final favourite withdraws through injury

‘A small horse with a genuinely big heart’: Olympic star still thriving in retirement at 33

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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