Veteran horse Libero Boy wins showjumping class aged 25

Kim Webster and her veteran hose Libero Boy winning a showjumping class at Aintree Equestrian Centre — (Image credit: Majestic Photography)

The 25-year-old Libero Boy II proved just how much he doesn’t want to retire as he headed the Heritage Insurance diamond qualifier for his owner Kim Webster at Aintree Equestrian Centre in Merseyside recently.

Shrewsbury-based Kim, who also took second with 10-year-old mare Melodie Fureen, has owned the Holstein gelding for the past 10 years and tried to retire him last year, but he was having none of it.

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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.

Former international jumper, ‘a freak of nature’, refuses to retire and is still winning aged 25

‘A tough horse who is built to be sound’

The quality bay gelding, who was bred in Germany and is by the great jumping sire Libero H, had a full career jumping internationally with Niall Talbot before Kim bought him.

“He would have travelled the world. He has more stamps on his passport than me,” Kim said. “No one can believe he is still like he is at his age – I was asked at the show if he was a youngster!”

Kim describes her winning veteran as “just a freak of nature”.

“He’s a tough horse who is built to be sound,” she said.

You can read the full report from Aintree Equestrian Centre in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday 23 February.

Do you have a golden oldie horse who refuses to retire? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com

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