Olympic gold medallist Romeo 88 has retired aged 16 to spend a happy retirement with his best friend.
Ann Thompson’s Zangersheide gelding and Harry Charles represented Britain at two Olympics, jumping clear to win team gold last year – and the world team bronze in 2022 that secured our place in Paris. They also came fourth in the 2022 World Cup Final and jumped double clears, and secured podium places, in top grands prix and Nations Cups across the world.
“Romeo, thank you for everything,” Harry said. “You changed my life and I’ll for ever be grateful. You were with me all the way and I loved every second.”
“We’re not retiring him for any other reason other than it’s the right thing to do,” Harry’s father Peter told H&H. “He’s perfectly sound; the team vet came last week gave him a full bill of health to compete and we thought it couldn’t get any better.
“Two Olympics, the World Championships, second in the Dublin grand prix, nearly won the World Cup Final – and he’ll never beat what he did last year. What a way to retire him.”
Harry Charles and Romeo 88 at Paris 2024.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Harry took the reins on Romeo in 2021, months before they made their Olympic debut.
“The start wasn’t easy as there were various issues to iron out,” Peter said. “But Romeo soon developed a wonderful partnership with Harry and it didn’t take long to get great results and win.”
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Peter added that last year, the decision was made to aim Romeo at the Olympics, where they excelled despite the fact Harry had broken his wrist in a fall three weeks earlier.
“Romeo and Harry with his broken wrist went to Paris in top form,” he said. “What the three-man team achieved with no drop score was incredible. For Romeo and Harry to achieve again the only clear and win gold was the stuff of dreams; it never gets old.
“Romeo 88 was and is an incredible horse because he loved his job and he loved Harry. He always gave Harry 110% because of his trust in his rider. Equally Georgia his groom kept his grumpy attitude in check; nothing for her was ever too much trouble.”
“They’ve been great friends all their lives; they’ll know each other instantly,” Peter said. “He’ll hack around and go in the field, and do exactly what he wants to do.”
Harry thanked Ms Thompson for trusting Romeo to him.
“I hope we did you proud!” he said. “Thank you for the opportunities also with Balou du Reventon and Aralyn Blue, you gave me a chance that many could only dream of.
“Romeo will have the best retirement; it makes me happy that he will leave the sport on the highest of the highs and have the long, healthy retirement he deserves. Thank you will never be enough – happy retirement, my friend.”
Ann added that she told Harry in Tokyo that those Games were practice for Paris.
“Thank you for believing in me,” she said. “I knew Romeo would do whatever you asked of him. That horse loves and trust you, Harry; it is that relationship unlike in any other sport that creates champions. That little extra the horse will give you when you need it comes from the care you give outside the ring.”
Harry CHARLES riding ROMEO 88 for GBR during the Team Jumping Final of the Olympic Showjumping Team Competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games held on the Etoile Royal Esplanade in the grounds of the Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles) in Versailles just outside Paris in France between the 25th July and 6th August 2024
Harry CHARLES riding ROMEO 88 for GBR during the Team Jumping Final of the Olympic Showjumping Team Competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games held on the Etoile Royal Esplanade in the grounds of the Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles) in Versailles just outside Paris in France between the 25th July and 6th August 2024
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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
