Gemma Tattersall riding PAMERO 4 in CIC*** ERM Section A during the cross country phase of the Barbury International Horse Trials held on the Barbury Castle Estate in the village of Rockley near Marlborough in the county of Wiltshire in the UK on 8th July 2018
Gemma Tattersall has said goodbye to her “superstar” and “absolute poppet” Pamero 4, who has retired from the top level of the sport.
Clive Smith’s 14-year-old gelding is to live a quieter life in his new home, competing in dressage and low-level jumping.
Gemma told H&H the Hanoverian suffered a significant injury before Badminton 2019 and had a year off. As he was coming back into work he suffered a mild setback, and had more time out.
“We didn’t want him to be injured again so the decision was that retiring him to a lower level was the best thing for him,” she said.
Gemma said her fondest memories included her second place at Pau 2018, her highest CCI5* finish so far, where they finished on their dressage score, 0.4 of a penalty behind winner Thibault Fournier on Siniani De Lathus.
“It was so close!” she said. “He was fantastic there, and his second place in the Event Rider Masters at Barbury that year was great too. Another really fond memory was his fourth place at Blenheim; I hadn’t had him long and was really chuffed to finish on his dressage score.”
Gemma described Pamero, who she said had been “brilliantly” produced up to five-star level by Laura Collett before she took on the ride in 2017, as hugely powerful with a “massive” stride.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“He had endless, endless scope,” she said. “He could jump the biggest fences; five-star wasn’t really big enough for him, and the showjumping was never big enough!
“He was very genuine, and always an absolute gentleman on the ground, so kind and sweet and smiley. I never once saw him with his ears back.
“He was an absolute poppet and we will all miss him so very much.
“A big thank you to his owner Clive Smith for giving me the opportunity to ride this wonderful horse.”
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 to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens 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
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.
