‘She exceeded all expectations’: John Whitaker pays tribute as his Olympic mare retires

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John Whitaker and Ornellaia competing at the 2016 Olympics
Britain's John Whitaker on Ornellaia competes during the Equestrian's Show Jumping first qualifier event of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games at the Olympic Equestrian Centre in Rio on August 14, 2016. / AFP / John MACDOUGALL (Photo credit should read JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)
(Image credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Ornellaia, the Princess Haya-owned mare who took John Whitaker to the 2016 Rio Olympics and Sienna Charles to the European Young Rider Championships, has been retired at the age of 17.

The For Pleasure mare has been ridden by Sienna for the past two years and the 20-year-old Hampshire rider announced Ornellaia’s retirement by saying she was “so grateful for the opportunity to have had [Ornellaia] as my partner over the last three years”, describing her as “one of a kind”.

Jennifer Donald
Jennifer Donald
Showjumping and racing editor

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.