Top showjumper sold twice in two months
Showjumper Varo M — who was successful with British rider Daniel Neilson — has been sold for the second time in as many months.
In December the horse was bought from Daniel by Saudi Arabian showjumper Abdullah Al Sharbatly. But now the horse has been purchased by fellow Saudi rider Abdulrahman Alrajhi.
The horse was reportedly sold after young rider Abdulrahman put in an offer after riding him recently. Abdullah wished the pair the best of luck.
Abdulrahman Alrajhi has been jumping successfully in the Arab League this year, and was selected for the Saudi squad for the Nations Cup in Abu Dhabi last week.
Abdulrahman described Varo M as a “true star”.
Abdullah Al Sharbatly purchased Varo M (Pierrot x Weinfurst) from Daniel last year.
Daniel and 13-year-old gelding competed up to CSI5* together and were part of the British team at numerous Nations Cups — including in the winning team in the St Gallen leg of the series in May 2014.
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They also finished the best of the British in third in the 2013 World Cup at Olympia and fourth in the Horse of the Year Show grand prix last October.
Dan, who is based at Aspen Stables in Essex, had ridden and produced Varo M since the horse was four.
When the sale to Abdullah was confirmed, it was widely thought that Varo M would become Abdullah’s main grand prix horse as the purchase followed the recent sale of his top ride, Callahan.
Abdullah bought the 12-year-old in the online Eurocommerce auction last summer, but the stallion was sold to Syrian rider Ahmad Saber Hamcho in November.
Abdullah had a successful season competing Callahan and the combination won individual gold for Saudi Arabia at last summer’s Asian Games. The horse was previously ridden by Gero Schroder, before being sold for €180,000.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.