Champion large riding horse The Philanderer retires from showing
Carol Bardo’s superlative large riding horse The Philanderer has been retired from competition, after injuring a tendon.
The 11-year-old was wintering out with his fieldmate Comberton Clancy when he injured himself “careering around the field” said Carol.
The “quirky” grey has had a glittering show career with Jayne Webber.
“Phil’s” numerous titles include standing riding horse champion of the year at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in 2008, supreme horse at HOYS the following year and supreme at the Royal International and riding horse champion at Royal Windsor in 2010.
But despite his angelic looks this son of Kilvington Scoundrel lives up to his sire’s name.
“He has never been easy – he’s a law unto himself,” said Jayne. “He has his individual likes in everything – he has to have blue water buckets or he won’t drink – and is equally difficult when ridden.
“But he is very special – that’s part of his appeal.”
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Jayne said they had hoped to make 2012 his last season in the showring and go out with a “last hurrah at some nice shows” but his injury 10 days ago put paid to that.
“It’s a shame but the injury will take time to get right and it’s not worth trying to get him back after that,” she said.
Phil will spend his retirement on Jayne’s yard as a happy hacker and field companion to his best pals Comberton Clancy and Silverstream.
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
A self-confessed newshound, farmer’s daughter and journalist of many years' experience, Charlotte worked on regional papers before joining H&H in 2007. A regular rider, she visited Ireland in 2010 to investigate the fate of Irish horses through the recession, to much acclaim, and reported from the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. She left Horse & Hound in March 2013.