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‘Thank you for always fighting for me, my friend’: farewell to mare with ‘heart of gold’

Becky Murray Becky Murray

    • Irish showjumper Conor Swail has paid tribute to former top-level mare Flower, stating he has “yet to meet another horse like her”.

    The Belgian warmblood Bon Ami daughter, who Conor bought with Vanessa Mannix in 2017, has died in retirement aged 22.

    “It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to this special mare,” said Conor.

    “Those who have been following me for some time will definitely remember this lady.”

    Flower was produced up the ranks to five-star by her owner, Finnish rider Nina Fagerstrom. The pair had placings in 1.50m classes at venues including Wellington, Florida, and Spruce Meadows, Canada.

    Conor bought Flower in January 2017 and the pair hit the ground running. They were runners-up in their first CSI5* 1.50m in Wellington, Florida, in February, and that summer they won a CSIO4* 1.60m class and a World Cup leg, both at Thunderbird Park in Vancouver, Canada.

    Conor described Flower as an “absolute war horse” with a “heart of gold”.

    “[It was] her way or no way – someone I could always count on,” he said.

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    A post shared by Conor Swail (@conor.swail)

    In 2021 Ireland’s Jenny Rankin took over the reins for Flower’s last two years of competition.

    Jenny said she was “grateful to have had the privilege” of competing Flower in her final shows, winning Jenny’s first ranking classes.

    “To play a small part in your story was an honour,” she said.

    “Thank you to Conor and Vanessa for allowing this special mare to have played a part in my career.”

    Conor Swail said Flower “left a huge stamp on me and everyone who knew her, with so many great memories”.

    “After a successful show career, Flower enjoyed her retirement in the fields of Ireland where she had two beautiful foals and was still stealing hearts at the age of 22,” he said.

    “I have yet to meet another horse like her. Thank you for always fighting for me, my friend,”

    Nina added that Flower was “one of the most challenging but also rewarding” horses she had worked with and that she loved following her career with Conor.

    “Amazing mare and one definitely to remember forever,” she said.

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    Becky Murray
    Becky Murray

    H&H senior news writer
    Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
    Becky Murray

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