Peter Charles’ Olympic ride Vindicat is sold

Murka’s Vindicat W – the horse whose clear round clinched team gold for Team GBR at Greenwich – has been sold abroad.

The 10-year-old KWPN gelding, who is owned by Peter Charles’ wife, Tara and his long-term backer Olga White, has gone to the young American showjumper Jessica Springsteen.

Peter made the announcement on his Facebook page.

“Vinnie is one of the best horses I have ever ridden, so the decision to move him on has not come lightly,” he said.

“In order to invest in a new string of young horses in preparation for Rio, we have had to make the decision to allow him to move to another rider,” he added.

Vindicat looked green and intimdated at the start of the Olympics, racking up nine faults on the first day of the showjumping and eight faults in the first round of the Nations Cup.

In the second round, he hit one and collected a time fault – but he improved throughout the Games and jumped clear when it really mattered, to give Britain Olympic gold for the first time since 1952.

“He produced an outstanding performance to secure team gold for Britain for the first time in 60 years, and I will never forget how that felt and how unbelievably proud he made me and my team feel,” said Peter.

“I wish Jessica the best of luck with him and I am sure he will make her proud, too.”

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