Born in: 1992
Height: 16.2hh
Breed: Anglo Arab
Sire: Tarnik
Dam: Mellita
Owner: The Hon. Mrs Mary Guinness
Total BE points: 1636
Died: 28 July 2015
Finn Guinness bred Tamarillo out of his wife Mary’s eventing mare Mellita, who won an intermediate with Lucinda Green.
Tamarillo’s sire Tarnik was a thoroughbred Polish endurance stallion, who was 23% Arab and won the 26-mile Arab Horse Society Marathon.
He started his eventing career under Mrs Diana Burgess in 1997, when he was placed fifth in a pre-novice section at Tweseldown. Diana evented him up to intermediate level, before William Fox-Pitt took over the ride in 1999, after a lucky suggestion by Mark Todd.
William speaks highly of the horse, but freely admits he was no easy ride: “He could be everything all at once — spooky, lazy, sharp, exuberant, sensitive. He was extraordinary and unique.”
The new combination was placed second at their first event, before notching up two novice wins in their first season together.
The year 2000 saw Tamarillo win his first three-day event, when he took the CCI** at Blarney Castle with just 4.8 time-penalties added to a dressage score of 39.8. This same year, Tamarillo upgraded to advanced level and finished the season with a second place at Blenheim CCI***.
Tamarillo won medals at an Olympic Games (2004), two World Equestrian Games (2002, 2006) and a European Eventing Championships (2005). He has also won both Badminton and Burghley — an impressive feat for any event horse.
An eventing personality in his own right, Tamarillo was certainly one of the most successful, and quirky, equine stars.
“His personality has been both his gift and his Achilles heel,” says William. “He’s probably one of the most talented athletes the eventing world has ever seen, but his career has been one of great highs littered with ‘what ifs’.”
Tamarillo was retired from eventing at the end of 2009 after a reoccurrence of an old leg injury.
In 2011 fans paid tribute to this exceptional horse at Badminton, when he was officially retired from competition.
He lived out his retirement at William’s Dorset yard under the care of his head girl Jackie Potts. He was put down in late July 2015, aged 23, when old age caught up with him.
In 2013 a clone of Tamarillo was born in San Antonio, New Mexico. Named Tomatillo, the colt is now back at Biddesden Stud, on the border of Hampshire and Wiltshire, and is standing at stud to a select group of mares during 2016.
Cloning is a concept that, for many people, is still shrouded in mystery. Here we bring you answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about cloning horses
Tomatillo will be used for breeding and “if all goes well” he will event in future.
See pictures of the first foals by Tamarillo's clone — Tomatillo — born at Biddesden Stud
Want to breed from the clone of a gelded Badminton winner? Now you can as Tamarillo's clone will be covering a select number of mares this season
We've dug deep in to the archives to take a look back at some of Tamarillo's career highlights in pictures
William Fox-Pitt’s Olympic silver medal-winning partner Tamarillo has died aged 23
To celebrate William Fox-Pitt being crowned Badminton champion for a second time, we bring you pictures of some of his top horses
Horse & Hound readers have their say about the concept of cloning and which horses they would most like to see cloned
Following the exclusive news in today's Horse & Hound magazine that Tamarillo has a clone, watch a video of the foal at 6 weeks of age
The 19-year-old eventer will be officially retired on Monday, at the horse trials he won in 2004
American rider Stephen Bradley will take no further part in the Burghley Horse Trials after his horse Brandenburg's Joshua was spun at the first horse inspection on Wednesday
Selectors have chosen Parkmore Ed over Tamarillo and Ballincoola to partner William Fox-Pitt in Hong Kong this summer
William Fox-Pitt has withdrawn Tamarillo from next month's Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials
William Fox-Pitt’s first ride Tamarillo might be withdrawn from Badminton Horse Trials
The news that Tamarillo had damaged a stifle during the cross country in Athens brought many hearts to a standstill, but things are looking up for the elegant Anglo Arab, who is expected to be back on the eventing circuit next season
William Fox-Pitt and Britain suffered a crushing blow yesterday evening with the news that Tamarillo has fractured a stifle in three places and has been withdrawn before today's final jumping phase
HHO continues its focus on British-bred horses with William Fox-Pitt
