Kildare's Judy Reynolds has announced the retirement of her long-time partner Vancouver K – the most successful horse ever to represent Ireland on the international dressage stage.
The now 19-year-old Vancouver K, better known as JP, represented Ireland in finals at Olympic, European and World Championship level, as well as in three World Cup finals.
Vancouver K holds all three Irish international record scores in Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle To Music.
A breathtaking performance by Vancouver K and Judy Reynolds at the 2019 European Championships in Rotterdam was key to helping the Irish team to make history and qualify for the Olympic Games for the very first time.
The delay to the Tokyo Games meant that another Olympic Games was just out of reach for Vancouver K as he approaches his 20th birthday.
Ireland will still have a dressage team at the Olympics in Tokyo, with the final combinations set to be named in the coming weeks.
Judy Reynolds said: "I know I have always said that JP would decide when it was time to retire but I’ve had to make that decision for him.
"This horse has more heart than anyone can imagine and at 19 he still tries to give me everything. Too much. I’ve decided that it’s time to stop asking.
"Many people may ask why I’ve waited until now to make this decision, but the fact is JP still wants to work and we have given him every chance to be able to perform on the world’s biggest stage one more time, but alas it is not to be."
