Superheroes

The ‘true legend’ that is H&M All In, as his rider Peder Fredricson called him, concluded his sporting career with a farewell ceremony to competitions last February in Gothenburg.

Thus ends the era of All In. It is such a pleasure to see an old horse retire from competitions when the time to end his career has come, especially when he is still fit, carrying all his scars as well as his competitive career with pride. It is not easy for a rider to make the decision to withdraw his partner in competitions, in life, in daily emotions, but this too is part of being a horseman, understanding when it is time to say enough even when the horses still show a lot of willingness.

We felt so much emotion in the farewell ceremonies of the great champions such as Nick Skelton’s Big Star, Henrik von Eckermann’s Mary Lou, Luciana Diniz’s Winningmood, Kevin Staut’s Reveur de Hurtebise, Giulia Martinengo Marquet’s Athletica, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson’s Casall, Marcus Ehning’s Plot Blue and Comme il Faut, Martin Fuchs’ Clooney, Michael Jung’s Sam, Isabell Werth’s Bella Rose… and countless others. Emotion and appreciation have the same value when we retire our old ‘happy hacker’, with whom we spent many hours of pure fun and love. The horses that fill stables all over the world, school horses, ponies which the children grow up with… All horses, whoever they are, of any size, breed or origin, are champions in the same way and deserve their own ‘retirement ceremony’ for a dignified retirement. They are our Superheroes.

In these pages, the withdrawal of H&M All In and Gazelle and the farewell to Shutterfly who has, however, entered Eden among the horses that have left a big mark in horse history.