Ros Canter and Zenshera. Photograph by Tilly Berendt.
British WEG champion Ros Canter introduced this week that she was formally retiring her 5* accomplice, Zenshera (Guidam – Telvera, by Matterhorn) on the age of 17. “At 17 he simply began to really feel his age this summer season,” Ros wrote on social media. However whereas “Alfie’s” eventing profession could also be over, he’s at the moment working towards competing on the Prix St. Georges degree of dressage and also will function a younger horse sitter. “He’s such a pet at residence that I hope in a couple of years that (my daughter) Ziggy will get the pleasure of getting a couple of rides.”
Ros and Zenshera shared a partnership that dated again to 2010 (“we didn’t purchase him to go five-star, actually we have been simply pleased to make it round a BE100 with two down within the present leaping,” Ros recalled in her retirement publish), finally stepping as much as the highest degree of the game in 2017, after they completed within the high 10 at Luhmühlen. “Alfie” turned considerably of a Luhmühlen and Pau specialist, finishing six occasions on the 5* degree between the 2 and ending exterior of the highest 10 simply as soon as. It will even be this horse that Ros would faucet as the primary to take her to a 5* after getting back from maternity go away in 2019 — ending fifth at Pau that yr in a smashing return.
Photograph by Tilly Berendt.
In actual fact, Alfie had flunked out of a pair completely different roles earlier than making his strategy to Ros, present leaping and carriage driving being two disciplines he’d tried his hoof at beforehand. Finally, the 15.3h gelding can be bought to Ros for lower than £5,000 and would go on to be one of the constant performers in Ros’ program, in addition to one of many kindest horses within the barn.
You may learn extra about Zenshera in this “Behind the Stall Door” piece Tilly wrote for The Chronicle of the Horse — and right here’s a toast to one of many good boys who has positively earned his carrots. Completely satisfied retirement, Alfie!
