Fans of showjumping will certainly miss one of its most charismatic horses soon as Carlo 273 will be retired during the Casas Novas CSI 5*-W next December in La Coruña, Spain.

The 17-year-old gelding (Contender x Cascavelle) was a multiple winner for both Nick Skelton (GBR) and the last few years under the saddle of Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP).

The Brit earned both individual and team bronze medal at the European Champions in Madrid 2011 riding the friendly grey horse. The high-flying Holsteiner was soon sold to Marta Ortega Perez who gave him for the Spaniard to rider.

Moya made the most of the opportunity, guiding Calo to victories in the Grand Prix of La Coruña in 2012, a leg of the World Cup CSI 5* in Zurich. Moreover, a fourth-place finish during the World Cup Final CSI 5*-W at Gothenburg in 2013 and an individual sixth-place at the European Championships at Aachen in 2015.

The duo also notched two wins while competing in CSI 5* classes during the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) last year, in Berlin and Cascais.

A goodbye for Carlos 273 at Sergio Alvarez Moya’s stable

The Spaniard made the following statement on his Facebook account:

“This morning was time to say bye and wish a happy retirement to my best friend for the last 5 years.
My plan was to retire him at the show in La Coruña this coming winter but my knee injury makes it impossible to compete there.. anyways the show will do a little tribute to him and announce the official retirement.”

“Thanks Carlo for such a great time together, for all the victories and many Grand Prix placings, for great times like World Cup final in Gothenburg, Europeans in Aachen or Rio Olympics.
Big thanks to Marta and family Ortega for giving me the opportunity to share my life with such a great horse.”

We will miss you at our barn but we are sure you will enjoy your well deserved retirement in the green fields of La Coruña!