Mary King retires Imperial Cavalier

Mary King has retired Imperial Cavalier, following a disappointing performance at Badminton.

Lost enthusiasm

Mary told H&C she thought they had a “very good chance” of winning the prestigious event. However, ‘Archie’ got stuck half way through the owl hole at the Outlander Bank, which very nearly unseated the 52-year-old rider. Archie then put in a stop at 16b, and Mary decided to retire.

“He’s normally very forward going, but he had gone a bit quiet after the upset at the owl hole and lost enthusiasm,” said Mary. “It obviously shocked him and there were doubts in his mind.

“So when he had a stop I just gave him a pat and said ‘don’t you worry’. I had no hesitation to retire him as he’s done enough for me over the years.”

While Archie came home from Badminton in good health, Mary and his owners – Eddie and Sue Davies, and Janette Chinn – decided it was time to retire the 17-year-old.

Real aura

“We didn’t want to be greedy and go on till something happened as he has given us so much in his life,” said Mary. “I always said we’d retire him if started to show signs of age, and to me his performance at Badminton was the first sign.”

According to Mary, Archie had an “enthusiasm for sport and life in general”.

“There was a real aura about him, you knew he was a world class horse,” she said. “Everyday when you tacked him up he wanted to work. He always had his ears forward – he was very happy and a real gentleman.”

Medal winner

Mary took over the ride in 2007 and since then the pair has enjoyed seven top six placings at CCI 4* level, and was part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, bronze medal team at the 2011 European Championships, and silver medal team at London 2012 Olympic Games.

Britain’s World Class equestrian performance director Will Connell said: “I have been lucky enough to watch this combination at numerous championships where they have helped bring medals home for GB. I wish Archie well in his retirement.”

Archie has returned to the Janette Chinn’s home in Cheshire where Mary said he will have an “active retirement”.