Scott Brash retires Ursula: ‘I don’t think I will ever ride a horse like her again’

Scott Brash has retired his top horse Ursula XII, who helped him to numerous victories and podium places.

‘Mixed emotions’

Scott retired the 17-year-old mare after the pair came sixth in the Rolex Grand Prix at CHI Geneva.

Scott admitted he was “slightly disappointed” with their last jump-off together as they were first to jump, but said Ursula “jumped amazingly”.

“I have mixed emotions,” said Scott. “In one way I am feeling very sad that it’s her last event, but on the other hand I am delighted with her and how she performed tonight.

“She has been an amazing horse and to jump big courses like that at her age and feel as good as she does is a credit to my team and to the owners. I get a lot of reward in stopping her at the top end of the sport, in such good health and condition, which for me is the main thing.”

Top of her sport

Ursula is certainly retiring at the top of her sport as she took Scott to victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Mexico earlier this year. The pair also came second in the prestigious Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final at CHI Geneva last year.

Scott said their best moment was together was winning the CP ‘International’ at CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ in 2016, which is part of the Rolex Grand Slam.

‘Happy retirement’

“I don’t think I will ever ride a horse again that can jump around such a big course as easily as Ursula can,” he said. “She gave me an unbelievable feeling around that course and I am really going to miss that.”

Ursula will stay with Scott at his yard in West Sussex, and he plans on putting her in foal next year.

“She will make a really good mother as she has the best temperament and I think she really wants to be a mother, when she sees other foals, she always looks at them and is interested in them, so fingers crossed for that,” said Scott. “We will make sure she enjoys a very happy retirement and she will certainly be very pampered.”

Don’t miss the Rolex Grand Prix Geneva As Live when it premieres on Thursday 13 December at 8.30pm

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