The equestrian world has said goodbye to one of its most legendary top sires, Cicero Z van Paemel. Former showjumper Dirk Demeersman continues to hold the grey stallion close to his heart. "He was a great gentleman, but I still remember him as a young seven-year-old fellow arriving at my stable... whatever people may think, he was incredibly sensitive and smart..."
"De Cice, Droopy... no horse in our stable ever had as many nicknames. Cicero was a 'grand monsieur.' Yet, I still remember when he first arrived as a seven-year-old; well-behaved, honest, plenty of quality, but also green..." Demeersman recalls. "That was evident during our first years on the road together; everything was new and, curious as he was, he noticed everything and was sometimes more preoccupied with his surroundings than the rails in front of his nose."
100% focus on sport was the competitive turning point
"Over the years, Cicero became a highly sought-after breeding stallion, which didn't exactly help his focus at competitions. Together with the owners, the decision was made to give Cicero a full chance in the sport, and indeed, we were off," Demeersman explains.
"Cice matured, and the results followed. As a nine-year-old, he jumped the Nations Cup at CSIO Rome and finished 7th in the World Cup at CSI-W Mechelen. The following year, he racked up many top-ten finishes at the most beautiful international shows, culminating in his victory in the Sires of the World in Mechelen."
"The breakthrough came when he was twelve; we were a true team, and Cice was consistently at the top of Grand Prix competitions. He finished sixth in the Antwerp GP, fifth in the 1.50m at CSIO St. Gallen, and won the Grand Prix of CSI Aalst. 2013 was set to be Cice's year, starting the spring with a victory in the small GP (1.50m) at CSI Antwerp. Unfortunately, an injury that initially didn't seem too serious brought an early end to Cice's career as a sport horse. Fortunately, he was able to pass on his good genes through breeding," says the Belgian rider.
A talent that stays with you forever
"Last week I received word that Cicero wasn't doing well, and then a few days later, the news that he was gone. He was 26 years old..."
"He was an amazing, talented horse about whom many misconceptions existed; he was actually an enormously sensitive and clever horse. It was an honor for me to have him with me for nearly seven years. I would like to thank the owners, Luc and Karin Van Eeckhoudt, for the wonderful times we shared. I will never forget Cice, and he lives on in his many offspring. Fare thee well, big friend, and thank you for everything!"
