This past weekend, Swedish show jumper Rolf-Göran Bengtsson won the CSIO5* Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. Bengtsson and Zuccero HV (Zirocco Blue) claimed victory, but in an interview with Svenska Ridsport Förbundet, the rider revealed that Zuccero’s owner, the Holsteiner Verband, intends to sell the 13-year-old stallion. “I still hope I can secure him for myself, but the reality is that this might have been our last Grand Prix together…”
Zuccero began his sports career under the saddle of Bart van der Maat, who rode him to a bronze medal at the Bundeschampionate as a seven-year-old. A year later, Bengtsson took over the reins. Together, they achieved top rankings in multiple Grand Prix events and competed in the 2023 European Championships in Milan, where they won team gold and finished 11th individually. In 2024, they participated in the Olympic Games in Paris and the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona.
Hoping for a Future Together...
A victory with a bittersweet aftertaste—or rather, a reality check… “I still hope I can keep him, but so far, I haven’t found a viable solution,” Bengtsson admits. “Something needs to happen soon because he will be on the market soon. If he is sold, it could mean the end of my career. Due to my age, I no longer have the time to train a young horse up to this level, but with him, I could continue for a few more years.”
