In 2022 Tinka's Boy passed away... This chestnut Dutch Warmblood helped Markus Fuchs reach the top of the world with numerous successes, including Olympic medals and a FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final triumph.
Tinka's Boy played a pivotal role in leading his committed team to an astonishing $2 million in prize earnings and an impressive record of 26 grand prix victories throughout his remarkable competitive career spanning eight years. Following his retirement, he divided his time between leisurely relaxation and a successful stud career, siring numerous offspring who achieved notable success.
Fuchs consistently foresaw a lengthy and joyful existence for his robust and vigorous companion, and true to his predictions, Tinka's Boy lived a fulfilling life, reaching the remarkable age of 33 before his peaceful passing in January.
What was Tinka’s Boy’s background?
Tinka’s Boy was born to breeder J.P. Muntjewerf in 1989 in the Netherlands. Originally named ‘Hooper’, he is a son of Zuidpool and Zeus-mare Esprit. His motherline, developed by famous breeder and stallion owner Johan Leerink, combined the best bloodlines from Trakehnen and Holstein.
While still a foal, Hooper went to auction in Liessel and was acquired by Zuidpool’s co-owner, Chris Esselink, with a single bid of just $1,800!
Esselink had not known there would be a foal of Zuidpool at what was a new auction, but says his charisma was attractive. “He could also move very well, he could have also become a Dressage horse,” Esselink recalled.
Hooper and his half-brother Heros (also by Zuidpool) grew up at the Meiweg in Geesteren and made their appearance as two-and-a-half-year-olds at the stallion show. A year later, Hooper caught the eye of owners from England who were in the region and looking for young talent for the British international, Alison Bradley.
Hooper was acquired by owner Simon Davies and renamed Jetset, but then became Tinka’s Boy when he reached Bradley’s yard. This was apparently an effort to appeal to British team selectors, one of whom was called Tinka Taylor!
With Bradley, Tinka’s Boy’s reputation began to grow, and he was declared the best young horse in the country three years in a row up until six years old. The pair also won the 'Great C' at the Wembley Horse Show in 1995.
Those performances caught the eye of connections of British star Nick Skelton. Soon, young Tinka’s Boy had a new owner and was competing with Skelton. The chestnut stallion continued to flourish with the Briton, with one highlight of their time together being a FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ win in Gijon in 1997. That same year, Tinka’s Boy would be switching back to continental Europe, this time heading for Switzerland and a new home and new rider.
What were his major achievements?
In 1997, Tinka’s Boy was purchased by Swiss owner Isolde Liebherr and would now be trained and ridden by Swiss international Markus Fuchs. A three-time Olympian already, Fuchs was already among the world’s elite having helped the Swiss team to European glory in 1995.
Fuchs was impressed with the job that Skelton had done in developing Tinka’s Boy and soon realised that this could be the horse that would take him to the very top of the sport. Tinka's Boy participated with Fuchs in all major championships between 1999 and 2004.
The pair made the Swiss team for the 1999 FEI European Championships and enjoyed a hugely successful week at Hickstead. They won Team and Individual silver medals, finishing only behind France’s Alexandra Ledermann & Rochet M in the latter event.
After an impressive second place in the 2000 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Las Vegas, the pair’s next big challenge would be the Olympic Games in Sydney.
It was a strong Swiss team that headed to Australia, with Fuchs & Tinka’s Boy alongside Beat Mandli & Pozitano, Lesley McNaught & Dulf and Willi Melliger & Calvaro V. With Tinka’s Boy, now 11 years old, proving himself at the highest level, Switzerland took Team silver in Sydney, finishing behind only Germany and ahead of Brazil, France and the Netherlands.
Soon afterwards they returned to Europe from Australia they began the process of qualifying for the 2001 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final, to be held in Gothenburg. While Tinka’s Boy & Fuchs were clearly in great form, they would be up against the all-conquering Rodrigo Pessoa & Baloubet De Rouet who had won the three previous finals.
However, the baton was passed over to a new force as Tinka’s Boy & Fuchs finished first, with the Brazilian pair in second place and Michael Whitaker & Handel II third. It was an incredible achievement for the 12-year-old stallion and his 45-year-old rider.
Fuchs said:
"It is the dream of every rider to once have such a horse. I have been in the equestrian sports for 30 years now and it has taken 30 years to get such a horse.”
They finished also fifth in the 2003 final before a third podium finish in the event when they took the bronze medal at the 2004 final in Milan. Outdoors they had finished fourth in the Individual competition at the 2001 European Championships and helped Switzerland to Team bronze in 2003.
2004 saw them achieve a big Grand Prix win in Aachen, yet another triumph after major victories in Dublin, Olympia, Berlin, Ascona, Dortmund and Leipzig in the previous four years.
They once again made the Swiss Olympic team in 2004 and were considered among the favourites by many. However, Athens proved an event too far for Tinka’s Boy, now 15, and his partner. They helped Switzerland to fifth in the Team event, but were among the lowest finishers in the Individual competition after failing to finish the final round. Fuchs later said the Athens experience aged him.
His retirement was officially announced in 2006 when he was 17 years old. He began a stud career, and his offspring include Tinka’s Serenade, who represented Ireland at the London 2012 Olympics with Billy Twomey.
He shared his time between Switzerland and the Béligneux Le Haras stallion station in France, and it was at the latter that he passed away at 33 years old in January 2022.
What about his personality?
Markus Fuchs said there were three areas which meant Tinka’s Boy was destined for success:
“First there is his character, the will to do everything and to jump anything. It is a bruiser that could walk through a wall if he wanted to. But what he really wants is to jump over it. That will, that's something that distinguishes every top horse. Besides this he is incredibly healthy. And his third specialty is his capacity to be trained, his rideability."
source: FEI - F. © Hippofoto