Judy Reynolds from Kildare has announced the retirement of her long-time partner Vancouver K - the best horse ever to represent Ireland on the international dressage stage and one which has inspired a new generation of Irish dressage riders with its record-breaking performances around the world.
Reynolds and the now 19-year-old Vancouver K, better known as JP, have reached heights never before seen by an Irish dressage combination, representing Ireland in an Olympic final, a World Cup final, an EC final and no less than three World Cup finals. Vancouver K regularly smashed Irish dressage records and currently holds all three Irish international records in Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle.
A breathtaking performance by Vancouver K and Judy Reynolds at the 2019 European Championships in Rotterdam was key to helping the Irish team make history and qualify for the Olympics for the first time ever. Unfortunately, the postponement of the Tokyo Games due to Covid-19 until 2021 meant that another Olympics was just out of reach for Vancouver K as he approaches his 20th birthday, but his achievements will leave a lasting legacy on Irish dressage for decades to come. Ireland will still have a dressage team at the Tokyo Olympics, with the final combinations to be announced in the coming weeks.
Source: Horsesport Ireland