Kildare’s Judy Reynolds has announced the retirement of her long-time partner Vancouver K – the greatest horse ever to represent Ireland on the international Dressage stage and who has inspired a new generation of Irish Dressage riders with his record-breaking performances across the globe.
A breath-taking performance of Vancouver K and Judy Reynolds at the 2019 European Championships in Rotterdam was key to helping the Irish team to make history and qualify for the Olympic Games for the very first time. Sadly the delay to the Tokyo Games due to Covid-19 to 2021 meant that another Olympic Games was just out of reach for Vancouver K as he approaches his twentieth birthday, however his performances will leave a lasting legacy on Irish Dressage for decades to come. Ireland will still have a Dressage team at the Olympics in Tokyo, with the final combinations set to be named in the coming weeks.
Since the emergence of Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K, who is owned by Judy’s parents Joe and Kathleen Reynolds, Dressage has become Ireland’s fastest-growing Equestrian discipline, with a new generation of Irish riders now believing that they can follow in the footsteps of Judy and JP and make their mark on the international Dressage stage.
Speaking after announcing the retirement of Vancouver K, Judy Reynolds paid an emotional tribute to her horse of a lifetime:
“I know I have always said that JP would decide when it was time to retire but I’ve had to make that decision for him. This horse has more heart than anyone can imagine and at 19 he still tries to give me everything. Too much. I’ve decided that it’s time to stop asking. What a trip it’s been. A good horse can carry you all around the world and back again. 1 Olympic Final, 3 World Cup Finals, 1 WEG Final, 1 European Championship Final. A good record for any horse but a great one for a horse that many thought wasn’t good enough.
“Many people may ask why I’ve waited until now to make this decision but the fact is JP still wants to work and we have given him every chance to be able to perform on the world’s biggest stage one more time but alas it is not to be. It has been a massive team effort over the years to allow JP and I to perform, my Parents, Patrick, Libby, Johann, farrier Errol, my vets the late Dr Stihl, Dr Hülsey, Dr Beeke, Marcus & Davide and many many more people along the way. JP you legend.”
Along with his incredible performances at Championship level for Ireland, Vancouver K scored major international wins at Achleiten and Fritzens-Schindlhof in Austria, Dortmund in Germany, and at Pennsylvania and New York in the USA. Horse Sport Ireland wish Vancouver K a long and happy retirement – thank you for the incredible memories you have given to a nation of horse lovers.