‘We made each other stronger’: star stallion who won £1.2m retires aged 20

Grand prix superstar Con Quidam RB, who helped the Netherlands win team silver at the 2022 World Championships, has retired from sport aged 20.

His rider Sanne Thijssen confirmed the KWPN stallion’s retirement after they came second in a CSI4* 1.55m grand prix in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, on 15 March.

“The fact this chapter is coming to an end is indescribable,” said Sanne.

Con Quidam RB was produced as a young horse by Bulgaria’s Rossen Ratichev, who competed him in the six-year-old final at the World Breeding Championships in Lanaken, finishing 13th. “Connie” joined the Thijssen family in spring 2013 – ridden by Sanne’s father Leon, before Sanne, then 16, took on the reins in August 2014.

Over the next 12 years Sanne and Connie climbed the ranks together, amassing an impressive 19 grand prix victories and €1.4m (£1.2m) in prize money. They competed at the 2015 and 2016 young rider Europeans, helping the Netherlands win silver at the latter.

In 2021 they were on the team that won gold at the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, and in 2022 the team silver at the World Championships in Herning. Some of their many other highlights include winning the Longines Global Champions Tour grands prix in Valkenswaard and Madrid and the Rotterdam CSIO5* grand prix.

Sanne said Connie taught her “to fight and not to give up” – and “always gave 200%”.

“You could sense so well when it needed to happen. When it was an important day. When we wanted to show the world what we could achieve together,” she said.

“The same applied to these final rounds. We fell short by 0.15 seconds for a final victory, but that second place felt just as good as a victory.

“I am sure if it had been up to you, this would not have been the last one. But to protect your golden heart, your lion heart that will always keep going, we have decided that it is time. Time for your well-deserved retirement.”

Sanne said there was “joy and sadness” in Connie’s retirement.

“Joy, because you deserved this so much, and we were able to conclude it so beautifully. Sadness, because I am going to miss you so much at competitions. Not just the performances we had together in the ring, but also your character and demeanour. Everything that made you you,” she said.

“Sometimes it seemed as if we could communicate with each other. You felt exactly how I felt, and I knew exactly how you felt. We made each other stronger and complemented each other where necessary. Two peas in a pod.”

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