Steve Guerdat has announced that his Olympic partner, Nino des Buissonnets, will be retired following his final competition at CHI Geneva in December.
Guerdat rode Nino to individual show jumping gold at the 2012 London Olympic Games and the pair placed fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics. They also took second at the 2012 and 2013 World Cup Finals, have won many prestigious grand prix competitions such as Rio de Janeiro and Geneva (each twice), La Baule and Helsinki.
His final event will be the Rolex Grand Prix, a leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, which Guerdat has
already won twice with Nino, in 2013 and in 2015.
“He deserves the chance to call it a day at Palexpo, in top form. I’ve thought long and hard about it since the
Rio Games and I have no doubts about my decision: Nino des Buissonnets will take his final bow at Geneva on December 11th. I said back in Rio that Nino wouldn’t be taking part in any more important championships, just
in a few more shows. He’ll be 16 soon, and competing at that age has its risks, risks that I’d rather not take as I
so much want him to finish on a high note. He deserves the right to quit at the top of his form, at the end of a
great season, in the so-special Palexpo arena. It’s the right time and place to stop,” said Guerdat.
Foaled in northern France at the Deroubaix farm, Nino was sired by the famous stallion Kannan out of
Hermine du Prelet (by Narcos II). He spent six years with Guerdat. He is known for his consistency, and has a formidable “personality” too. He is a real star, who will be honoured on December 11th by the public he has thrilled throughout his career, along with his long-time rider, his owner, Urs E. Schwarzenbach, his team, his stable staff and his friends.
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