Ballaghmor Class, the amazing grey horse who carried Oliver Townend to four five-star victories, including two at Burghley, will mark his retirement with an official Main Arena ceremony at Defender Burghley Horse Trials on Sunday, 6 September.
Oliver, who won Defender Burghley in 2017 and 2023 as well as Defender Kentucky in 2021 and MARS Maryland in 2024, plus Olympic team gold for Britain in Tokyo with “Thomas”, as he’s known at home, announced the 19-year-old's retirement from eventing in Horse & Hound on 29th January.
Ballaghmor Class was bred in Ireland by Noel Hickey, by Courage II out of an I’m A Star mare. He finished in the top five at CCI5* 11 times.
“’Thomas’ is the horse of a lifetime and I am very proud that he is bowing out from competition while he is fit and well,” said Oliver. “He first made his mark on the eventing world when winning Burghley as a 10-year-old on his CCI5* debut in 2017, and to return to Burghley six years later, with an Olympic team gold medal for Britain in Tokyo under his belt, and triumph again was incredible.
“As the scene of two of his four CCI5* victories, Burghley is a very special place for Thomas, for me and for his owners, Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan. It will be lovely to be able to bring him back to Burghley this autumn for a retirement ceremony and so that all his fans can enjoy seeing him once again. I think he will love the whole thing and will think he has won another Burghley!”
Burghley’s Event Director Martyn Johnson said: “Ballaghmor Class epitomises the definition of a true CCI5* horse, which is why he has been so successful across his career and especially at Burghley, which is considered possibly the ultimate CCI5* challenge. He was never out of the top three here in any of his runs, and he and Oliver have given the sport and his fans some memorable performances which will always stand up as some of the greatest Burghley moments. We very much look forward to giving Thomas a proper retirement at this year’s event.”
Ballaghmor Class will stay at Oliver’s Shropshire base in retirement. Part-owner Karyn Shuter says that “To be involved with a horse of this calibre is a privilege for anyone. No one could have dreamt about what he has gone on to achieve. He will never be forgotten, and I will always hear his neigh when he hears my car pull up in Oliver’s yard.”
