Earlier this month, Spy Coast Farm announced the retirement of the now 15-year-old stallion Chaqui Z (Chacco-Blue x Quinar Z). The stallion will in the future focus solely on his breeding career. 

Chaqui Z started his international career with his breeder Gerben Morsink in the saddle, and together the two were finalist at the World Breeding Championships in Lanaken three years in a row. Chaqui Z was then sold to Spy Coast Farm, and when the stallion was eight, Shane Sweetnam took over the reins. Together the two went on to lots of success, most notably they won the team gold for Ireland at the European Championships in Gothenburg in 2017. In 2018, Chaqui Z and Sweetnam were a part of the Irish team at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon. 

During their time together, Chaqui Z and Sweetnam had several great results in Grand Prix competitions, Nations Cups and World Cups worldwide with numerous top five finishes. In 2016, the pair won the CSI4*-W Grand Prix in Lexington, while in 2017, they were on the winning Irish Nations Cup team in Wellington and also went out on top in the CSIO4* Grand Prix that same week. In 2019, the pair took the win in the CSI4*-W American Gold Cup qualifier at Old Salem Farm.

With this photo special, we wish Chaqui a happy retirement! 

All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.com.