Earlier this month, Leopold van Asten announced the retirement of his now 16-year-old success mare VDL Groep Miss Untouchable (Chacco-Blue x Aldatus Z, bred by Manuela Lachnit and owned by Stoeterij Duyselshof B.V.). 

On his official Instagram account, van Asten wrote: "Thank u Miss. After a fantastic partnership of 8 years it’s time for your new chapter! The journey we had together was a pleasure. You have always given 200% and that brought us a lot of wins. U can now enjoy ur time in the field with ur friends Zidane and Beauty. Enjoy and you are forever in my heart." 

With Ireland's Michael Duffy in the saddle, Miss Untouchable was brought up through the CSI2* classes to winning team bronze at the 2015 European Championships for Young Riders in Wiener Neustadt, before van Asten took over the reins at the end of that year. In 2016, van Asten and Miss Untouchable won their first Grand Prix in Bonheiden and from there on the two went on to have a hugely successful partnership. Together, they won five-star classes at venues such as Brussels, La Coruna, Oslo and Paris – and in addition they have numerous podium finishes to look back at all over Europe. 

At World of Showjumping, we wish Miss Untouchable a happy retirement!