“This is the very best place to pay homage to him," a very emotional Simon Delestre said as his faithful 17-year-old partner Hermès Ryan (Hugo Gesmeray x Ryon d'Anzex) was thanked off from the sport at a fully packed Grand Palais Éphémère in Paris on Saturday afternoon. "He’s been exceptional throughout his career. He’s been a warrior his whole life. Every time he entered the ring, he gave 300%. I tried to match his talent and bring him my A-game. He’ll remain with me because he’s part of the family. He’s a legendary horse, one of the best in the history of equestrian sport.” 

With Delestre in the saddle, Hermès Ryan had a long and successful career – which lasted for more than a decade. The pair’s first big win together came in Gothenburg in 2014, when they topped a CSI5*-W 1.50m class, and from there on the two went from strength to strength. In 2014, they topped the CSI5*-W 1.60m Masters in Lyon, and the year after they won the CSI5* 1.60m Grand Prix of Antwerp. Later that same year, the two were victorious in the CSI5*-W 1.60m FEI Jumping World Cup™ in Verona, and in 2017 they won the 1.60m World Cup in Lyon. In 2018, they won the CSI5* 1.60m Grand Prix Hermès in Paris, then in 2019 the CSI5*-W 1.60m Grand Prix in Amsterdam and a few months later they claimed another victory in the CSI5* 1.60m Grand Prix Hermès in Paris. The pair closed off 2019 with a victory in the CSI5* 1.60m Longines Grand Prix of Paris at the Longines Masters, before they in 2021 repeated their Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ victory in Verona. In addition to countless other victories and podium finishes, the pair also took the individual bronze medal at the 2015 European Championships in Aachen. In July 2022, the two took their last of many, many wins, when taking the top honours in the CSI5* 1.50m Trophée Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco, and shortly after Delestre announced Ryan's retirement

At World of Showjumping, we wish Ryan the happiest of retirements! 

All photos © Saut Hermès/Christophe Tanière.