On Sunday afternoon, the curtains closed for Clooney 51 (Cornet Obolensky x Ferragamo) at CHI Geneva. 

With Martin Fuchs in the saddle, Clooney was crowned European champion in 2019, vice world champion in 2018, finished as runner-up in the World Cup final in 2019 and won the Grand Prix of Geneva and Zürich, as well as the World Cups in Basel and Lyon. The son of Cornet Obolensky – owned by Luigi Baleri – also jumped at the Olympic Games on two occasions – in Rio in 2016 and in Tokyo in 2021, and secured two team bronze medals for Switzerland at the European Championships in 2015 and 2017. 

In mid-August 2021, Clooney had an unfortunate fall in the paddock and injured his shoulder – and his sporting career came to an abrupt end. Luckily, after two months in a clinic in Zürich, the gelding could return home to the Fuchs-family’s stable in Wängi, Switzerland. In May this year, Fuchs officially announced Clooney's retirement and yesterday – nearly one-and-a-half years after his accident – Clooney finally got to take a final farewell with his many fans as the curtains closed at CHI Geneva with a retirement ceremony before the Rolex Grand Prix, the prestigious Major that the now 16-year-old gelding won back in 2019. 

It was an emotional ceremony, with beautiful words from Martin Fuchs, lots of smiles, lots of tears – and a fresh and happy Clooney that had all his fans and friends present to take their final farewells.

And with this, we at World of Showjumping say thank you Clooney – for all the special moments and magical memories! We wish you the happiest retirement! 

All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.