Harry Charles has announced the retirement of his Olympic team gold medallist Romeo 88 (Contact vd Heffinck x Orlando, born Champion of Picobello Z – bred by Picobello Horses). 

With Harry in the saddle, the now 16-year-old gelding jumped to team gold at last summer’s 2024 Olympic Games in Paris – and the two also represented Great Britain at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. In 2022, the pair helped the British team earn bronze at the World Championships in Herning, and that same year they finished fourth in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Leipzig. Through the years the two had together they were also on the podiums in five-star Grand Prix and World Cup classes in Dublin, St. Gallen and Verona – to mention some their success together.

On his Instagram account, the British rider wrote: "Romeo, Thank you for everything - you changed my life and I’ll be forever grateful for you. From 2 Olympic games, 4th place in World Cup Finals, Bronze at the World Championships and many double clears and podiums in the biggest Grand Prix’s in the world, to the top of the mountain, being crowned olympic champions in Paris last year, you were with me all the way and I loved every second of it. Thank you to @annthompson6893 for trusting me with him the last 5 years, I hope we did you proud ! For the opportunities also with Balou du Reventon and Aralyn Blue, you gave me a chance that many could only dream of. Romeo will join his old friend Balou in the USA where he will have the best retirement, it makes me happy that he will leave the sport on the highest of the highs and have the long, healthy retirement he deserves. Thank you will never be enough - happy retirement my friend!" 

At World of Showjumping, we wish Romeo 88 a happy retirement!