Text © World of Showjumping

At the age of 17, Alex Matz’s faithful partner Cashew CR (Cassini II x Quinar Z, bred by Georg Clausen) made his final international appearance at The Royal Horse Show in Toronto last week – where he bowed out with a win in the CSI5*-W 1.50m The Royal Winning Round. 

Cashew CR has since 2017 been an incredibly consistent partner for Matz, who has taken numerous big wins with the gelding – at Devon Horse Show, Hampton Classic Horse Show, The Highlands Cup, and in Lexington, Saugerties, Spruce Meadows, Upperville and Wellington. This year has been a great one for the duo, with seven international victories since January – the last one coming in Toronto.

"Cashew has been a champion from day one, so watching him take one final win at his last show was the kind of moment every rider dreams of,” Alex Matz commented to World of Showjumping. “My family and our entire team feel incredibly grateful that he’s retiring happy and healthy to our farm in Pennsylvania, and we’re so lucky we’ll still get to see him every day. It’s hard to imagine anything topping the feeling of walking into the ring with him as my partner, but I’ll always be thankful for everything he’s given us and taught me. I’m excited to give him the retirement he’s earned. He’s a true athlete and an undeniable champion." 

"I feel so lucky to have been able to be a part of Cashew’s career,” Alex’s mother Dorothy Matz said. “It’s rare to have a horse take someone all the way up the ranks from national amateur classes to the 5 star level, and even rarer to have that same horse sustain such a high level of competitiveness to the age of 17. I honestly have never been around a horse that has such an incredible desire to please. He’s beloved by everyone at our farm and I’m sure he’ll miss the spotlight, but I also know he loves his paddock and we will make sure he gets the love and attention he deserves in his retirement." 

At World of Showjumping, we wish Cashew a happy retirement!