Text © World of Showjumping

Sadly, Edwina Tops-Alexander’s former top horse Socrates (born Socrates v/d Padenborre, Darco x Chin Chin, bred by Andre Leemans) has passed away at the age of 30.

With Tops-Alexander in the saddle, Socrates was victorious at venues such as Gothenburg, London and Vigo, and the two picked up top five placings in Monte Carlo, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Zürich, Aachen, Rome, Paris and Geneva – to name some of their many successes. The pair did their last international outing in 2013, and the gelding has since then enjoyed his retirement at Stal Tops in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands.

“Socrates, in life we are all given different gifts, but you gave us more than I ever thought possible,” Tops-Alexander shared on social media as she announced the news of Socrates’ passing. “Every jump, you gave more than your body should have been able to give, and still you kept going GP after GP - bringing me victories I never imagined I would achieve. My very first GP win was with you, when I was riding with a broken foot from a previous fall. Even when I couldn’t ride you the way I wanted or needed to, you stepped in, took over the reins, and gave everything you had. That was who you were.”

“You were never about easy talent - you were about intelligence, heart, and courage. Winning the Vigo World Cup, the Zurich GP, and so many other moments, you always gave absolutely everything. After all you overcame, you showed us what true resilience and partnership really mean. That is your greatest legacy. You are one of my heart horses, and you will always remain a part of my soul. Thank you, So, for the life you gave me, Jan, Stal Tops and for memories that will be cherished forever.”

At World of showjumping, our thoughts go out to Edwina and all those close to Socrates.