Text © World of Showjumping

John Whitaker has announced that his top horse Argento (Arko III x Gasper), bred by Keeley Durham, will be retired from the sport. Argento, that already has several promising offspring coming up in the sport, will now focus entirely on his breeding career. 

During their long and successful partnership, Whitaker and the now 18-year-old stallion have won several big Grand Prix classes together: The CSI5* Grand Prix of St. Tropez in 2016, the CSI5* Grand Prix of Hong Kong in 2015, the CSI5* Grand Prix of Treffen in 2014, the CSI4* Grand Prix of Amsterdam in 2014, as well as the CSI3* Grand Prix of Munich in 2014 and 2013. The pair was also on the winning British Nations Cup team in Rome in 2015, and has countless of other victories to look back at.

In 2015, Argento topped the WBFSH World Ranking for breeders of jumping horses for several months and also finished second on the 2015 FEI Combination in Jumping Ranking. 

“Following Argento’s hernia operation at the end of August, which he has fully recovered from, I decided it would be a good time to retire him and let him concentrate on his stud career. He is sound and fit and still gets ridden every day,” John Whitaker comments to World of Showjumping.

“We have had Argento since he was 4 years old and he has kept me at the top for the last few years. He has actually been my biggest money winner, and a fantastic horse for me – always giving a 110%,” Whitaker continues. “Some of the best memories with him would be winning the St.Tropez Grand Prix and also winning at the Longines Masters in Hong Kong when he started three times and had two firsts and a second.” 

“Argento is breeding some very promising, good quality youngsters. My son Robert is riding a 7-year-old black stallion called Vermento which is one to watch out for this year. Fresh and frozen semen is available from Argento, he will be standing at Belignuex Le Haras European Stallions Resort,” Whitakes closes off.