Making their final international appearance together, Creedance and Kent Farrington won the 1.50m Canadian Open International Speed Challenge in Toronto last week after also taking the top honours in the 1.45m Strength and Speed Challenge – which followed five other international victories earlier this year. Photo © Mackenzie Clark.
Text © World of Showjumping
Last weekend, during the CSI4*-W Royal Horse Show in Toronto, USA’s Kent Farrington announced the retirement of his long-time partner Creedance (Lord Z x Notaris, bred by A.H. A. Hassing). Making their final international appearance together, the two won the $80,000 1.50m Canadian Open International Speed Challenge on Friday evening after also taking the top honours in the $38,500 1.45m Strength and Speed Challenge on Wednesday – which followed five other international victories earlier this year.
Creedance, who turns seventeen next year, has been Farrington’s loyal partner for nearly a decade and the two have formed an incredibly competitive partnership. “I bought him from Stephex Stables when he was seven,” Farrington tells World of Showjumping. “I thought he was an incredible jumper,” he recalls about his first impression of the little chestnut gelding. “He is quite a small horse, with high energy, but he is very athletic and I had a good feeling on him from the start. His personality has always been big though, and that is also what makes him such a winner.”
"He just always was a winner," Farrington says about the little chestnut gelding. Photo © Mackenzie Clark.
“He was a bit wild to train in the beginning, but those are my favourite type of horses; hyper-careful and fast – a little bit quirky,” Farrington says. “I think those types make great horses; you just have to put in some extra time in the beginning. Creedance is like half a pet for me, I just really enjoy his personality. He has many nicknames in the barn, but I call him ‘the foal’ – because he looks like one. Even now, when he is old, when you see his little face, he looks like he is three.”
Creedance is like half a pet for me, I just really enjoy his personality
During their many years together, Farrington and Creedance have recorded numerous victories – but CHI Geneva has always been an exceptionally successful venue for them. “There have been so many great moments, but taking him to Geneva is what stands out the most,” Farrington tells. “I think every time he went there, he won at least one class. He won Friday’s feature five-star class three times – every time he entered it. Those are some of my favourite memories with him, and he also won some really good Grand Prix classes. He just always was a winner; I think he won 38 international classes.”
"For me, I would rather just call it; you don’t have to keep moving them down levels just to keep going," Farrington says of his decision to retire Creedance. Photo © MacKenzie Clark.
While making the decision to stop is never an easy one to take, retiring his horses at the top of their game is something Farrington puts a lot of emphasis on. “It is always my goal,” he says. “I don’t always reach it, but that is always what I aim for. For me, that is one of the things I really consider as part of our work; producing horses, competing horses and managing horses."
I’d rather retire him a little bit early, and let him finish like the little champion he is
"I am very proud that when I retired Gazelle, she was at the same age as Creedance is now and also won the last class that she did. When I retired Voyeur, he won the last class that he did – and now Creedance did as well. It is not that they have to win, it is more about retiring them still in good form, still being those competitive horses that they are. Creedance could still go on and win many speed classes, but I don’t want him to do that. He is too good of a horse, and he jumped at such a high level. I’d rather retire him a little bit early, still being hyper-competitive, super-sound and really happy doing the sport and let him finish like the little champion he is.”
"His personality has always been big though, and that is also what makes him such a winner," Farrington says of Creedance. Photo © Mackenzie Clark.
“It is hard but as a rider, you know when you are at a point in your horse’s career that you consider a peak or the top – when they are doing the highest level they can in their best form,” Farrington continues. “And as they age, just like any athlete, they are going to compete less and maybe on a slightly lower level. For me, I would rather just call it; you don’t have to keep moving them down levels just to keep going. In order to bring up the next group of horses, you also have to let the ones that are doing it step away from the sport. I think that is where the balance comes in and you have to put your horse first and your ego aside.”
“Maybe I’ll win a little bit less for a while now, but that will help me grow the next group of horses. Creedance – just like my other former top horses – gave a lot to me during his career and I like to let him finish on top if I can. Now, he is in the paddock at my place in Florida and we will figure out a long-time retirement plan for him with the McNerney-family who owns Creedance together with me,” Farrington closes off.
At World of Showjumping, we wish Creedance a happy retirement!
Some of Creedance and Farrington’s most notable wins:
2023:
CSI4*-W 1.50m Canadian Open International Speed Challenge, Toronto
CSI4*-W 1.45m Strength and Speed Challenge, Toronto
CSI5* 1.50m MLSJ, Traverse City
CSI5* 1.50m MLSJ, Traverse City
CSI3* 1.45m Speed Classic, Traverse City
CSI5* 1.50m Township Planning, Spruce Meadows
CSI5* 1.50m MLSJ, Vancouver
2022:
CSIO5* 1.50m ATCO Cup, Spruce Meadows
2021:
CSI5* 1.60m Trophée de Genève, Geneva
CSI5* 1.55m The Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes for The King's Cup, Windsor
CSIO5* 1.55m Small Grand Prix Eni, Rome
CSIO5* 1.55m Land Rover Speed, Rome
CSI5* CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic, Wellington
2020:
CSI4*-W 1.55-1.60m International Welcome Stake, Lexington
2019:
CSI5* 1.60m Trophée de Genève, Geneva
CSI5* 1.55m LGCT, New York
CSI5* 1.50-1.60m LGCT, St. Tropez
CSI5* 1.55m Scotiabank Cup, Spruce Meadows
CSI5* 1.50-1.60m LGCT, Miami Beach
2018:
CSI5* 1.55m Credit Suisse Challenge, Geneva
CSI4*-W 1.55m International Jumper Classic, Lexington
CSI5* 1.55m LGCT, Valkenswaard
CSI5* 1.55m ATCO Energy Cup, Spruce Meadows
2017:
CSI3* 1.50m U.S. Open Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, New York
CSI5* 1.55m LGCT, Miami Beach
CSI5* 1.50m Violette WEF Challenge Cup, Wellington
2016:
CSI5* 1.55m Credit Suisse Grand Prix, Geneva
CSI4*-W 1.60m Big Ben Challenge, Toronto
CSI5* 1.50m Champagne Barons de Rothschild Trophy, Los Angeles
CSI5* 1.50m Audi Prize, Brussels
CSI5* 1.60m Longines Grand Prix, St. Moritz
CSI5* 1.60m Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy Grand Prix, Windsor
CSI5* 1.55 Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes for The King’s Cup, Windsor
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