Text © World of Showjumping

World no. five McLain Ward is parting ways with his Olympic mount Ilex (Baltic VDL x Chin Chin). With Ward in the saddle, Ilex claimed team silver at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. 

Announcing the news on social media on Monday, the American six-time Olympian wrote: “Today our team said goodbye to the wonderful Ilex who after two great seasons will return to his home at Bonne Chance Farm to again represent Brazil. We are grateful for the opportunity that we were given to ride and compete Ilex to numerous 5 star Grand Prix successes and to bring home the team silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games! Thank you to Gilberto Sayao and his team at Bonne Chance for this opportunity and supporting our journey to achieve lofty goals. A special thank you to Fabio Leivas da Costa, Lucia Rivas and Diego Perez Bilbao for their efforts in creating this partnership. Ilex has been a wonderful partner with an exuberant and kind personality and we look forward to seeing his continued success in the sport.” 

Alexandre Gadelha (BRA), Bruno Martins Costa (CAN), as well as Fabio Leivas da Costa (BRA), competed Ilex before Ward took over the reins – making his first international appearance with the exuberant gelding in February 2024. The two went on to create a successful partnership, placing second in the prestigious CSIO5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen in 2024 before representing the USA at the Olympic Games in Paris. At the end of 2024, Ward and Ilex placed fourth in the CSIO5* Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva. This year, the two were a part of the winning U.S. team at the CSIO5* Longines League of Nations™ in Ocala.