After a long and successful career, the 16-year-old BWP-stallion Scuderia 1918 Halifax vh Kluizebos (Heartbreaker x Fetiche du Pas) will be retired from the sport with a farewell ceremony at Piazza di Siena this week – the same venue where he in 2018 won the prestigious five-star Grand Prix of Rome. The retirement ceremony will take place on Saturday 27 May, Scuderia 1918 announced in a press release today.

As a six-year-old, Halifax van het Kluizebos was crowned Belgian Champion and he went on to take no less than 15 international victories during his career; at venues such as Cannes, Dublin, Knokke, London, Mechelen, Mexico City, Miami, Oslo, Paris and Rome. He also placed second in the five-star Grand Prix of Windsor in 2017, and third in the five-star World Cup of Mechelen in 2017. In 2017, Halifax topped the WBFSH Ranking for five consecutive months. Produced by Belgium's Frederic Vernaet, Germany's Daniel Deusser went on to ride the stallion in 2014 before passing on the reins to Lorenzo de Luca in 2015. In 2018, Scuderia 1918 acquired half of the stallion, creating a partnership between Stephex Stables and securing the ride for de Luca. In 2022, Halifax did his last international appearances with USA's Michael Hughes in the saddle. 

“The first time I sat on Halifax, I immediately understood I was riding a very special and unique horse," Lorenzo de Luca said in the press release. "An incredible feeling! A special horse, happy, exuberant, incredibly careful, elastic, with an incredible personality. It has been an honour riding such a horse! Not just for the success we had but also for his personality, bravery and determination. I feel this is the horse that defined me, I could almost see myself in him, and maybe in me he found his ideal partner; I’ve always let him enjoy his time off in-between competitions, let him have fun and respect his playful moments after his amazing results at shows; I have always let him express himself and allowed him to show his exuberant temperament. He is playful and exuberant at home, and a great champion in the show ring. Now Halifax has the chance to pass on his extraordinary qualities to his offspring. Thank you, Halifax!"

“Scuderia 1918 Halifax van het Kluizebos was the first great horse to join the Scuderia 1918-team and, together with Lorenzo, he marked the beginning of our team," Emanuele Anchisi, founder of Scuderia 1918, said. "It was a great honour for us to be part of the career of this extraordinary partnership. From today, Halifax will start his career as a stallion at Groupe France Elevage. Halifax has proven to be a great sire and we will certainly see many of his offspring at the highest-level competitions in the future!” 

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