Text © World of Showjumping

At the age of 13, Steve Guerdat’s 2016 World Cup Champion Corbinian (Cornet Obolensky x Pilot) has been retired from the sport. Crowned Horse of the Year 2016 in Switzerland, Corbinian also won the CSI5* Grand Prix in Treffen, the CSIO5* Nations Cup at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ and big classes in London, St. Gallen and Samorin during his career – all with Guerdat in the saddle. 

“After Bordeaux this year, I asked his owners to give him a break – it did not really feel like he wanted to do it anymore,” Guerdat tells World of Showjumping. “We send him to Philippe Le Jeune’s place to be by the sea for a couple of months, but when he got home I still did not feel a big difference in him. I asked the owners to do some small classes with him for half-a-year to see if he enjoyed that. However, he did not really improve. If I don’t have the feeling the horse is motivated to do it, then I just don’t think I should do it with them.”

In mutual agreement, it was decided to retire Corbinian from the sport. “His owner Sabina Cartossi has a beautiful place, she takes him hacking and loves him – and he has a great time. It’s better like this for everybody involved,” Guerdat says to World of Showjumping. “I would like to thank Sabina and Gianluca for everything, and for trusting me with Corbinian. I wish him a happy retirement!”