Chacco Kid has retired from competition. Equestrian Canada (EC) would like to take the opportunity to celebrate his successes as he leaves his life in the show jumping ring and moves on to enjoy the green pastures of his home at Torrey Pines Stable in Ecaussinnes, Belgium.

His retirement was announced just after the 16-year-old chestnut Oldenburg gelding (Chacco Blue x Come On) sustained a career ending injury while competing in the 1.50m ATB Cup on Sunday, June 21, 2022 at the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ tournament in Calgary, AB.

Discovered by legendary Canadian show jumper Eric Lamaze, the German bred Chacco Kid was found in South America through Marcel Delestre, who was training the Colombian show jumping team at the time. ‘Chacco’ was imported from Colombia and joined Lamaze’s string in the winter of 2016.

Partnered with Chacco Kid, Lamaze enjoyed numerous victories around the globe and represented Canada at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, NC. For Lamaze, his most meaningful win with Chacco Kid came in the $500,000 RBC Grand Prix of Canada, presented by Rolex, during the 2019 Spruce Meadows ‘National’ tournament in Calgary, AB. It was Lamaze’s first competition since publicly revealing that he had been battling a brain tumour.

“My favourite memory with Chacco was winning the RBC Grand Prix when I wasn’t well,” recalled Lamaze. “The win was 70 percent horse and 30 percent rider. He knew he had to take care of me and seemed to rise to the occasion.”

Horse of the Month: Chacco Kid – the horse with heart and versatility that always delivered

2008 Olympic Champion, Eric Lamaze led the Canadian Show Jumping Team into the first round of team competition at WEG 2018 aboard Chacco Kid.
Photo Credit – © Cealy Tetley – www.tetleyphoto.com

In addition to Lamaze, several riders for his Torrey Pines Stable also campaigned the horse with impressive results including Kara Chad and Beth Underhill of Canada and Nina Mallevaey of France.

“Having success with four different riders over the course of his career is exceptional,” said Lamaze. “His personality, his heart, and his carefulness allowed him to manoeuvre some of the biggest courses in the world.”

Chacco Kid is owned by the Chacco Kid Group, consisting of Rick and Sara Mershad, Ludi and Carol Sollak, and Andy and Carlene Ziegler.

“It’s sad to see a horse that has done so much for so many riders leave the sport this way,” concluded Lamaze. “I’m very sorry for Carlene and Andy, Carol and Ludi, and Sara and Rick for this sad ending. It’s the sport and we have to live with it, just like athletes have career-ending injuries in hockey and basketball and other sports. There are accidents that, even with the best care, we cannot prevent. On days like these, we should remember and celebrate this extraordinary horse and all that he accomplished.”