Bettina Hoy has retired her top eventer Ringwood Cockatoo at the age of 18. In his 10-year international career the Irish-bred was the most successful German event horse of all time.
His last run was at the CCI*** in Boekelo, earlier this month. In his career, Ringwood Cockatoo won 10 three-star events, and two four-stars, at Luhmuhlen in 2005 and Pau in 2008. He carried Bettina Hoy (representing Germany) to individual bronze at the 2007 European Championships, team bronze at the 2005 European Championships, and team gold at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen.
In 2006 Ringwood Cockatoo was the top performing Irish sport horse in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses rankings. By the thoroughbred Peacock, and out of the Irish Sport Horse mare Bailey's Foley, Ringwood Cockatoo was bred in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan by Hilary Greer, and produced by Ann O'Grady in Limerick.
 Ringwood Cockatoo |
In his retirement ceremony at Boekelo, Bettina and Cockatoo paraded around the arena while J.P. Fair sang a song specially written for the occasion "Thank you for being a friend".
"The beautifully chosen words and the music brought tears of emotion to
Bettina and thousands of the spectators," the Hoys said.
"Boekelo was a perfect retirement venue as he won in 2002. It is close to Bettina's childhood home of Rheine in Germany and where there were over 100 international riders with many German and UK competitors who knew and admired the combination so much."
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