McLain Ward’s Championship Partner Retires

One of the most electrifying and reliable championship horses in recent memory has officially hung up his shoes. McLain Ward announced the retirement of his long-time partner, Contagious, marking the end of a remarkable chapter in American show jumping history. 

The 16-year-old Zweibrücker gelding (Contagio—For Mary, For Keeps), bred by Andreas Eisenmenger in Germany, leaves the ring with a legacy built on grit, heart, and hardware.  Contagious helped carry the U.S. to Olympic team silver in Tokyo (2021), Pan American team gold and individual bronze in Santiago (2023), and delivered clutch performances at the World Equestrian Games, World Cup Final, and Nations Cups around the globe. He was known not just for his talent but for his fierce determination—often digging deep when it mattered most. 

Highlights from their storied run include multiple wins at CHIO Aachen, WEF, and Devon, plus standout victories in Dublin, Greenwich, and the Hampton Classic. His final bow came at the CSI Geneva in December 2023, where he competed on the world stage one last time.

A true warrior in the ring and beloved in the barn, Contagious retires not just as a winner, but as a horse who helped define an era.