CCI5* Event Horse Ballaghmor Class To Be Given a Retirement Ceremony

Ballaghmor Class will be officially retired during a ceremony at Defender Burghley Horse Trials on Sunday, September 6. Burghley was the site of the grey gelding's first CCI5* event, which he won at age 10 with British rider Oliver Townend. The pair also won Burghley in 2023, and were runners-up in 2018 and 2019.

Known as "Thomas" in the barn, the now 19-year-old Irish Sport Horse, by Courage II out of Kilderry Place, has earned his place in eventing history.

Ballaghmor Class 5* blue ribbons and Olympic

Ballaghmor Class and Townend, in addition to winning Defender Burghley twice, racked up two 5* wins in the U.S. - the Defender Kentucky CCI5* Three Day Event in 2021 and MARS Maryland in 2024.

The pair also secured Olympic team gold for Great Britain in Tokyo in 2020.

"Thomas, what a horse." - Oliver Townend

Thomas's partner, Oliver Townend, posted the following earlier this week (January 29):

"Thomas has been one of the most successful event horses in history and a phenomenal partner and team mate to me.

Thomas’s consistency at the top level of the sport has been well-documented, he won Burghley on his CCI5* debut at just 10 years old and from there went from strength to strength to achieve a further three titles at the top level, plus an Olympic team gold medal at Tokyo 2020. He completed 13 five-star events in his career and finished in the top-five 11 times.

Thank you to Thomas’s owners Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan for supporting the fantastic journey that we have all been on together with this incredibly special horse and to our team who have looked after him so beautifully over the last 14 years."

Townend ends his post with, "Thank you Thomas, for everything."

Kentucky CCI5* organizers call Ballaghmor Class "a legend"

The staff at Equestrian Events, Inc. - the organization behind the CCI5* Kentucky Defender Three Day Event - responded to the retirement news in a social media post, saying they celebrate the legend that is Ballaghmor Class. The rest of the post is as follows:

"Ballaghmor Class has officially retired from the 5* level, and it feels impossible to sum up the impact he has had on the sport, on fans around the world, and on everyone lucky enough to watch him fly.

For us, his 2021 victory at the Kentucky Three-Day Event will always be etched into memory. A performance that was confident, commanding, and unforgettable; the kind that reminds you why this sport captures people so deeply. Horses like him don’t come along often, and what he and Oliver Townend built together leaves a lasting mark long after the finish flags are behind them.

Enjoy a well earned retirement, Thomas!"

According to britisheventing.com, Ballaghmor Class will stay at Townend’s Shropshire, England, base in retirement.

Photo: Ballaghmor Class and Oliver Townend, cross country, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Photo credit: FEI/Libby Law Photography