Hester Keeps Option Open He'll Take Nip Tuck Back into the Show Ring

Dressage

Great Britain

Carl Hester has not been been in the show ring with his medal winning British team horse Nip Tuck since the 2017 European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. Eurodressage inquired if the horse had been retired from sport as its FEI registration for 2018 is missing.

Hester focused on rising Grand Prix star Hawtins Delicato in 2018 aiming the horse for the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, where they won team bronze.

The now 14-year old Dutch warmblood Nip Tuck (by Don Ruto x Animo) has had a year off from competition and became a schoolmaster for his long-time owner Jane de la Mare.

"Barney came home to me whilst Carl concentrated on WEG," Jane told Eurodressage. "It was great having him home as I had a little play around with him which was fun."

De La Mare did not confirm that Nip Tuck has been retired from top sport competition, as she thinks Carl will make a come back. "I’m just waiting to hear whether Carl wants to compete him over the winter/spring," the sympathetic owner added. "It would be great if (he) does but who knows!"

Hester acknowledged that he is still keeping the option open to take Nip Tuck back into the arena. "I may compete him," Carl told Eurodressage. "It just depends." Carl, who is known for his good sense of humour, added "it depends whether I can live with (his) extended trot in the future."

Nip Tuck has been Carl Hester's most successful Grand Prix horse in his career. The pair won team silver at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen (11th in the Kur), team silver at the 2015 European Championships in Aachen (8th in the Kur), team silver at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio (7th in the Kur), they were third in the 2017 World Cup Finals in Omaha, and were 5th in the Kur to Music at the 2017 European Championships in Gothenburg, the horse's last show.