Oslo, who gained at four- and five-star with William Fox-Pitt, was put down on 11 October on the age of 20.
“He was a really completed all-round horse, who didn’t discover something tough and you’ll’t say that about many horses,” William Fox-Pitt instructed Horse & Hound.
“He had the mind, he may transfer, soar and gallop. I received him with the London Olympics in thoughts and he simply didn’t keep sound fairly lengthy sufficient, which was positively a low for me as a result of he would have gone there with fairly a pleasant probability of being aggressive. However for him, it wasn’t to be.”
Oslo was bred in France by Philippe Brivois, by the Sydney Olympic showjumping particular person silver medallist Lando. William first noticed him at Le Lion d’Angers as a four-year-old stallion, however thought he was slightly small. He was nonetheless underwhelmed when proprietor Eric Attiger introduced Oslo to Britain to a sale at Russ Hardy’s yard, however joked that if he didn’t promote, he’d be blissful to take him as a present.
Unsold, Oslo ended up in Dorset and after he’d spent a month within the yard, William suggested the 10-strong Fox-Pitt Eventing Partnership – a syndicate which grew out of the bigger Fox-Pitt Eventing Membership – to purchase him. He was one of many first horses to be owned by a syndicate of this type and William stated he learnt so much about this set-up from having Oslo.
“We had an enormous crew of householders sharing the enjoyable and it was a terrific few years that was somewhat good to have been shared with group of individuals,” he stated.
The horse was gelded on the finish of his five-year-old yr, with 60 straws of
being taken, as William felt he had a greater probability of being a top-class competitors horse as a gelding. The breeding suffix “Biats” was faraway from his identify on the identical time, however has since turn out to be higher identified in eventing via horses akin to Kitty King’s European crew gold medallist Vendredi Biats and Emily King’s five-star journey Valmy Biats.
Oslo was a prolific winner as a younger horse, taking the six-year-old World Championship at Le Lion d’Angers in 2008, ending second at Tattersalls CCI* (now CCI2*-L) and second within the seven-year-olds at Le Lion in 2009, after which second at Blair Fort CIC3* (now CCI4*-S) in 2010.
“He was an distinctive younger horse – total my horses mature typically a bit later, however I received Oslo at 4 and he was a really precocious, a really sorted younger horse,” stated William. “He discovered all the pieces very simple very early. I used to be at all times stunned that he at all times appeared like he’d learn the guide, he at all times knew what to do and what was occurring.”
The yr 2011 was a bonza one for Oslo. He was third at Chatsworth CIC3* (now CCI4*-S), then gained Tattersalls CCI3* (now CCI4*-L), the Blenheim eight- and nine-year-old CIC3* (now CCI4*-S) and Pau CCI4* (now CCI5*). His win at Tattersalls was a part of a notable treble for William when he gained three CCIs in the identical day.
“It regarded seemingly he’d be a London 2012 horse, however that yr he went lame and really sadly it wasn’t to be. That was kind of the start of the top of his profession annoyingly, as he’d gained all the pieces as much as that degree,” stated William.
The horse did return to high degree competitors and accomplished Badminton in 2013, when William dropped a rein throughout nation and Oslo had the one cross-country leaping fault of his worldwide profession.
Oslo’s breeding profession was restricted, however one in all his offspring, Oratorio, is competing at five-star with William and the rider can also be presently breaking in a three-year-old mare by him, out of a thoroughbred mare.
“She’s fairly little, 15.3hh and really easy, so she’ll be a terrific junior or younger rider horse for my daughter Chloe, who will likely be 15 when she’s 10,” stated William.
Oslo retired in 2017 however returned to the fray with William’s goddaughter, Daisy Greenback, who loved various placings at BE100 and novice with him in 2018 and 2019.
After that, he moved to the yard owned by Lucinda de Mauley and her spouse Rupert and run by Spencer Sturmey and his associate Freddie Ellams, and loved his retirement there.
“Finally his toes received the higher of him”, stated Spencer. “After very cautious administration from us and farriers, the X-rays sadly didn’t lie. Within the curiosity of his high quality of life and wellbeing, it was determined that for him the most effective factor was to have him put to sleep.
“He spent his final two years with us hacking across the property and villages, charming everybody he met. He was the Colin Firth of the equestrian world, a real gentleman via and thru. He had his ‘facet’ although, which in the end made him the powerful three-day occasion horse he was.
“It’s been a really powerful time for everybody however his unimaginable recollections will stay on, plus there are his undoubtedly gifted offspring. We’ll at all times bear in mind his splendidly type temperament and the way in which he sorted and taught Freddie, who’s a novice, a lot.”
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Oslo
Credit score: TREVOR MEEKS
William Fox-Pitt stated it could be pretty sooner or later to seek out him “a brilliant hacking dwelling”
Library picture.
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Credit score: Peter Nixon
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