Show jumper Simone Blum, world champion of 2018, has officially and ceremoniously said goodbye to her heart horse Alice from the sport.
“Alice shaped me like no other horse, both as a rider and as a person. She showed me what friendship means,” said the visibly moved 34-year-old during the farewell ceremony.
This took place between the two rounds of the Show Jumping Nations Cup at the CHIO in the Aachen Soers. Saying goodbye to a horse from the sport is “a tough step,” said Blum on WDR, “but Aachen is a great place, and that’s why we’re doing it now.”
A highlight video of the two was followed by a personal speech by Blum before she did a lap of honor in the sold-out jumping stadium with her world champion horse from 2018. In addition to winning the World Cup, the two became German champions in Balve in 2016 and 2017.