Clooney 51, the previous European champion, with Swiss showjumper Martin Fuchs, might be celebrated in an official retirement ceremony, 16 months after he suffered a career-ending harm.
Clooney, 16, fractured a bone in his proper humerus when he slipped and fell within the discipline on 16 August final yr, 9 days after he and Martin had been competing on the Tokyo Olympics. He returned dwelling after virtually two months in hospital, and is now having fun with his retirement.
Clooney’s “farewell ceremony” will happen on 11 December at CHI Geneva – the place he gained the Rolex grand prix with Martin Fuchs in 2019.
“He has been on the earth’s most stunning arenas, however he has been lacking a remaining lap to say goodbye to his many followers,” mentioned a CHI Geneva spokesman.
Clooney, owned by Luigi Baleri, was sourced by Martin’s father Thomas as a seven-year-old. Martin and Clooney had a glittering profession, with a number of five-star and grand prix wins.
They gained particular person gold on the 2019 European Championships, and particular person silver on the 2018 World Equestrian Video games in Tryon. The pair have been ninth individually on the Rio Olympics in 2016 and sixteenth in Tokyo.
Martin mentioned Clooney is the “horse of his life” and an “extraordinary being”.
“He has given me a lot and it’s with him that I’ve had my best successes,” he mentioned.
“His accident was a horrible ordeal for him and for all of my staff, however within the face of it he proved what energy of character he has. Right this moment, he’s nicely and he deserves to have a ceremony that displays his fabulous profession and the genius that he’s.”
Martin added that CHI Geneva was an “apparent alternative” for the ceremony.
“We had one among our most stunning moments right here once we gained the Rolex grand prix,” he mentioned.
“I’m very a lot trying ahead to this farewell, which guarantees to be very emotional, and through which I might be surrounded by the nice Geneva public, my household, my staff and my mates.”
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