We have written about the most successful horses in the sport at the highest level. We have also discussed the promising horses for the future based on our young horse rankings for five, six and seven-year-old horses. But what about the horses that just fall through the cracks? Too old to be considered a young horse, but too young to make significant waves amongst the world's top performers. Today, we would like to shine a light on the most successful eight-year-old horses of 2022 to date.
So far into 2022, the highest-earning eight-year-old in the sport of showjumping is the Hannoverian mare Looping Luna. The daughter of Pikeur Lord Fauntleroy out of a mare by Calido I has already won close to €27,000 in prize money this year. Her main achievement so far this year was an impressive win in the U25 Grand Prix in Wellington in March, ridden by German rider Richard Vogel. The pair also picked up a number of other placings on the winter circuit in Wellington. Looping Luna was bred in Germany by Andreas Middelkampf.
Currently in second place in the ranking with a total amount of almost €23,000 won is Opium Quality. The son of Cornet Obolensky out of a mare by Caretino already has two podium to his name in CSI2* Grand Prix in Villeneuve-Loubet under the saddle of French rider Nicolas Deseuzes. Opium Quality was bred in Belgium by Quality Stud.
Completing the podium with a total winning sum of over €18,000 in 2022 alone is Vasco 118. The son of Vivant out of a mare by Chacco-Blue was bred in Germany by Paul Schockemöhle. Under the saddle of Italian rider Emanuele Gaudiano, the stallion has already added several podium places in 1.45m classes at two, three and four-star level to his record. Just last week, the pair won a 1.45m class during the CSI4* competition in Montefalco.
The BWP stallion Otto van de Achterhoek has won a total amount over €14,000 in prize money in international competitions so far this year which makes him the fourth highest-earning eight-year-old in the sport. The son of last weekend's La Baule winner Dieu Merci van T&L out of a mare by Kashmir van Schuttershof also competed successfully in Villeneuve Loubet at the start of the year with two second place finishes in the ranking classes under the saddle of Maxime Harmegnies. Otto van de Achterhoek was bred by Dirk de Pauw.
Action Bellevue PS is the second breeding product of Paul Schockemöhle to make the top five. The daughter of Action-Breaker out of a mare by Baloubet du Rouet has won a total amount of close to €14,000 in international competitions so far this year. Earlier this season, the mare finished third in a CSI2* Grand Prix in Valencia under Robin Muhr. More recently the pair also finished third in a CSI5* 1.50m class.
Mylord Miles, Thuur Z, Santa Rosa Apolo, Chalina 9 and Dianca Z are the horses who complete the top ten highest-earning eight-year-olds of the year so far.
Check out the entire ranking here.
