Hippomundo invites you to revisit the horses that won medals in the early years of their careers and find out what has become of them. Did they go on to compete at the highest level, or were their successes short-lived? This month, Hippomundo takes a look at the 2016 World Championships for 5-year-olds in Lanaken (BEL). Garant, the world champion for 5-year-olds, had notably been selected for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games before withdrawing a few weeks beforehand.
Medal-winners who have come a long way
The 5-year-old world champion, Garant, has more than lived up to the high hopes placed in him from a very young age. Crowned champion at the age of 5 under the Dutch rider Willem Greve, he also competed in the World Championships for 6-year-olds the following year. At the age of 7, he came under the saddle of the American rider Beezie Madden, with whom he progressed to the very highest level. Together, the pair racked up a string of impressive results. These include:
- Winner of the young horse class at Aachen (GER) in 2019
- Winner of the Grand Prix at the CSI2* in New York – North Salem (USA) in 2019
- Winner of the World Cup leg at the CSI4*-W in New York – North Salem (USA) in 2019
- 4th in the Grand Prix at the CSI5* in Wellington (USA) in 2021
- He competes in Nations Cups with the US team and was selected for the Tokyo Olympic Games (JPN) in 2021. His rider ultimately decided not to take him, as she did not feel he was ready enough.
Since 2022, this KWPN has been based at Callie Schott’s stables in the US. Together, the pair continue to compete at the highest level, notably securing victories in CSI5* Grand Prix events: Traverse City, MI (USA) in 2022 and Thermal, CA (USA) in 2025. Once again this year, the pair have excelled in the Nations Cup in Rome and Rotterdam.
Bred by Gebr. Bosch, Garant is a son of Warrant and C’est la vie (by Verdi TN). Over the course of his career, he has accumulated a Hippomundo Lifetime Ranking of 116.
Runner-up in the 2016 World Championships under the Irish rider Michael Pender, Z7 Caretina continued to climb the ranks at the highest level. This daughter of Coltaire Z and Caretina (by Caretino) went on to compete from the age of seven with the British rider Georgia Tame and performed well up to 1.55m, notably in international competitions in the United Arab Emirates. The Irish mare has since been ridden by numerous riders. Today, she is ridden at CSI* level by the Italian Paolo Bussu.
Also ridden by the Irish rider Michael Pender, Z Seven Canya Dance won a bronze medal in 2016. This son of Can Ya Makan and HHS Chantilly Lace (by Cavalier Royale) was bred by Anne Hughes. This Irish horse continued to progress up to 1m40 under the saddle of numerous riders and has accumulated an HLR of 46.
Well-known horses in the Top 30.
As well as the medallists, other horses that featured in the top 30 have enjoyed highly successful careers at the very highest level:
- 4th in 2016 with Jil Verheij (NED) – Agana van het Gerendal Z (formerly Agana du Monsigneur Z) - HLR 116 - : This stallion, a son of Aganix du Seigneur Z, shone at the very highest level under the saddle of Lillie Keenan (USA). The pair won the Grand Prix at the CSI4* in Wellington in 2024 and the World Cup leg in Las Vegas at the CSI4*-W in 2022.
Lillie Keenan & Agana van het Gerendal Z ©Sportfot
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11th in 2016: Jose Fumero Hernandez (ESP) – Corelli de Mies - HLR 99 – This stallion, a son of Calvaro Z, finished 19th in the World Championships for 6-year-olds before competing at the highest level under the saddle of Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) and Nisse Lüneburg (GER). Notable performances include: 1st in the CSI4* Grand Prix at Opglabbeek (BEL) with Nisse Lüneburg, and 3rd in the CSI4* Grand Prix at Valkenswaard with the Australian rider. The horse is currently ridden by the young Mexican rider Sergio Nieto Rullan.
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17th in 2016 with Harm Lahde (GER) - Darshan (formerly Boreal de Nantuel) - HLR 67 - This stallion, a son of Diamant de Semilly, competed up to Nations Cup level with the Egyptian rider Mohamed Talaat.
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20th in 2016 with Philipp Schulze (GER) - Tornado VS - HLR 106 – This Toulon-bred horse has just finished 10th at the World Championships in Aachen, ridden by the Spanish Armando Trapote. The pair had previously competed in the World Cup Final in the United States this year, and at the European Championships in La Coruña in 2025 and in Milan in 2023.
Armando Trapote & Tornado VS at the European Championship 2025 ©FEI/Benjamin Clark
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24th in 2016 with Gerard O’Neill (ITA) – ESI Toulouse - HLR 83 – Bred by Cian O’Connor, this son of SIEC Livello has distinguished himself in the Nations Cup and CSI5* Grand Prix events under the saddle of Cameron Hanley (IRL) and José Maria Larocca Jr. (ARG). In his pedigree, ESI Toulouse has two sisters who have excelled in 5* eventing: ESI Pheonix (by Clover Echo) & ESI Bethany Bay (formerly Global ESI Exclusive) by OBOS Quality.
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30th in 2016 with Antonio Alfonso - Gijs - HLR82 - This stallion, a son of Kashmir van Schuttershof, has risen through the ranks to CSI5* level under the saddle of Belgian rider Nicola Philippaerts. The pair notably finished 2nd in the Global Champions League in London in 2021.
Once again, the Lanaken World Championships for Young Horses has demonstrated that it is a breeding ground for future top-class horses and the champions of tomorrow.
