Wednesday 5 April 2017 13:21, UK
Reigning Olympic individual showjumping champion Nick Skelton will formally retire at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Sunday, May 14.
British Showjumping announced on Wednesday that 59-year-old Skelton and his Rio Olympics gold medal-winning ride Big Star will bow out in the Castle Arena after illustrious careers.
Skelton notably won Olympic team gold at London 2012 alongside Scott Brash, Ben Maher and Peter Charles.
In a statement released by British Showjumping, Skelton said: "It has come to a point, after months of thought and consideration, that myself and my partner Big Star have decided to retire from competition.
"Although there are many people, including my family, Gary and Beverley (Big Star's owners Gary and Beverley Widdowson) and my team that were looking forward to us carrying on this year, we feel that Big Star has done everything that a rider could ask and it is time for him to relax and enjoy his stallion duties.
"As for myself, I have always stated that when Big Star was finished I would be as well.
"This sport has given me more than I could have ever hoped over the past 43 years, and it is such a difficult decision to make.
"But I am not getting any younger, and it is nice for the two of us to end on the highest note possible."
Apart from two Olympic golds, Skelton also won a World Championship silver medal and four bronzes, plus three European golds, three silvers and three bronze medals.
However, it was aboard Big Star that he enjoyed his greatest triumph, delivering a showjumping masterclass in Rio last summer.
