When Irish showjumper Conor Swail announced the retirement of his 16-year-old Selle Francais gelding, Vital Chance de la Roque this month, it closed the competitively successful chapter on a horse whose personality preceded him and whose path to greatness was never guaranteed. “Conor is a brilliant rider,” said the horse’s breeder Marie Bourdin. “I mean … Continue reading Swail retires Vital Chance – the ‘unrideable’ gelding with the big heart