Cake, Polos and prosecco — everything an Olympic stallion needs at his retirement party

Nick Skelton’s Olympic showjumper Arko III has this week retired from stud at the age of 25.

But there was no chance the much-loved bay stallion would be sloping off quietly to the green fields of the Hales family’s Shaw Farm Stud. Oh no, after 20 years on the job, first it was time for a proper send-off.

As the video shows, Arko tucked into a spectacular mint-garnished cake cooked up by the yard’s head groom Anna Holland, received a special farewell card and there were balloons, polos, crisps, prosecco — “and lots of cuddles and kisses” — at his “retiring from stud” party hosted by his friends at Stallion AI Services in Shropshire, where he was also joined by his owners, Pat and Lisa Hales.

Please click here to view the video and read the rest of the article as it appears on the Horse and Hound website.

Article written by: Jennifer Donald