It seems only fitting that, as we start our coverage of Les 5 Etoiles de Pau in France, Ros Canter has announced the retirement of her 17-year-old gelding, Zenshera
“Most of you know that Alfie means the world to me and was a bit of a Pau specialist” says Ros on her social media “We didn’t buy him to go 5 Star, in fact we were just happy to make it around a BE100 with two down in the show jumping, but Alfie’s heart always wanted to do more”
In fact, Zenshera completed six CCI5* competitions, finishing in the top 10 of five of them. Ros had a lot of faith in the big horse, competing in one 5* whilst pregnant and another three months after giving birth.
“His show jumping was always the weak link and he wasn’t the fastest, but he has given me the cross country rounds of my life so many times and always twinkled his toes in the dressage. He was the horse that made me believe that I could”
Ros and 'twinkle-toes' Zenshera at Pau 2019
Zenshera will continue to show off his twinkle-toes in pure dressage for a then will start his next career of ‘nannying the babies’
“He is such a pet at home that I hope in a few years that Ziggy (Ros’ daughter) will get the pleasure of having a few rides. My boy Alfie has done every event with a huge smile on his face" says Ros "He continues to be a ray of sunshine at Hallington and I’m just so happy that his story isn’t over yet! Thank you Alfie!”
Ros Canter and Zenshera finished fifth in the CCI5* at Pau in both 2018 and 2019
