Yesterday, one of British Dressage’s superstar horses performed his last piaffe, pirouette and passage in front of a packed crowd at the Dressage Deluxe National Dressage Championships. On completion of her test in the Dressage Deluxe Grand Prix Freestyle Championship, his rider Maria Eilberg announced that her partner of nine years, Two Sox, is to retire from competition.
The Ehrentusch-sired gelding will be 18 next birthday and Maria wants him to go out on a high at a venue that he adores. “I want him to be able to be able to say good bye and not just fade away,” said Maria. He hasn’t missed a National Championship in the last decade and was British National Champion with Maria in 2008.
Two Sox, ‘Ed’ at home, came to the Eilbergs as three year old almost by mistake. “He was thrown in as part of a deal on another horse dad (Ferdi) was doing on behalf of a client,” recalls Maria. Ferdi took a shine to him and kept him in the yard, training him up to Advanced Medium before Maria took on the ride in her Junior year. The combination grew together up the levels – with a little help from dad with changes as neither of them knew what to do – and really blossomed when they hit Grand Prix level.
In 2006, they were named as reserve for the World Equestrian Games and two years later travelled to Hong Kong for the Beijing Olympics as reserves. This was a character building experience for Maria as she had to be ready to compete at a moment’s notice for each British rider but she never actually got to trot down the centre line in competition. In 2009, they got their first Senior call up at Windsor Europeans and were part of the Silver medal winning team. A further Team silver came the next year at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington.
“Ed has taught me everything I know. He’s been a great partner and like all great partnerships, we’ve had our ups and downs. He’s quietly opinionated, especially since he’s been at elite level – I think it will be quite difficult to take him slowly into retirement as he loves the five star pampering which comes with top level competition. He’s dad’s favourite and will certainly be king of the yard!” said an emotional Maria.
Ed will continue in gentle work as a hacking buddy for the yard horses as well as going out in the field regularly – something he hasn’t been able to do since an unfortunate incident with a New Zealand rug when he was three!
British Dressage Chief Executive Amanda Bond commented; “I’m sure everyone in the sport would want to join me in wishing Two Sox a long and happy retirement. He and Maria have been a pleasure to watch and an integral part of our current rise to the top. It’s lovely to see a horse and rider come up through the ranks and grow together to the very top level – plus have the level of success they’ve enjoyed. He’ll be much missed but Maria has some exciting prospects; although I’m sure no horse will ever take his place.”