Avebury, Andrew Nicholson’s four-star winner, has been withdrawn from the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton CCI**** (Great Britain) and retired from competition.

Ridden by New Zealand’s Nicholson and owned by Mark and Rosemary Barlow, 16-year-old Avebury—known at home as “Buddy,” a nickname given to him as a foal by Andrew’s daughters Rebecca and Melissa—is the only horse to have won the Land Rover Burghley CCI*** (Great Britain) three times (2012, 2013 and 2014) and the Barbury Castle CIC*** (Great Britain) four times (2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015). Avebury is now 16. 

“This is a day we were all dreading,” said Rosemary. “He has served us so well, and after his last gallop he wasn’t showing his normal exuberance and zest for life. Sadly old age has begun to catch up with him, and he deserves a well-earned rest.

“Avebury is a horse of a lifetime and owes us nothing,” she continued. “Sometimes in his younger years he could be a little bit naughty, but he has been a complete joy to own. He has won at every level, and during his career he ran 71 times with Andrew and 11 with Wiggy [Andrew’s wife, who competed him at novice level]. He won 27 times and was placed on numerous occasions.”

Andrew bred Avebury, a British Sport Horse (Jumbo—Memento), and then broke him and sold him as a jumper. He was successful in that discipline as a 5-year-old, and then Wiggy bought him back and evented him in his 6-year-old year.

 “Rosemary Barlow wanted a new horse, so I said to her that I thought I knew of one,” said Andrew. “Wiggy went away for a few days, so I sneaked him up to the gallops to see what he could do. I was quite impressed, so I suggested Rosemary [buy] him for me to ride.”

In their first season together in 2007, Andrew and Avebury won the CCI* at Tattersalls in Great Britain and three intermediate classes, as well as finishing second in the British Novice Championships at Gatcombe and fourth in the World Young Horse Championships at Le Lion d’Angers (France).

In 2009, they took the CCI*** at Saumur (France). In 2011, Andrew and Avebury were 10th at Badminton and eighth at Burghley, and in 2012 they scored the first of their multiple victories in the CIC*** at Barbury Castle and at Burghley.

In 2015, the pair took their fourth Barbury Castle CIC*** win and were preparing for an attempt at a fourth consecutive Burghley win when Andrew suffered the bad fall at Gatcombe from another horse, which broke his neck and finished his season.

 Avebury’s only run in 2016 was at Great Witchingham (Great Britain) in March and, fittingly, he won.

“He’s part of the family, and will stay here with us,” said Andrew. “Wiggy will ride him, and no doubt my daughter Lily will put her name down for a go! He’s sound and well; he just doesn’t quite feel like he used to and, as he owes us nothing, we thought it better to stop now. 

 “He’s got a cheeky side to him, but whenever you walk into the yard, he’s happy to see you,” he continued. “He loves his work and is very bubbly about everything. He’s still naughty to catch in the field—he gallops around squealing, but as soon as it rains, or he thinks something might be happening without him, he runs up and down the fence line yelling to be brought in.

 “He has been an exceptional performer. He loves a big atmosphere and shows off in it and has always been a brilliant jumper and galloper. He has always been a winner, and I have to thank him for some of the greatest days of my career.”