Pikko del Cerro, who earned numerous young and developing horse titles before successfully contesting CDI Grand Prix classes, has sustained an injury and will be retired from competition. Owner Anne Sparks of Horses Unlimited announced the horse’s retirement in a press release on Feb. 8.

“Cerro” most recently competed in the Adequan Global Dressage Festival Week 3 CDI-W (Fla.) in January, and Sparks and Wilcox hoped they’d make a bid for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro with the 13-year-old stallion. 

“Making the U.S. team [for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro] was always our goal for the horse,” said Sparks. “Cerro has won so many championships along the way, and that was the one thing we felt was missing from his resume. It is bittersweet for me as both an owner and a breeder. Together, we decided that it was in the best interest of the horse to suspend his sporting career in order to have a long, happy career at stud.”  

Sparks bred the Hanoverian (Pik L—Rohweena, Rohdiamant) in New Mexico, and he started his competition career with Denmark’s Mikala Gundersen. With Gundersen aboard, he won the 2009 USEF Markel 6-Year-Old Young Horse Dressage Championship (Ill.). 

Wilcox took over the ride for the 2011 USEF Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Championship (Ill.), which the pair won. The following year, Cerro swept the USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix National Championship (Ill.) before moving up to the CDI Grand Prix level with success.

“Cerro was an athlete, incredibly smart, very elastic and great to work with,” said Wilcox. “We enjoyed traveling together, discovering new venues, and he was always up for the challenge. Wherever we were, he rose to the challenge. We have a great relationship and have great respect for each other.” 

Cerro will stand at Hilltop Farm in Maryland.