Olympic, Kentucky and Burghley winner Ballaghmor Class retires

In October, Oliver Townend was still competing with Ballaghmor Class at the CCI5*-L in Pau, finished second in the dressage, had eleven penalty points for a triggered safety system in the cross-country and knockdowns in the jumping. But the 18-year-old Irishman finished the test – as he had done 41 (!) times before. This was the last of his career, a great career comparable to that of Michael Jung‘s Sam.

Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class were active in international sport for eleven years. In 2014, Townend brought out the then seven-year-old Irish gray horse. He trained him. They have not missed a single season – with the exception of the coronavirus year 2020. When Ballaghmor Class won Burghley at the age of ten at his first attempt, the competition was still a four-star test. But the requirements were as high as they are today with five stars.

The success list of the Ballaghmor Class

“Thomas” won Burghley not just once, but twice. He also finished second once and third once. Four times at Burghley and not just finishing all of them, but finishing in the top three every time – that alone is outstanding.

The pair competed even more often in badminton, the legendary eventing competition that is considered the toughest in the world. They competed here five times, finishing second twice and fifth twice. In 2025, they finished the cross-country with no faults and only a few time faults, but Townend withdrew the then 18-year-old gelding before the second conformation test.

In 2021, Townend and Ballaghmor Class won the CCI5*-L in Kentucky before taking gold with the team at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. In 2024, the pair won the relatively new CCI5*-L in Maryland, USA. The pair have completed 13 five-star competitions, eleven of them in the top five.

Townend said after the victory in Maryland that he wished he could ride the Irishman for another ten years and then retire from the sporting stage with him. But then Ballaghmor Class would be 29. Now he is saying goodbye at 19. An official ceremony is planned for the Burghley weekend. On Sunday, September 6, “Thomas” will be celebrated for the last time.

Oliver Townend’s “Milton”

Oliver Townend told Horse & Hound that Ballaghmor Class, an Irish son of Courage II, made his childhood dreams come true. “I was lucky enough to ride some very good horses and I had some good successes before him. But he was the highlight of my career.” He achieved goals with him that he never thought he would be able to achieve. “I never thought I would make it to the Olympics. It was always about competing in five-star tournaments and being able to make a living from it. But delivering from start to finish like he did made him a star within the sport. And the Olympics also made him a star outside the sport.”

Now the main thing is to keep the gray horse healthy and fit. “We will keep him busy so that he is happy. He will stay with us for the rest of his life.”

Townend: “I grew up with John Whitaker and Milton. For me, he is my Milton.”