Ruth Edge publicizes Two Thyme has been put down

Two Thyme, the five-star winner who Ruth Edge credit for “placing her on the map”, has been put down in retirement aged 29.

As we speak (10 January) Ruth introduced that throughout the Christmas interval that they had “sadly let Two Thyme (Jasper) go run wild within the subject within the sky”.

“He was the grand previous age of 29 and had been retired along with his bessie mate Nick of Thyme,” stated Ruth.

Ruth took on the journey of Maureen and Phil Smith’s Jasper as a seven-year-old in 2001. The following yr they received the British intermediate championship at Gatcombe, and in 2004 and 2009 had been topped the British open champions.

The pair made their five-star debut at Badminton in 2007, the place they jumped clear throughout nation and completed eleventh. The next yr they received Luhmühlen five-star, and had been named reserves for the Beijing Olympic Video games.

“I had ridden Phil and Maureen’s different horse Large Time, so it was determined that I might have a go at Jasper and see if I might persuade him that he wished to be an occasion horse. We knew all alongside how gifted he was, however he was fairly quirky,” Ruth advised H&H.

“He was a really type horse, and he beloved individuals and different horses, however I might describe him as an eccentric genius. You needed to persuade him to do issues, you couldn’t inform him. We spent loads of time attempting to enhance his confidence and it wasn’t all the time simple, but it surely was the making of him, and he realized to belief me.

“We had an actual partnership collectively and he actually believed that he might do these wonderful issues that he did. He definitely taught me loads about horsemanship, as a result of he was a difficult character, however on his day he might beat the very best on the planet. He was a horse that basically put me on the map.”

Jasper retired sound in 2012, aged 18 and had an extended and completely happy retirement.

“He was by no means ridden once more as a result of we felt he actually settled into being out within the subject along with his buddies. He wasn’t nice at hacking, and he definitely wasn’t a schoolmaster, even in his older age he was nonetheless cheeky,” stated Ruth.

“He stayed with me and Nick of Time till 2019 once I moved, after which the 2 of them went to Phil and Maureen’s. That they had a incredible retirement place for them with plenty of buddies, and he had a terrific time.”

Ruth thanked Jasper for “all the good occasions with Phil and Maureen Smith at occasions throughout Europe”.

“I’m so grateful for all of the alternatives you delivered to me. Fly excessive up there doing no matter you please. RIP pricey boy,” she added.

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H&H senior information author

Since becoming a member of H&H in 2018, Becky has lined a broad vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and highway security campaigns. She has additionally interviewed prime riders together with Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to call just some. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, in addition to the Royal Highland and Blair Fort Worldwide Horse Trials nearer to house. She was additionally a key a part of the distant reporting staff for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.