Jorinde Verwimp's Tiamo Retired from Sport

Sat, 12/29/2018 - 18:23
Belgium
Jorinde Verwimp and Tiamo in the horse's retirement ceremony at the 2018 CDI-W Mechelen :: Photo © Dirk Caremans

Belgian Grand Prix rider Jorinde Verwimp retired her number one horse Tiamo from competition sport at the 2018 CDI-W Mechelen on Saturday 29 December 2018. 

The 18-year old KWPN gelding Tiamo (by Lester x Hemingway) did his last competition in Mechelen, finishing 11th in the Grand Prix (68.587%) and 8th in the Kur (74.120%).

Verwimp got the ride on the tall Tiamo in 2010 and he became a career defining horse for the now 24-year old Jorinde. 

Tiamo (which means I love You in Italian) was briefly competed under the name "Tiano" due to a typographical error with registration of his name by the FEI. Jorinde and Tiamo were trained by Wim Verwimp, as well as Anky van Grunsven and Sjef Janssen.

The pair competed at the European Junior Riders Championships in 2011 and 2012, at the European Young Riders Championships in 2013 and 2014. In 2013 they won team bronze and in 2014 they won kur bronze at the Europeans. After the summer they immediately made the transition to Under 25 Grand Prix level.

In 2015 Verwimp and Tiamo were selected on the Belgian senior team for the European Championships in Aachen. They also were the country's single dressage representatives at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where they placed 35th with 70.771%. In 2017 they rode at the European Championships in Gothenburg. Tiamo started to struggle with injury in the spring of 2018 and missed out on the World Equestrian Games. In the summer Mechelen was announced as his retirement show.

"The day has come to close a very big chapter of my life. Eight years ago he arrived at our stable as one of the sales horses," said Verwimp after celebrating Tiamo's retirement in Mechelen. "Very soon we realized that he was something special, Timmie was definitely not the easiest we started in junior level, young riders, U25 and up to grand prix. We competed at 6 european Championships, got 2 bronze medals, 4 times gold at the Belgian championschips, competed at the Olympic games in Rio, he made my biggest dreams come true. Timmie you are my life-changing horse. Thank you to everyone who supported us during all these years."

Photo © Dirk Caremans

Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: Tiamo
Jorinde Verwimp and Tiamo Withdraw from 2018 World Equestrian Games
Photo Report: Verwimp In Command in Big Tour at 2018 CDI Lier
Van der Meer and Verwimp Collect Christmas Trophies at 2017 CDI Mechelen
Hendrikx, Beckers, Brison, Verwimp Win 2017 Belgian Dressage Championships
Jorinde Verwimp Officially Nominated as Belgian Individual for 2016 Olympic Games
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Jorinde Verwimp Declines Invitation for 2016 World Cup Finals
Verwimp Makes Senior Grand Prix Debut and Beats Establishment at 2015 CDI Roosendaal
Verwimp and Tiamo on Form at 2014 CDI Kapellen
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