Charlotte Defalque's Botticelli Retired from Sport

Dressage

Belgium

Belgian team rider Charlotte Defalque took her last trip down the centerline on her career-making horse Botticelli at the 2025 CDI-W Mechelen. The 19-year old will be retired from competition sport.

Botticelli is a 2006 born Dutch warmblood gelding by Vivaldi out of Valinja (by Koss x Pion x Amor). He is bred by A. Van Straalen.

He was originally named Blof by the breeder after the eponimous Dutch music band. Grand dam Kalinja also produced the KWPN licensed stallion Tuschinski.

From Junior Riders to Grand Prix

In 2009 he competed on the VSN Trophy circuit in Holland and finished 7th in the finals in January 2010. His name was then spelled Boticelli (with one T).

Belgian horse dealer Dominique Mohimont spotted the horse in Holland and he was acquired by her business associate, at the time, count Maximilien de Croy.

In 2011 Charlotte's mom Marie-France Scohier acquired Botticelli as a junior hopeful for her pony rider daughter. At the time Charlotte was competing internationally with prominent FEI ponies Milkshake (2008 - 2010) and Epiascer (2010). Botticelli was boarded with Belgian Grand Prix rider Jeroen Devroe, who trained Botticelli up the levels as well as coach the pair from junior level to Grand Prix.

The liver chestnut lived up to his red-headed coat and was described as difficult and playful as a young FEI horses and ended up being a late bloomer, getting better and more consistent with age.

Frolicky at the 2016 European YR Championship

Defalque and Botticelli made their show debut in 6-year old young horse tests in 2012 and their junior CDI debut in January 2013 in Drachten. They went to Saumur, Moorsele, and Compiegne and were nominated on the Belgian team for the 2013 European Junior Riders Championships in Compiegne, where they were 29th in the individual test.

In 2014 they made the transition to Young Riders level and needed some settling in at the level. In 2015 they returned on the team for the European Young Riders Championships in Arezzo, where they were 38th in the individual test. A year later they went to the 2016 Euros in Oliva Nova and placed 6th in the Kur to Music finals.

2017 was a transition year and they showed at senior small tour level before entering the Under 25 division. At the 2018 European Under 25 Championships in Exloo they were 27th in the short Grand Prix.

Triple Belgian Grand Prix Team Horse

At the 2022 World Championships in Herning

As of 2019 the pair competed in the senior Grand Prix division with starts at various CDI's, but their break through year was in 2022 when they were nominated on the team for the FEI Nations Cup in Rotterdam, followed by the 2022 World Championships in Herning, where they finished 60th in the Grand Prix with 68.354%.

Defalque and Botticelli were part of the gradual rise of Belgian dressage to the top. In 2023 they were part of the team that clinched Olympic team qualification at the 2023 Europeans in Riesenbeck, where the pair finished 33rd in the Grand Prix with 71.072%.

The coveted dream of riding at the Olympics came close and after a busy campaign in 2024 with starts in Amsterdam, Neumunster, 's Hertogenbosch, Fontainebleau, Compiegne and Rotterdam, they ended up being named reserve for the Paris Olympics.

Defalque and the 19-year old evergreen Botticelli, who got better with age despite the many miles in his legs, showed in 9 CDI's in 2025 including the European Championships in Crozet, where they were 36th with 68.478%.

Retirement

At the 2025 European Championships in Crozet

With a total of 136 international tests on his tally and 13 years of competing at CDI's across the levels, the rising 20-year old will now be retired from competition sport.

At the Belgian Championships they won gold as a junior in 2014 and as a young rider they were fourth in 2014, but then there was silver in 2015 and 2016. They got gold as an Under 25 pair in 2018 and 2019. As a senior Grand Prix rider there was silver (2023) and bronze (2022, 2024). They did not compete at the Nationals in 2017, 2020, 2021 nor in 2025.

Their final show ride was yesterday at the World Cup qualifier in Mechelen, where they posted 68.283% in the Grand Prix and placed 8th in the Kur with 75.475%.

There was no lavish retirement ceremony held in Mechelen, but right after her test trainer Jeroen Devroe, chef d'equipe Jeroen van Lent, and owner Marie-France Scohier entered the arena with flowers and an apple, while the crowds gave them a standing ovation and applause for their long career as a combination.

Goodbye to competition sport in Mechelen

Defalque competed only one horse internationally, Botticelli, but will continue her career on the leased First Step Valentin.