Thank you Quintero Ask!

Last week Rolf’s superstar Quintero Ask was retired from the sport at the Holsteiner Verband's stallion show. The retirement of the 16 year old Quintero Ask did not happen due to the stallion’s health, he is in fantastic shape – but due to Rolf and the injury that keeps reappearing in his thigh. Quintero Ask uses his back a lot during the jumps, and his big jumps have forced Rolf to use his body in a way that his injured leg cannot cope with.

Quintero Ask has been a very special horse for Rolf, and here are his words to his successful partner;

“Of course it is sad to retire Quintero Ask, as I really need such a horse in the stable – but also because Quintero Ask is a really special horse to me. He has been doing so many great things during the years I have been riding him, and he was really a horse that could jump everything - he could do the World Cup, the Grand Prix classes and was also very useful for the Nations Cups.

Quintero Ask came to us when he was seven years old after being ridden by Lars Bak Anderssen. When Quintero was young he was a bit spooky so I needed a bit more leg on him and after the fences he would always go wild, bucking around and playing. He got a bit calmer over the years, but his playful side was always around the corner.

When he came he was a very determined gentleman that wanted to do things his own way. And that followed him all through his career. So I had to compromise with Quintero Ask - he had to accept my way, but I could never control him totally. But even though he always wanted to do things his way he was very rideable and nice in the daily work. Quintero was also a very flexible horse; he never had a problem with distances between the fences - however short or long they were.

Quintero Ask had a very unique way of jumping, but he always wanted to jump clear and he could do some jumps that were just a miracle. Sometimes I could come to a fence and think that he would never be able to clear it, but somehow he still landed on the other side with the fence intact.

My best memory with Quintero Ask was when he won the Mercedes Masters in Zürich ahead of No Mercy and Libertina. Another fond memory is when he won the Grand Prix in Falsterbo. That year the arena was under water and we had one of only two clear rounds so we shared the victory without riding the jump-off. Another highlight was when Quintero Ask won the Gucci by Gucci challenge in Paris both 2010 and 2011.

Quintero Ask's personality is amazing. He is such a sweet horse and not acting like a stallion at all. I will really miss to have him in my stable because he really is something special!”