After officially retiring from top-level eventing, the 19-year-old legendary gelding Toledo de Kerser has proven that age is just a number. Having achieved global fame and double Olympic medals under British rider Tom McEwen, this horse made an unexpected return to the big stage, making his international showjumping debut at the prestigious Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) in London (August 7-9, 2026).
From Eventing to Showjumping: A Veteran’s New Lease on Life
Toledo de Kerser (a Selle Français by the legendary showjumping sire Diamant de Semilly ) has been enjoying a quieter life in recent years . After sustaining an injury on the cross-country course at the Burghley Horse Trials in the autumn of 2023 , the horse officially retired from eventing . During his rehabilitation and retirement, he participated in masterclasses and jumped hors concours (non-competitively) in national British showjumping classes at the 90cm and 1.10m levels.
However, as Tom McEwen’s team noted, the 19-year-old champion loves the big stage and craves the crowds . This passion is exactly what prompted his rider to enter the horse into one of the world’s most prestigious showjumping series — the CSI2* LGCT classes in London .
Impressive Results on the Longines Global Champions Tour
Despite an unassuming entrance for his international showjumping debut (the announcers were only allowed to state the horse’s name and breeding), those in the know quickly recognized the Olympic champion . Toledo de Kerser certainly did not disappoint his fans:
- 1.25m Two-Phase (Friday): The horse jumped a spectacular double clear (finishing with zero penalties) with incredible enthusiasm and a swagger in his stride. This brilliant performance earned the pair a highly respectable 5th place .
- 1.30m Hyde Park Stables Trophy (Saturday): Tom and Toledo demonstrated their absolute class once again, finishing in the prize money and drawing excited murmurings and applause from the London crowd .
A Legendary Eventing Career: What You Need to Know
To truly appreciate the magnitude of Toledo de Kerser’s return, one must look back at his incredible eventing record. Owned by Fred and Penny Barker, Jane Inns, and the rider’s mother, Ali McEwen, Toledo has gone down in history as one of the most consistent and talented competitors of the past decade.
Major Achievements of Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser:
- 🥇 Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (held in 2021): Team Gold medal and Individual Silver medal.
- 🥇 World Equestrian Games 2018 (Tryon, USA): Team Gold representing Great Britain .
- 🏆 CCI5* Level Events: A magnificent victory at the prestigious Pau CCI5* in France in 2019 , alongside four other top-10 finishes at the highest five-star level, including Badminton and Burghley .
Life After Top-Level Sport
Seeing a star return to international competition at the age of 19 is incredibly rare. Sport horses typically retire much earlier. However, excellent genetics, Tom McEwen’s careful management, and a gradual return to light work after his injury have allowed Toledo de Kerser to experience the joy of competing once more .
Today, he isn’t competing for eventing ranking points, but purely for the love of the sport — proving that true champions never lose their charisma.
