Nissan Nabab Forever is a name that has become synonymous with the ‘wow factor’ in South African showjumping as a tall, black gelding who was highly successful with both Lorette Knowles-Taylor and Barry Taylor at all the major competitions across the country. But news broke this afternoon that Nabab, or The Galloping Grandpa as he was affectionately known by many, had passed away at the age of 26.
Born in 1995, the 26-year-old gelding has seen victories at many top competitions including the Port Elizabeth World Cup Qualifier in 2014. While he is only listed to have won one FEI World Cup Qualifier according to the FEI, Nabab is arguably one of the most consistent and competitive horses South Africa has seen for many years with a top 3 finish in nearly every competition he entered between 2010 and 2015.
Advertisement
Advertisement
After being retired once in 2012, Nabab made an emphatic return to the competition ring, refusing to simply stay home. After his return and before his final retirement in 2015, Nabab displayed his power and immeasurable scope by winning multiple six-bar competitions, setting and still holding the South African 6-Bar record at 2.05m with Lorette in the saddle.
Born in Belgium, Nabab Forever was by the iconic Nabab de Reve out of a Forever mare. While the FEI results database only goes back as far as 2010, at the time, 15-year-old Nabab was already competing in top international competitions with Tim Stockdale. Nabab was then purchased for Barry to begin his campaign for the Kentucky World Equestrian Games in 2010, however, due to the financial limitations that South Africans endure in Europe and Nabab’s own difficulties, Barry competed at several 1.55m/1.60m European competitions with Nabab including Austria and Spain before bringing him back to South Africa in the latter half of the year. The new partnership kicked off strong in SA with a 4th place position in the Polokwane World Cup Qualifier in November 2010.
Their journey from there was inspiring to watch as the pair remained highly competitive and always in with a chance at victory at every competition. The final 2 years of Nabab’s competitive career saw Lorette partner up with the gelding which proved successful with their World Cup Qualifier victory in 2014. After an incredible journey both locally and abroad, Nabab Forever will remain an icon to many South Africans for years to come.
Our condolences to all his connections, may the Galloping Grandpa finally run free.
-The JumpOff-
1 Comment
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.