Watch this video to find out how Parzival turned from a “super scared horse turned into a world champion.”

Parzival, one of Holland’s most successful dressage horses, has been officially retired in a ceremony at the Indoor Brabant in ‘s Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands.

No controls

The 20-year-old was Adelinde Cornelissen’s top horse for many years – and together then won numerous medals.

However, according to Adelinde he wasn’t the easier horse when she first rode him aged five.

“He was spinning around and flying around everywhere for the first hour, but in between I said ‘oh wow, this is amazing’,” said the 35-year-old rider. “He just felt so enormous and powerful – but had no controls.”

Biggest wins

Despite a sticky start, the pair went on to become one of the world’s most successful dressage partnerships. Here are their biggest wins:

2009 European Championships in Windsor, team and GP Special gold and silver in the Kur

2010 World Equestrian Games, team gold

2010 World Cup Final, silver

2011 European Champions in Rotterdam, gold in the Special and Freestyle

2011 World Cup Final, gold

2012 London Olympics, team and individual silver

2013 Europeans in Herning, team and Special silver and Kur bronze

2014 World Equestrian Games, team and Kur bronze

Last competition

Parzival hasn’t competed since the Rio Olympics, when Adelinde pulled him up during the Grand Prix due to an illness caused by an insect bite to his face.

The dressage superstar’s 2016 scores were good enough to win him a place on the Dutch Olympic A-squad this year, but Adelinde decided Rio would be his last competition.

Parzival will now enjoy a quiet life, with Adelinde: “He deserves it,” she said.