Canadian showjumper Eric Lamaze has seven new horses in his stable in Ontario – three of which are London Olympic hopefuls.

Tragic loss

Lamaze tragically lost his long-term ride, Hickstead, back in November after the horse suffered a heart attack during a World Cup qualifying competition in Italy. The inimitable pair won individual gold and team silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, so finding a replacement partner was no easy task.

"Losing Hickstead was obviously very difficult, but with these new horses, the Olympics can now very much be a reality again. I am really excited for the future,” says Lamaze.

The horses that have put the jump back into Lamaze’s step are Verdi, a 10-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood gelding; Luikka, a 10-year-old Anglo European mare, who was formerly owned and ridden by Shane Breen; and Derly Chin de Muze, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood.

Targeting the Olympics

“There is still a long way to go before London, but these are the three horses that we are targeting towards the Olympic Games,” says Lamaze, who is currently in Florida competing in the 12-week winter equestrian festival. This event is of particular importance in the run-up to 2012, as it provides selectors with a change to see riders competing against the world's best.

The four other new arrivals at Lamaze’s yard are eight-year-olds Hunter’s Scendix and Wang Chung M2S, and seven-year-olds Cachaca 4 and Evano S.