Venu Tot

The retirement of an extraordinary horse

After an international career studded with victories and thrills, Venu Tot, a Selle Français gelding born in 2009, son of Tinka’s Boy and Helice Des Chemins, is taking a well-deserved retirement at the Élevage des Chaines.

“I met him when he was three and a half; he arrived just after breaking-in. He was very special,‘ confides Patricia Segura, who still has vivid memories of his first jumps: ’the first cross was enormous. He placed his legs in such an unusual way that Brigitte laughed a lot, but she didn’t believe it at all.

Venu Tot quickly distinguished himself by a temperament that was as unpredictable as it was endearing. Extremely sensitive, he could react very strongly to fear. Luca Moneta’s guidance was essential,” explains the rider. Thanks to him, I learned to become a help to Venu Tot rather than just another problem when he panicked.

His career as a competitor has not been straightforward. He has had a difficult start, as in Hagen, Germany, where it took his rider several days just to cross the track. However, a year later, the pair were placed in 1.50 m classes on the prestigious Sunshine Tour, illustrating the progress and bond they had built up over the years. That was Venu Tot,” she sums up. Capable of the best and the worst. Before each run, it was the unknown. But from the very first stride, I knew straight away if it was going to work.

Venu Tot’s record of achievements is a true reflection of her talent: 22 international victories, 35 podiums and 58 rankings, particularly on the European circuits, with a great deal of consistency between 1.30 m and 1.45 m on the Sunshine Tour and the Andalucía October Tour.

After a final victory in the 1.35 m Grand Prix at the CSI One Star in Nîmes in 2024, a deep flexor problem accelerated his retirement from sport. “Rather than impose a long convalescence on him, I preferred to offer him a peaceful retirement. Today, he’s enjoying life to the full at Élevage des Chaines, with an old friend he’s met again. And honestly, I think he’s going to live to a ripe old age, because he’s doing really well. Venu Tot leaves behind the image of a horse as unpredictable as he is talented, having left his mark on all those who came into contact with him.