Tom Carlile and Upsilon. Photo by Ben Clark.
We’re sad to report that the exceptional Anglo-Arab stallion Upsilon has died at the age of 15 — though the legacy he leaves, which is writ large in his extraordinarily successful offspring, remains untouchable.
Upsilon (Canturo x O’Vive, by Fusain de Defey) first shot to prominence as a young horse with rider and co-owner Tom Carlile of France, winning his international debut at CCI2*-L at Bazoges en Pareds and following it up with another decisive win at Pompadour’s CCI2*-S. He then finished fifth in the Six-Year-Old World Championship at Le Lion d’Angers, returning as a seven-year-old to take silver. It was at the CCI4*-S level, though, that he truly came into his own, particularly in the limelight of the Event Rider Masters series: he won the tough Barbury legs back to back in 2017 and 2018, setting a venue record while doing so with his eye-wateringly low scores, and was victorious at 2016’s Blenheim leg, too. In eleven four-star runs, he won four times, and finished outside the top four just three times.
Upsilon shows off his scope. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
“My dear Upsilon, you have been our waking dream,” writes Tom in a social media post, translated from the original French. “From your very first steps, you had [breeders] Patrick & Mapie [Sisquielle] in awe of their success. Remember when I first met you… You blew me away with your charisma & presence. No one could remain indifferent in front of you. [Co-owners] Dad, Mom, Gérard & Philippe quickly joined your adventure. And what an adventure! You left us with amazing memories. You will have marked so many minds with your brilliance & talent.”
Upsilon’s exciting career was sadly cut short in 2019, when he was struck with a neurological condition that nearly killed him. Though the diagnostic process took the better part of a year, the stallion was eventually rehabilitated and — once it was determined that the condition had come as the result of a bacterial infection, rather than a hereditary limitation, he was able to step fully into his ‘other’ career as a prolific sire of jumping and eventing horses.
Upsilon’s legacy includes several of Tom’s own rides, including his 2022 Six-Year-Old World Champion Golden de Beliard. His offspring have been roundly dominating the French young horse classes over the last number of years and several of his sons, too, are continuing his bloodline, including showjumper Espri du Figuier and young eventer Future Hepsilon.
Thomas Carlile and Upsilon. Photo by Eventridermasters.tv/Ben Clarke.
“In your second breath, we could only do so much for you — but you showed us all the fighter you were,” writes Tom, crediting girlfriend and head groom Camille Coton with Upsilon’s recovery and ruing the lost chance at a happy retirement. “I’m sure that Camille was your confidante and an angel for you, she knew how to give you wings again. You could have enjoyed those sweet years of peace that were owed so much. The injustice of life has returned to strike you without warning. How we miss you Upsilon. Rest in peace, my friend. Every horseman’s dream is to one day cross the path of such a horse. The devotion of the entire Clinique Equine de Meslay team around you has been remarkable and we extend our gratitude to them. Thank you.”
