In the 11 years since Gail Ellis of West Coast Equine Partners LLC purchased Saphir, his team hasn’t stopped looking for another horse just like him. The now 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding quickly made himself a barn favorite with his “feisty” personality on the ground and steady persona in the ring.

“Since we got him, we’ve been looking for another Saphir, and I just don’t think that really exists,” said Rainie Rose, who helps her mother, Shari Rose, train the gelding out of Rose Hill Farm in Los Angeles.

The gelding doesn’t just have a winning personality, he’s got the talent to match. He’s earned seven U.S. Equestrian Federation Horse of the Year titles, in divisions like the first year green hunters, 3’6″ performance hunters and 3’3″ performance hunters. While Nick Haness has ridden “Hero” most frequently throughout the gelding’s long career, he’s been piloted by a number of top professionals, and he was primarily competed by Julia Rossow last year. Ellis also competed him for many years in the amateur-owners, and while she’s slowed down in the show ring, she’s kept him going with professional rides.

We went behind the stall door to get to know Hero better.

• He made a huge first impression when Shari traveled to Texas to look at him. Another horse got loose at the show and took a tour of the ring Hero was showing in.

“And he just ears up, he just cantered around this horse and wasn’t even bothered,” said Rainie.

• He’s a true survivor—several years ago he suffered from an obscure type of colic that was nearly fatal.

“It was maybe six years ago. His intestines got strangled, and [the veterinarians] were like, 3% chance he makes it to the table,” said Rainie. “They’re like, 3% chance he survives the surgery, 3% he ever goes back to work. And not only did he go back to work, but he still rallied and was Horse of the Year that year.

“He’s perfect. He even did that well,” Rainie added. “He won a colic. There’s nothing he can’t win. That’s what he’s like.”

• He’s a true gentlemen to ride, which makes him an ideal hunter.

“He is probably the smoothest horse in the world, with the lightest mouth,” said Rainie. “You just feel like a queen when you ride him.”

• His spunk comes out on the ground though.

“He’s always looking for a treat,” said Rainie. “He sometimes will grab your hand or arm, or he loves to chew on his rope. He’s just a spunky guy.”

•  While some horses enjoy various fruits or even donuts for a snack, Saphir is a simple guy. His go-to treat is a peppermint.

• He’s a true showman, and Rainie affectionately calls him a “blue ribbon machine.”

“He likes to be the center of attention, and I think he, for the most part, tries to win every class he goes in,” said Rainie.

• Though he’s in his late teens, you wouldn’t know it. He’s still very much the same horse he was when they first got him.

“He still has all the spunk in the world, so I think they will have to decide when it’s time for him to retire because he won’t decide for himself,” said Rainie.

“And he’ll probably still want to come to every show, even if he’s not going in the ring,” she added.

• While Saphir tolerates other horses—as long as he gets to be in charge—he adores people.

“I think he really just likes himself the best,” Rainie said. “I don’t think that he has anyone he really wants to share his space with.”

Just him, and the humans who adore him, thank you!

“He loves his groupies,” Rainie said.