February 14, 2025 
There’s a lot riding on the potential sale of the highly successful stallion Zuccero HV. An illustrious career could come to an end if the horse ends up in a new stable.
An individual Olympic silver medal, a team Olympic gold, and an individual European gold—plus countless team victories and individual honors—embellish Rolf-Goran Bengtsson’s resume. But the Swede admits he doesn’t have the time left in his career to rebuild the next great show jumper.
“[Zuccero] is a really fantastic horse that’s reached the top, but unfortunately the horse is going to be coming up for sale and that’s a real shame for me,” Bengtsson commented following Thursday’s win in the 1.60m Emirates Jumping Cup at the Longines League of Nations in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
“This makes the win even more special, as this could be [our] last show. I don’t have a back-up horse at the moment, and it takes time to make a new horse again.”
At 62 years old, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson has won over €3 million in prize money since 2015 (Jumpr stats) with elite superstars like Casall. Zuccero HV (VDL Zirocco Blue x Caretino) is a direct product of his program.
Partnered since 2020, the vast majority of the stallion’s international starts have been under Bengtsson’s saddle. They’ve achieved 36 podium placings and jump clear at 1.60m nearly half the time (Jumpr stats).
Who wouldn‘t want this horse?
That’s Bengtsson’s concern. The Swede wants to keep Zuccero in his own stable, but he is still trying to work out a continuation plan that pleases the current owner, Holsteiner Verband Hengsthaltungs GmbH.
“The current status is that something needs to happen quickly, as he will soon be put on the market,” he continued. “If he is sold, it’s the end of my career; I won’t have time to take up a new horse before I’m too old, so it’s with him that I could continue for a few more years.”
If Abu Dhabi is their final appearance, Bengtsson’s ending it on a high note.
“It’s even more fun to win now when it might have been our last Grand Prix,” he said, “to show that it’s the two of us together who do it.”
