HH Azur and Mclain Ward have been unstoppable since their partnership began in 2015 when Double H Farm purchased a half-share in her with Francois Mathy and she traveled to the United States from Belgium. The pair earned team silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics and has won countless international classes, including the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva in December 2022 and the Rolex Grand Prix ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands in March 2023. They now have a chance to secure a Rolex Grand Slam for winning three consecutive Rolex majors as they head to the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen this June.

But HH Azure, or Annie as she is known around the barn, didn’t always live her life in the limelight as a top show jumper. The 17-year-old Warmblood was bred via embryo transfer at a small stud farm in northern Belgium and born in 2006. She was started at age three, building up to international shows by the time she was six.

Annie’s early education was more characteristic of a well-rounded family horse than a star in the making. Her daily exercise included everything from galloping along the beach to jumping over knocked over wheelbarrows. Even the international shows she competed in were entered with the intent of building her confidence and experience rather than the prizes.

The mare competed up to the 1.40-meter level with Brazilian show jumper Pedro Nolasco until 2013. Annie was then sold to Mathy in 2014 when Nolasco realized his young horse would need more financial support to reach her potential. Spanish rider Diego Perez Bilbao took over the reins towards the end of 2014 before Ward welcomed her stateside.

Annie and Ward have racked up an impressive array of titles and blue ribbons in the subsequent years. In addition to their two recent Rolex Grand Prix wins and Olympic silver, they include:

• The Chronicle of the Horse’s 2023 Show Jumping Horse of the Year
• 2017 International Horse of the Year
• 1st at the 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival Lugano Diamonds Grand Prox
• 1st at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival Rolex Grand Prix
• 1st at the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup Finals
• 9th at the 2016 Olympic Games (individual)
• 25 FEI wins

Annie and Ward are now preparing to channel their impressive competitive history at the 2023 Aachen World Equestrian Festival beginning the third week of June. To ensure she remains calm throughout the show and during her travels across Europe, Annie wears a custom made HorseScents Shipping Halter with Sheepskin ScentStrap Set, which provide relaxation during stressful moments with clinically proven lavender aromatherapy.

HorseScents is proud to support Annie and Ward on their Rolex Grand Slam journey. Best of luck to them both at Aachen!

Read more about Annie and Ward in this rolexgrandslam.com blog post.