“You gave us more than I ever thought possible’
The Grand Prix horse who kick-started the Australian rider’s international career has died in retirement at age 31.
Cevo Socrates, the Grand Prix showjumper who gave Edwina Tops-Alexander her first five-star victory and helped establish her as an international competitor, has died in retirement at the age of 31.
The Australian rider shared an emotional tribute to the Belgian Warmblood gelding, who spent his retirement years at Stal Tops in the Netherlands, where he was cherished as one of the stable’s most beloved residents.
“Socrates, in life we are all given different gifts, but you gave us more than I ever thought possible,” Edwina wrote in her tribute.
A partnership that defied the odds
Socrates, a Belgian Warmblood by Darco out of a Chin Chin mare, made his international debut with Edwina in Belgium in 2008 at a CSI3* show. The partnership proved to be exceptional from the start, and they quickly progressed to five-star level competition.
Their first major victory came at the Bordeaux CSI5*-W in France in February 2009 – a milestone that would forever remain special to Edwina.
“My very first Grand Prix win was with you, when I was riding with a broken foot from a previous fall,” she recalled. “Even when I couldn’t ride you the way I wanted or needed to, you stepped in, took over the reins, and gave everything you had. That was who you were.”
The pair went on to collect wins and placings at major shows across Europe, including a memorable victory at Olympia in 2010. They also triumphed at the Vigo World Cup and the Zurich Grand Prix, among many other prestigious events.
More than just talent
What made Socrates special, according to Edwina, was not natural ease but rather his intelligence, heart and courage.
“You were never about easy talent – you were about intelligence, heart and courage,” she explained. “Every jump, you gave more than your body should have been able to give, and still you kept going, Grand Prix after Grand Prix, bringing me victories I never imagined I would achieve.”
The gelding’s determination was tested by significant health challenges. Socrates underwent colic surgeries during his career but continued to display what Edwina described as “an unmistakable positive spirit.”
“Through that strength, you gave all of us who knew you something far greater than success—you gave us belief, gratitude and proof that anything is possible,” Edwina said.
A legacy of resilience
Edwina emphasised that Socrates’ greatest legacy was not the trophies they won together, but the lesson he taught about true partnership and perseverance.
“After all you overcame, you showed us what true resilience and partnership really mean. That is your greatest legacy,” she wrote.
The partnership between Edwina and Socrates lasted through the highest levels of international competition until his retirement from the sport in 2013. Even after stepping away from competition, Socrates continued to hold a special place in the hearts of everyone at Stal Tops.
A heart horse
In her tribute, Edwina used a term familiar to many equestrians—describing Socrates as one of her “heart horses,” those rare individuals who leave an indelible mark on a rider’s soul.
“You are one of my heart horses, and you will always remain a part of my soul,” she wrote. “Thank you, ‘So’, for the life you gave me, Jan, Stal Tops and for memories that will be cherished for ever.”
Edwina Tops-Alexander’s career
Now 49, Edwina Tops-Alexander is one of Australia’s most successful showjumping riders. Born in Sydney, she moved to Europe to pursue her showjumping career and has since become a regular on the five-star circuit.
Her major achievements include Team Bronze at the 2013 European Championships and Individual Bronze at the 2014 World Equestrian Games. She has won numerous World Cup Qualifiers and Grand Prix events across Europe.
Currently, Edwina competes with several top horses, including Fellow Castlefield, with whom she has achieved significant success in recent years. However, as her tribute makes clear, Socrates holds a unique place in her career as the horse who first showed her what was possible at the highest level of the sport.
A final farewell
Socrates passed away peacefully at Stal Tops, surrounded by those who had cared for him throughout his retirement. The stable, run by Edwina and her husband Jan Tops, is known for providing exceptional care to retired horses, allowing them to live out their days in comfort.
His passing marks the end of a remarkable life – one that began in Belgium, took him to the highest levels of international showjumping, and concluded peacefully in the Netherlands, where he was cherished to the end.
For Edwina Tops-Alexander, Socrates will forever represent the beginning of her journey to the top of international showjumping. But more than that, he will be remembered as a horse who gave everything he had, who overcame significant challenges with grace, and who proved that true partnership transcends the arena.
“You gave us belief, gratitude and proof that anything is possible,” Edwina wrote. “That is your greatest legacy.”
Rest in peace, Socrates.
Edwina Tops-Alexander continues to compete at the highest levels of international showjumping, based at Stal Tops in the Netherlands. She is married to Jan Tops, founder of the Global Champions Tour and president of the International Jumping Riders Club.