Top showjumper Ben Maher's career in pictures

Ben Maher riding Beechways Delight

(Image credit: credits-unknown)

To celebrate the Olympic gold medal-winning showjumper’s 33rd birthday today (30 January 2016), we’ve dug deep into the archives to find pictures from a time when Ben Maher didn’t have medals hanging round his neck and champagne in his hands…

Ben before he was famous

The early years: Ben took up showjumping at the age of eight and he began competing in pony classes while he was still at school

Ben Maher with his ponies

Ben with his ponies Tom Cobbley, Go Easy II and Dusty Boy

Ben Maher riding Dusty Boy

Ben and Dusty Boy in action

Ben Maher riding Beechways Delight

Ben riding Beechways Delight during his junior showjumping days

Beijing Olympic Games 2008

At the age of 25, Ben rode for Britain at the 2008 Bejing Olympics in Hong Kong, where the team finished fifth

2011 European Showjumping Championships in Madrid

Ben Maher and Tripple X III at the European showjumping championships in Madrid, 2011, where the British team picked up a bronze medal, and Ben finished 12th individually

Ben Maher and Tripple X III win team gold at the London 2012 Olympics

GCT London Global Champions Tour 2013

Ben and Cella clinch the grand prix title at the Global Champions Tour of London in 2013

London Global Champions Tour 2013

Time to celebrate: Ben soaks up the moment at the Global Champions Tour of London in 2013 after taking the grand prix.

2013 European Showjumping Championships in Herning, Denmark

Ben MAHER riding Cella (CH) GBR in the Individual Final of the FEI European Championship in Herning, Denmark in August 2013

RIHS 2013: King George V Gold Cup

2015 European Showjumping Championships in Aachen, Germany

Ben and Diva II at the 2015 European Showjumping Championships in Aachen, Germany — where the team finished fourth and secured their Olympic qualification for Rio 2016

Olympia 2015: Ben riding Boomerang

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A graduate from Durham University, Madeleine joined H&H in 2011 and became Features Editor — producing content across the magazine and website, including the popular inside back cover article ‘The horse that made me’ and the weekly ‘The best of my fun…’ interview. She has written on topics as diverse as hay making and headcams, to hot totty in the horse world and circus horses. Madeleine now works as a freelance feature writer for Country Life, The Telegraph, Horse & Hound, cntraveller.com, The Spectator and The Field, as well as writing obituaries for The Times.