Tributes have been paid to showjumper superstar Authentic, the “true championship horse” who won three Olympic medals with US showjumper Beezie Madden.

Yesterday (10 April) his owner Abigail Wexner and a spokesperson for John and Beezie Madden announced that Authentic, “the king of Madden Mountain” had died, aged 30.

Beezie and Authentic were part of the team that won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Two years later they won team and individual silver at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, and in 2008 they helped the US team retain their title at the Beijing Games, where Beezie and Authentic also won individual bronze.

“Bud was a true championship horse, logging countless clear rounds for the USA,” said the spokesperson.

“John and Beezie first met Authentic as a three-year-old in 1998, at Stal Heins, under Johan Heins and Harrie Smolders. Even at that age, they felt he was something special and with the help of Mrs Elizabeth Busch Burke, he came to John Madden Sales as a coming six-year-old”.

Authentic was given the stable name Bud in honour of Mrs Burke’s brewing company Anheuser-Busch, whose brands include Budweiser.

“John, Beezie and Mrs Burke eventually put together a syndicate that got Authentic to his first Olympics. After Athens, the syndicate had a significant offer for him to go to a European rider, at which point Mrs Wexner stepped up to purchase Authentic, so that he would stay with Beezie and continue to compete for the United States,” said the spokesperson.

Beezie added that looking back, Mrs Wexner stepping up when she did “ultimately meant Authentic’s place in the history books was guaranteed”.

“She trusted our partnership and never put pressure on him or me. Whatever he needed, he got, and when it was time for the competition days to be behind him, she never wavered in his support. Every horse should have an owner like her,” she said.

Beezie and Authentic’s other achievements included big wins on home soil such as the Budweiser American Invitational, being crowned two-time US Equestrian showjumping horse of the year and winning the grand prix of Aachen.

“Bud’s intelligence and cheerful personality made him exceptional to work with and carried him through his many great accomplishments, as well as his long retirement. So many of my big ‘firsts’ of my career were with him as a partner,” said Beezie.

“I owe him so much and am grateful to everyone, especially Mrs Wexner, who made it possible for him to be such a special part of my life for so long.”

Authentic retired in 2009 to John and Beezie’s farm Madden Mountain.

“Authentic took over caring for the weanlings and yearlings, as Uncle Bud, and enjoyed posing for photos with endless visitors, especially if they came with carrots,” said the spokesperson.

“His longtime groom, Clark Shipley, was able to watch Bud grazing in his pasture from his window before Clark passed away in 2020.”

The spokesperson added that John and Beezie are “endlessly thankful to have had Authentic in our lives for nearly 11 years of competition followed by 15 years of peaceful retirement” – and that “he had no shortage of family, both horse and human”.

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A horse described as “the friendliest you’ll ever meet”, who won world and Olympic medals and top grands prix has been reunited with his former groom after his death aged 21. Cortes C, who helped the US to team silver at the 2016 Olympics with Beezie Madden died peacefully yesterday (13 July) after a happy retirement.

The huge Belgian-bred gelding, named Tiny owing to his 17.1hh+ height, joined Beezie in 2011, owned by Abigail Wexner, having had success as a young horse with Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet.

“He stayed the friendliest horse on the farm until the end, loving to greet tours and take pictures with fans who visited him in Cazenovia, New York,” a spokesman for Beezie and her husband John said. “There was no one who had the pleasure of meeting or working with Tiny, whose life he didn’t impact.”

The spokesman said Tiny’s signature cross-legged pose over a fence had helped win him “legions” of fans, and that he was immortalised as a Breyer model horse in 2016.

Tiny and Beezie’s successes included contributions to many Nations Cup teams, including at three successive Nations Cup finals, and winning the Global Champions Tour Chantilly grand prix in 2013 and back-to-back King George V Gold Cups, in 2014 and 2015.

He was on the US team that won bronze at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, where he and Beezie also took part in the “final four” individual competition. Tiny won the best horse title, Beezie individual bronze.

“Cortes C helped Team USA towards a silver medal in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio before an injury sidelined him before the team final,” the spokesman said. “He was officially retired from competition in 2017.

“Clark Shipley, his former groom who passed away in 2020 after a battle with cancer, once said to the Chronicle of the Horse that Tiny was ‘the friendliest horse you’ll ever meet in your life. He’s all over you at all times, mauling you. He loves attention. You could pretty much do anything to him. If you walk him around, he mauls every person standing around. He drags you over there. He’s always had this personality. He’s been friendly from the start’.

“We have no doubt Clark was waiting for Tiny yesterday with bags of carrots on the other side.”

Beezie said Cortes C was “one of a kind”.

“With top results as a young horse with Gregory Wathelet and then years of being at the top of the sport with our team, I was blessed to have him in my life,” she said. “I will for ever be thankful to Tiny and Mrs Wexner for our years together. His passing leaves a hole in all our team’s hearts.”

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McLain Ward came fresh from victory in the international ring at the Winter Equestrian Festival, to honour the induction of his longstanding partner, Sapphire, into the showjumping Hall of Fame.

He had just led the victory gallop after triumphing in the $216,000 CSIO4* grand prix, presented by JTWG, Inc. with his veteran partner HH Azur, owned by Double H Farm. It felt particularly fitting that back in 2008, he had won the same grand prix, in the same WEF week 8, with Sapphire.

“She was a spectacular teammate and friend,” McLain said as he began paying homage to the mare in a speech at the inaugural Hall of Fame dinner at the Wanderers Club, Wellington.

2020 Hall of Fame inductee, Margie Engle, livened up the already lighthearted evening with a joke, concerning a polar bear, that was much appreciated by the adult audience, before leaving her speech to be delivered on her behalf. “I can make jokes,” she said. “But I can’t talk about this stuff.” The ‘stuff’ in question, was partly portrayed in some vintage footage of Margie and others in action, projected onto the wall behind the podium.

“I’ve admired and held in high esteem these men, women and horses my entire career and still do,” Margie’s eloquently-written speech, read on her behalf continued, “…unfortunately there isn’t enough time to thank all the individuals who have given me a leg up in this industry – it would take all night.”

Each Hall of Fame member was presented with an iconic blue blazer, including 2021 inductee Olympic veteran Beezie Madden and renowned media executive and fundraiser Mason Phelps, Jr, together with the 2020 class of Margie and McLain’s Sapphire.

“This is truly one of the most moving nights I have experienced in my 50 years on the showjumping circuit,” said Peter Doubleday, chairman of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame. “Seeing so many of our sports’ legends together was a thrill and the inductees’ acceptance speeches were very emotional. It was a night that I know most of us will never forget.”

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Olympic veteran Beezie Madden, who blazed a trail for female showjumpers worldwide in the course of her longstanding career, has been elected for induction into the USA’s Showjumping Hall of Fame. She will be honored by her peers at the Hall of Fame Gala on 6 March held in the middle of the Winter Equestrian Festival, in which Madden is also competing.

From Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Madden, 57, received her first pony as a Christmas gift at the age of four and competed at grand prix level 18 years later. Fortune followed and she was the first woman to pass the $1million mark in showjumping earnings. In 2004 she entered the history books again becoming the first woman and the first American rider to reach the top three in showjumping’s world rankings – and broke new ground once again in 2014 as the first woman to win the King George Gold Cup at Hickstead, riding Cortes ‘C’. She repeated the win in 2015 – the first woman and one of few riders to achieve back to back victories.

Madden is currently competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida. The philosophy she carries with her is that: “It’s a humbling sport. You can win one day and be on the ground the next day.”

Over three decades, Elizabeth ‘Beezie’ Madden has been one of the USA’s most successful riders, not least as a mainstay on four consecutive Olympic teams, winning gold in 2004 and 2008 with her KPWN gelding Authentic in addition to team silver in 2016 with Cortes C – she also won individual bronze in 2008.

Her accolades are seemingly endless and include victory with Authentic in the renowned grand prix of Aachen. Madden has won the USEF Equestrian of the Year title five times, including back-to-back honors in 2006 and 2007 – the first rider ever to do so – and then again earning back-to-back honors in 2013 and 2014.

The induction gala takes place on March 6 at The Wanderers Club in Wellington, Florida Also inducted will be Mason Phelps Jr., media executive and fundraiser, as well as last year’s class of Olympic rider Margie Engle and McLain Ward’s two-time gold medal Olympic mount, Sapphire.

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US showjumper Beezie Madden’s former World Cup final-winning partner Simon has died after a happy retirement aged 22.

Abigail Wexner’s KWPN gelding, by Mr Blue, joined Beezie in 2011 following success with Jeroen Dubbledam of the Netherlands including a third-place finish at the 2011 World Cup final.

In 2013 Beezie and Simon won the World Cup final in Gothenburg. The same year Simon was named US Equestrian’s horse of the year.

Beezie and Simon enjoyed two more World Cup final appearances; in 2014 they finished seventh and in 2015 fourth. Their highlights also included multiple grand prix placings and Nations Cup team appearances, and winning the HITS Saugerties $1m grand prix in New York in 2015.

The gelding retired at Beezie and her husband John’s farm Madden Mountain in 2017 and was “best friend” to Beezie’s retired 2004 Olympic team gold medalist Authentic, and “second in command” on weanling raising duties.

A spokesman for Beezie and John said Simon was “laid to rest” at Madden Mountain on Monday (21 June).

“I was lucky to have the years together that we did and happy to have had so much success together. He was loved by our whole team,” said Beezie.

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“I am grateful to Mrs Wexner for allowing me the privilege of having him in my life and for caring deeply for him through his retirement. It is a testament to his talent and brilliance that he was so successful with two different riders during his career. I know Jeroen and his connections join us in our mourning of his passing.”

Jeroen paid tribute to the “extremely talented and special gelding”. The pair were part of the Netherlands’ winning Nations Cup team in Aachen and Rome in 2011. They also won Verona leg of the World Cup in 2010 and the Spruce Meadows grand prix.

“We are extremely sad by the news but we are also grateful for the fantastic care and retirement Simon enjoyed at Madden Mountain and from the Madden team,” he said.

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The top showjumping stallion and former ride of Beezie Madden, Judgement ISF, has died in retirement.

Owned and bred by Mary Alice Malone of Iron Spring Farm, the stallion represented Team USA on multiple occasions during his career of more than a decade with Beezie, who took over the ride from showjumper Michael Matz in 1999.

Beezie and Judgement ISF represented Team USA at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera, took part in 10 Nations Cup events, and competed in the 2003 and 2006 World Cup Finals. The stallion is so far the only North American-bred horse to have won the $1,000,000 CN International at Spruce Meadows in its 44-year history. Judgement retired sound to Iron Spring Farm aged 18.

A spokesman for Beezie and John Madden said the couple were saddened to hear of the stallion’s death but “so proud” of the long life he led and the legacy he leaves.

“Judgey came to be ridden by Beezie after Michael Matz suggested her as a rider who he thought could bring out the best in him as a young stallion. He was powerful, talented, but feared the open water jump. His fears inspired John and Beezie to focus on new training techniques, using positive reinforcement and clicker training to help him overcome his fears,” said the spokesman.

“Judgement ISF and Beezie went on to have over a decade-long winning career, [him] proving to be not just one of the best North American-bred stallions, but one of the best in the world. At the time of his retirement from sport, he had won nearly $1.5m [£1,290,000] in prize money.”

Beezie said the stallion changed the couple’s lives.

“I will always be thankful for Mary Alice Malone giving me the opportunity with him at such an early point in my career,” she said.

“He made us better horsemen and there was no better feeling than heading in the ring at Spruce Meadows with him. He rose to the occasion every time.”

A spokesman for Iron Spring Farm described Judgement ISF as “the horse of a lifetime”.

“From the moment he was born, throughout his incredible international career with legends Michael Matz and Beezie Madden in the irons, as a breeding stallion producing grand prix winners, and as a retired celebrity, Judgement ISF was special,” he said.

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“Last week, just three weeks shy of his 30th birthday, Judgement ISF was laid to rest at his birthplace at Iron Spring Farm in Pennsylvania.”

The spokesman added that the stallion’s “extraordinary life was one for the record books”.

“Judgement ISF was an exceptional horse,” said Mary Alice Malone. “He gave us so many thrilling moments. Witnessing the magical connection between him and Beezie was the gift of a lifetime.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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Kent Farrington, McLain Ward, Beezie Madden and Laura Kraut are among the 10 riders shortlisted for the US showjumping team for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

On 15 April US Equestrian announced the riders that will undergo “continued observation” ahead of the team selection. Also on the list are Jessica Springsteen, Lucy Deslauriers, Bliss Heers, Brian Moggre, Devin Ryan, and Adrienne Sternlicht.

If selected, the Tokyo Games will be McLain’s and Beezie’s fifth Olympic appearance, having both been part of the team at Rio 2016, London 2012, Beijing 2008 and Athens 2004. Laura was a team member in Beijing and at the 2000 Sydney Games, while Kent rode on the Rio squad. The US team won team gold at Beijing and Athens, and silver at Rio.

The other five riders will be making their Olympic debut if selected. Adrienne and Devin were part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, and 20-year-old Brian has enjoyed a number of youth team appearances. Jessica has been a member of several Nations Cup teams, including the winning team at the CSIO4* at the Winter Equestrian Festival along with Brian, and Bliss.

The possible combinations for Tokyo are:

• McLain on Contagious, HH Azur or Kasper Van Het Hellehof
• Beezie on Breitling LS, Chic Hin D Hyrencourt or Garant
• Laura on Baloutine, Confu, or Goldwin
• Kent on Austria 2 or Gazelle
• Jessica on Don Juan van de Donkhoeve or RMF Zecilie
• Adrienne on Bennys Legacy, Cristalline, or Just a Gamble

Bliss will be considered on Antidote de Mars, Devin with Eddie Blue, and Lucy on Hester.

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A USEF spokesman said riders and horses will compete in designated CSIO/CSI observation events, including the CSIO5* Nations Cups in Sopot, Poland, (17-20 June) and Rotterdam, the Netherlands, (24-27 June).

The final Olympic team selection will be announced on 5 July. All nominations to the team are subject to approval by the US Olympic and Paralympic committee.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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U.S. Olympic team gold medalist Beezie Madden and Abigail Wexner’s Breitling LS claimed victory in the first international grand prix of the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) circuit, topping an all-female podium on Saturday, January 16, at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC)

There were 44 entries for the $137,000 Wellington Regional Medical Center Grand Prix CSI3*, competing over a course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) and Andy Christiansen Jr. (ECU) consisting of 13 numbered obstacles.

Just three were able to find the clear path to the jump-off in the first of four grand prix events under the lights for the 2021 circuit.

The pathfinder was Sydney Shulman (ISR) on J-Boston S.E., a 12-year-old BWP gelding by Boris VH Kluizebos owned by Jill Shulman. With a rail in the double combination, their four faults in 48.86 seconds landed them in third place.

It was a solid start for Shulman and J-Boston S.E., who have been paired together for a year but have only competed at nine FEI-rated horse shows.

Shulman noted, “Tonight was actually his second night class ever. I’d only gotten to do him one time in Tryon this summer, and we went at 6:30 in the first ten in the class, so it wasn’t really under the lights. This was his first class here under the lights.

“We’re just building up,” she continued. “I was thrilled with the way he jumped the first round. He made it really easy for me. He’s had a long break and is just getting back into the groove. I wanted to make it a confident experience this time so it can carry us through the rest of the circuit. I was really happy with that result.”

Next in the ring was Adrienne Sternlicht (USA), a team gold medalist from the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018. Riding Bennys Legacy, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Lupicor x Acordia owned by Starlight Farms 1 LLC, they put in a solid clear trip in a time 45.17 seconds for second place.

After an unfortunate slip in the jump-off in Thursday’s qualifier, Sternlicht returned to the grand prix jump-off planning on giving Bennys Legacy a confident ride.

“My horse jumped amazing this week,” said Sternlicht, who also won the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award, given in memory of Dale Lawler. “I knew there were places that I could open up his stride, like the eight [strides] across the middle came up naturally for my horse but I thought about being a bit conservative on the turns tonight to give him a conservative and confident ride with so much to look forward to this season. He responded really well, so I’m happy to be second tonight and always happy to be second to Beezie.”

Wrapping up the jump-off were Madden and Breitling LS, a 15-year-old SLS stallion by Quintero x Accord II. They made quick work of the short course, coming home clear in 41.87 seconds.

“Adrienne [Sternlicht] is so good at working out of that big gallop and that horse is naturally quick anyway,” explained Madden of the jump-off. “I thought, ‘I’m not going to beat her on that part,’ so I tried to do it on the turns and just match her. The eight [strides] across the middle to the double looked a little risky from where I was sitting, but he did it well and I think I beat her from fence one to two and maybe the turn after the double [combination] as well. I thought those were the only places that I could try and catch her.”

While Madden believed that the course suited Breitling, an uncharacteristic “rocky” performance in Thursday’s qualifier led her to ride him “a little on the strong side.”

She added, “I thought I’d just have to have a nice, confident round, and he really responded to it and jumped well anyway. A lot of times it’s hard for them to concentrate when you’re riding them a little strong, but I thought he really rose to the occasion and did that well. I was really happy.”

Madden is known for giving her horses a lengthy winter vacation, but after so many cancellations in 2020 due to the pandemic, she was ready to bring out Breitling early at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

“I’m going to pick and choose where I think he’s going to do well,” she said of her 2018 FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and 2019 Pan American Games double bronze medal winner. “I think for his confidence right now starting out, he probably doesn’t need a five star right away. I’m going to pick some classes where he can get confident, and when he feels really good, I’ll slot him into a five star here and there.”

Talking about her Leading Lady Rider Award, Sternlicht, 27, said: “It’s an incredibly prestigious award. We have incredible depth in terms of females competing in this sport, not just in our country but of every nationality. Winning this award sets a really nice tone and I want to thank Martha for sponsoring this award. It’s always something we aspire to win as female riders.”

In recognition of the award, Sternlicht of Greenwich, CT, was presented with a bottle of champagne, a bouquet of flowers, and a gift certificate for a shopping spree at Hunt, Ltd. by Martha W. Jolicoeur and her husband, Dr. Stephen Norton.

“It was so fun to be part of a ‘ladies’ night’ with one of my best friends and a rider every American girl looks up to,” said Sternlicht. “There’s so much to look forward to this season and I’m sponsored really well, so I’m happy to be second tonight. I’m always happy to be second to Beezie.”

Final Results: $137,000 Wellington Regional Medical Center Grand Prix CSI3*

• BREITLING LS: 2006 Dutch Warmblood stallion by Quintero x Accord II

BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/0/41.87

• BENNYS LEGACY: 2008 Oldenburg gelding by Lupicor x Acordia

ADRIENNE STERNLICHT (USA), Starlight Farms, LLC: 0/0/45.17

• J-BOSTON S.E.: 2009 BWP gelding by Boris van het Kluizebos

SYDNEY SHULMAN (ISR), Jill Shulman: 0/4/48.86

• TOPBLUE: 2011 ISH gelding by Chacco-blue x Sea Top Lady

ANDREW BOURNS (IRL), Andrew Bourns: 1/80.42

• CREEDANCE: 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Lord Z x Notaris

KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Kent Farrington & Haity McNerney: 4/72.87

• NORTHERN LIGHT: 2011 SWB mare by Plot Blue x Contender

TIFFANY FOSTER (CAN), Artisan Farms, LLC: 4/74.56

• IGOR VAN DE WITTEMOERE: 2008 BWP gelding by Cooper Vd Heffinck x Dahlia Vd Heffinck

NAYEL NASSAR (EGY), Evergate Stables, LLC: 4/74.74

• ALEJANDRO: 2009 Rheinländer gelding by Acorado’s Ass x Contanga

SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Seabrook, SpyCoast Farm and Sweet Oak Farm: 4/75.36

• H5 QUINTOL: 2005 Oldenburg gelding by Quintender x Cento

EDUARDO MENEZES (BRA), H5 Sport Horses, LLC: 4/75.56

• CHACCO KID: 2006 Oldenburg by Chacco Blue x Come On

ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), Chacco Kid Group: 4/76.22

• UNE DE L’OTHAIN: 2008 Selle Français by Conterno Grande x Cento

HARRIE SMOLDERS (NED), Evergate Stables LLC: 4/76.94

• QUIBELLE: 2009 Hannoverian mare by Frh Quaid x Sherry

SPENCER SMITH (USA), Gotham Enterprizes, LLC: 4/76.96

‘Like riding a cloud in the canter’

Nineteen equitation riders entered the South Ring on Saturday to compete for the top prize in the Bruno Delgrange Palm Beach Adult Medal in Week 1 at the Winter Equestrian Festival. After a first round course and a flat phase, Alexander Goet, of Delmar, NY, rode his own Calvanos to the blue ribbon.

This year marks Goet’s first year as an amateur and it will also be his third year partnered with Calvanos. The pair had successfully shown in the junior equitation classes, including the finals last fall under the tutelage of Stepping Stone Farm.

“We imported him November 2018 from Germany as a five-year-old,” Goet commented of the eight-year-old Westphalian gelding. “From the second he got off the trailer from Europe he has never disappointed us. He is always there to win. Having a horse that wants to walk into the ring and win is a great quality.”

The medal consisted of a first round course, which was followed by a flat test for the top 12 riders. Goet was the sixth rider to go and impressed the judges with his style in both phases of competition.

“The first round was good, and he felt amazing,” Goet explained. “It was nice to have a little bit more horse so I could easily get up the bending line, shape him, and then step down in the turns. He is also very fun to flat; he is so comfortable and like riding a cloud at the canter.”

Goet will be staying and competing in Wellington for the whole season, where he plans to start transitioning from equitation to more hunters and jumpers. “Hopefully we will do some [hunter] derbies this year. Last year we did some over at [Equestrian Village] and a few here,” Goet described. “That’s another good part about Calvanos. He is not just set as an equitation horse; he is a lot of fun in the derbies too.”

The second-place honor went to Lauren Reid, of Kiawah Island, SC, and her horse Norway. Wellington, FL, resident Page Tredennick and her own Tomcat earned a third-place finish in the medal.

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Male and female riders may now compete as equals, but a few skilled horsewomen paved the way in a historically masculine sport, finds Jennifer Donald

Since a lady first chose to ride astride instead of side-saddle, female riders have been breaking the glass ceiling in the equestrian world. Equestrianism is the only Olympic sport other than sailing in which men and women can compete on equal terms, but the playing field hasn’t always been level and we are still waiting for a female showjumper or eventer to win individual gold at the Games.

In 1984, the all-conquering Ginny Elliot, then Holgate, and Karen Stives of the USA became the first female eventers to win individual medals at the Los Angeles Olympics. Despite it not being recorded in the record books, Torrance Watkins had won an individual bronze four years previously at the alternative Olympics in Fontainebleau, but it would be Ginny and Priceless who made official history when they won bronze in the year Mark Todd took gold on Charisma, with Karen in silver on Ben Arthur.

“I’m not sure a big deal was made of it at the time and I suppose the fact I won a medal, and a team one as well, was so overwhelming that you didn’t really think about being the first woman,” says Ginny. “It wasn’t until someone mentioned it not long after that I realised no woman had won an individual medal until I rocked up. So that was a great thrill.

“I suppose, having been brought up from the get-go that you are competing on level terms with men, it just seems normal, but there’s always competitive banter when the girls win and the boys don’t! But it is surprising that a woman has yet to win the Olympics.”

Ginny followed in the wake of some trailblazing horsewomen. Due to the military history behind Olympic equestrian events, women were not allowed to ride at the Games until 1964 in Tokyo, when US rider Lana Du Pont was the first woman on an eventing team, helping her team to clinch silver in the process.

Margaret Hough is remembered as the first woman to triumph at Badminton, taking the title in 1954 with Bambi V (pictured).

“It was ground-breaking for a woman to win it,” says her son Peter Gleave. “Especially as one or two of the men at the time looked down at women having a go and doing well. But although she knew what she’d achieved, she never made a big deal out of it. My father was always dead proud of her; he’d always be telling people about it and she’d look at him almost as though she was telling him off!”

Later that decade, the supremely gifted Sheila Willcox became the first rider to win the event three times in succession, from 1957 to 1959, an achievement yet to be matched. Her first victory came at the age of just 21, at a time when women were still prohibited from competing in the Olympics, meaning her first team call-up came in the 1957 European Championships when she rode High And Mighty to become the first female champion.

As Mary King says, she was “one of the first really successful female riders in a male-dominated sport”.

In a golden era for the fairer sex, while Sheila was soaring round Badminton, Pat Smythe was carving a name for herself in showjumping. She became the first British female showjumper to ride at, let alone win a medal from, the Olympics, in 1956, helping the team win bronze. In a career full of fine accolades, Pat was also the first woman to win the Hickstead Derby, in 1962 on Flanagan.

It would be Marion Coakes who became the first female showjumper to win an individual medal at the Olympics, riding the great Stroller to silver in Mexico City in 1968, while the pioneering Liz Edgar finally beat her male rivals to take the title at the world-famous Aachen grand prix in 1980.

On home soil, the historic King George V Gold Cup at the Royal International dates back to 1911, but was men-only until being opened up to women – somewhat controversially at the time – in 2009. Five years later, US rider Beezie Madden lifted the solid gold trophy for the first time, returning for a second successive victory on the flying Cortes C.

“We girls were always a bit jealous we didn’t get to jump in this class, so it was a great feeling to win it,” says Beezie.

Behind the scenes, too, women have been paving their way. Di Lampard, a hugely successful international showjumper in her own right, became the first female chef d’equipe in British equestrian sport when appointed to the role in 2015.

“I wasn’t aware of that when I took the role but when it was brought to my attention, I did think, ‘Gosh, yes, that’s pretty special,’” says Di. “It just felt normal for me, having competed so much against the men – equestrianism is very much a sport where men and women go toe to toe. But you do see a bit more balance behind the scenes in other sports now, with more female referees and so on.”

Di has been credited for championing female talent on her teams but, she says, that’s more about how the sport has evolved.

“You take the best partnerships available at the time, but it has slowly changed,” she says. “But we’ve had some great role models over the years – I certainly followed Caroline Bradley, Liz Edgar and had many pictures of Pat Smythe in scrap books.”

Canada’s Gail Greenough became the first world champion in 1986 but it was only as recently as 2018 that Germany’s Simone Blum riding DSP Alice equalled her feat, herself becoming the first woman to win a title at a World Equestrian Games (WEG). Then, 16 years ago, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum earned the number one spot in the world rankings, the first woman to do so; no woman had ever ridden on the German team before the US-born rider earnt her place, either.

Dressage is one discipline in which women have often reached the top. Germany’s Isabell Werth holds the record for the most Olympic medals won by any rider, while among Charlotte Dujardin’s astounding list of achievements is to have been the first British woman to retain an individual Olympic title.

But it was 20 years after women were admitted to the Olympic dressage competition – previously it had been open only to commissioned military officers – that Liselott Linsenhoff became the first lady to win gold, with the team medal in 1968 and the individual crown in 1972.

The remarkable dressage rider Lis Hartel, from Denmark, was one of the first women to compete head-to-head with men in an equestrian sport at the Olympics in 1952, and her ground-breaking silver medal was even more remarkable as in 1944, at the age of 23, she had contracted polio and was left paralysed below the knees and with limited mobility in her arms. Seeing her struggle to dismount, the gold medallist, Henri Saint Cyr from Sweden, helped her to the podium to stand side-by-side with her male counterparts. Her success was a defining moment for equality in our sports.

On the racecourse, Meriel Tufnell paved the way as the first female jockey to win a race under Jockey Club rules in 1972. But it is only very recently that the voices have finally been heard calling for all jockeys to be classed as such, rather than defining the accomplishments of women on the racetrack by their gender. This change has been driven in part by Great British Racing’s #JustJockeys initiative. Since 2015, the number of winners from female jockeys has risen by a huge 76% thanks to skilled riders such as 24-year-old Hollie Doyle, who broke her own record for Flat winners in a season (116) last year.

“I have made the point many times that I think gender is irrelevant when it comes to jockeys,” says ITV Racing presenter Francesca Cumani. “For too long, female riders have not had the same opportunities as their male counterparts and have not had the chance to show the extent of their skills. “Hollie has proved that, when given an opening, she is just as capable, if not more so, as any of her colleagues.”

Charlotte Brew was the first woman to ride in the Grand National, in 1977, raising the tape on the race to find a female winner of Aintree’s legendary steeplechase. The strike rate has been much higher at the Cheltenham Festival, both in the saddle and from the training ranks. In March 1987, 21-year-old Gee Armytage became the first female jockey to win against the professionals, when landing the Kim Muir Challenge Cup, doubling up in the Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup the next day on a horse aptly named Gee-A.

“I actually had five rides at Cheltenham that year and that in itself was a big story at the time,” says Gee. “My first ride in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle didn’t go to plan though, and I was carried out by a loose horse at the second obstacle. As I cantered back up the straight, people were throwing plastic bottles at me and shouting, ‘Useless girl.’ I just had to keep my head held high. But of course after I’d ridden those two winners, I was the hero again.

“I do look back and think how lucky I was, but it all happened so easily for me then; I was riding lots of big winners. I was so confident in those days and would push trainers to be allowed to come and ride out. If I hadn’t done that, undoubtedly I wouldn’t have had nearly as many opportunities.

“Being singled out as a woman jockey actually helped me, because people were so anti them then that you got a lot of attention when you did well. Some trainers would never have put a girl up, but almost in desperation I did get the ride on horses that weren’t going well.”

Three years earlier, Jenny Pitman, a phenomenal trailblazer for women, sent out Burrough Hill Lad and became the first woman to train the winner of the Gold Cup – a year after she trained her first Grand National winner, Corbiere.

These days, the likes of Bryony Frost, the first female to win a Grade One at the Festival, Hayley Turner, Bridget Andrews and Rachael Blackmore have made finishing first past the post a far more frequent occurrence. We also saw Khadijah Mellah hit the headlines last year as the first hijab-wearing jockey, winning the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood.

Success and opportunity have not always come easily for women. Fortunately, long gone are the days when US polo player Sue Sally Hale had to disguise herself as a man when she first rode in the 1950s. There is still work to do, but let’s celebrate these pioneers who paved the way for the next generation to enjoy this wonderful sport on their terms.

Ref: 7 January 2021

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USA rider Beezie Madden, 56, has enjoyed a hugely successful international showjumping career spanning well over 30 years and she is currently ranked number seven in the world, making her the leading female rider.

But according to Beezie (Elizabeth), her first overseas show wasn’t all plain sailing.

“When we took our first trip to Europe to compete, we had enough money to get there but we had to win enough money to get to the other shows and to get home — no pressure!” says Beezie, who came with her husband John, who has a sales business. “Luckily, we were able to help our team win the Nations Cup in Rome and went on to win some classes at other shows. I think we went home with money to spare.”

So how has she enjoyed such longevity in the sport?

“I’m very lucky that I have a great team behind me,” she explains. “From my husband, to the owners and the sponsors — they make my life so much easier. I’m able to work with some very good horses so it’s always exciting and inspiring for me. Obviously, a little financial backing helps as well. Some members of our staff have been with us for over 20 years, so we have an amazing team and that’s a constant support for me.”

The sport of showjumping has changed considerably during Beezie’s career — from the breeding, the types of courses to the universality of the sport.

“So many riders from all over the world are now riding with similar styles, the horses are lighter going than in the past, and the courses are more careful and technical,” she says. “Because of the technicality of the sport, it takes longer to develop a top grand prix horse. Many years ago, you might see a six-year-old in a grand prix, but those days are over. Also, the prize-money has skyrocketed which makes the sport even more competitive and more commercial.

“The ability to fly horses all around the world has also made it possible for many more countries to have top sport,” she adds. “When riders and horses were more confined to staying within their country or continent, they weren’t able to compete against each other. Now many more riders are exposed to top sport and able to raise their level of riding to compete at the top. When we are able to easily ship horses in and out of places like India and China, our sport will grow rapidly.”

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The 56-year-old rode the 11-year-old gelding Darry Lou to victory in possibly the toughest grand prix in the world, the CP International presented by Rolex at the CSIO Spruce Meadows Masters tournament in September (pictured), making her the live contender for the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping. The next leg is in Geneva in December.

“Darry Lou is such a consistent horse and I felt he deserved a really big win, so it was exciting and certainly a moment I really remember for years to come,” says Beezie, who describes Darry Lou as a “professional roller” — “I don’t know if he likes the rolling or just like to be dirty… he just loves to do it!”

“The Grand Slam is a great concept that certainly creates further excitement within our sport. It also has brought incredible prize money to the sport and encouraged other competitions to increase their prize money.”

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Top US rider Beezie Madden said it felt “amazing” to win the CP “international” grand prix presented by Rolex at Spruce Meadows – 14 years since her name was last engraved on the trophy.

Beezie rode the distinctive chestnut stallion Darry Lou to a stylish clear in the first round yesterday (8 September). The combination were one of only eight to answer all course-designers Leopoldo Palacios and Peter Grant’s tough questions – then clocked up a single time fault in the second round.

This was enough to win the tough class, with Australian rider Rowan Willis on Blue Movie finishing second on four faults and Austria’s Max Kuhner on Chardonnay 79 in third on five.

“It feels amazing,” said Beezie, who had already notched up one win this week on Darry Lou, in the Tourmaline Oil Cup on Friday (6 September).

“It’s an honour to be here and any win is fantastic – but this one is pretty special; the second round was a real bear.”

Beezie said she had asked, when walking the course, whether the designers had even planned a jump-off.

“They said we might be jumping off on eight faults, that filled me with confidence!” she said.

“When you walk this course, it always looks so difficult; Leopold is brave but he knows what he’s doing and I thought it made for an amazing event.”

Beezie described the 11-year-old stallion as a “pleasure to ride”.

“If anything goes wrong, it’s my fault as he does exactly what I tell him,” she added.

The win makes Beezie the “live contender” for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping; should she win the grand prix in Geneva in December, she will bank a €500,000 bonus, with €1m on offer should she win three of the associated grands prix in a row, as Scott Brash did in 2015.

Rowan said his 13-year-old mare, who was bred in Britain by Sue Welch out of Nick Skelton’s former top ride Showtime, was “fantastic”.

“The rail was my fault; I was really happy with her,” he said.

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“She managed to jump the last difficult line – I couldn’t have asked any more of her.”

And while Max said of the course that he “wouldn’t built that at home, but ok!”, he added that he was very pleased with his 12-year-old stallion, who was jumping at Spruce Meadows for the first time, and had won Atco Electric six bar on Friday.

“I’m pretty impressed with him – and this is a fantastic venue,” he said.

Don’t miss this week’s Horse & Hound magazine for a full report from the Spruce Meadows Masters, out 12 September.

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Beezie Madden won the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Paris this afternoon (Sunday, 15 April), her second time taking the title.

The first round this afternoon did not juggle the top three from the previous legs when Devin Ryan, Henrik von Eckermann and Beezie Madden all went clear.

In the second round US rider Devin repeated his feat with the fantastic nine-year-old Eddie Blue.

When Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann’s ride Toveks Mary Lou knocked down fence two with his hind legs, he dropped a place to third and Devin moved up to second.

“I didn’t want to come here unless I had a shot and I knew I had an amazing horse,” said Devin.

Beezie and Abigail S Wexner’s Breitling LS had not dropped a fence up to this point, but the second part of the short-striding treble at fence six tumbled. However, she could afford this four penalties and still win so when she added nothing further to her total, the World Cup was hers.

Henrik said: “I have mixed feelings — on the one hand third is not bad, but I was so close to a jump-off with Beezie. It would feel better if she’d gone clear [so that I couldn’t have beaten her even if I’d gone clear].”

Beezie said: “My horse was fantastic and to have the US in one-two is great — it couldn’t have been a better week for us.”

Britain’s Michael Whitaker and his nephew Robert both made it through to the 20-starter second round. In the first round Robert had the first part of the treble at fence 11 down with his mother Clare and Mandy Hall’s Catwalk IV, plus a time-fault, and Michael incurred just one time-penalty on Jayne Bean’s JB’s Hot Stuff.

Round two did not go so well for Michael, who had the oxer at fence seven and the second part of the double at nine down, and had to circle before fence 12. He dropped down to eventual 20th, while Robert’s four faults at the first fence, plus a single time-fault, left him 19th.

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Beezie Madden strengthened her position in the Longines FEI World Cup Final by winning tonight’s jump-off class in Paris (Friday, 13 April).

The US rider was one of nine to jump clear in the first round and then finished 0.22sec ahead of her nearest rival in the jump-off.

Competitors can swap horses in the World Cup final but Beezie stuck with her winning mount from yesterday’s speed leg, Abigail S Wexner’s Breitling LS.

“My horse feels amazing and if it looks easy, that’s really to his credit,” said Beezie. “Every time I call on him he does exactly what I want — he’s careful and clever. I couldn’t ask for more.”

Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann now holds second in the overall standings after claiming third tonight on Toveks Mary Lou.

The Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders took second tonight on Emerald and holds equal seventh overall.

The USA’s Devin Ryan, third yesterday, was unlucky to have a time-fault in the first round today on the nine-year-old Eddie Blue. He retains third in the overall listing.

The top 30 competitors progress to leg three of the final on Sunday. Their placings in the first two legs are translated into penalties which they carry forward to leg three. Beezie starts on zero penalties and has a fence in hand over Henrik, who starts on four, with Devin on six. Sunday’s contest involves two rounds and potentially a jump-off.

“It’s always nice to have a rail in hand, but we’re really only halfway through,” said Beezie. “I hope my horse and I stay on form and keep jumping clear, but a lot can change.”

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Britain’s riders both had an unlucky fence down in the first round tonight but move forward to Sunday, with Michael Whitaker in 15th (17 penalties) and Robert in 21st (20 penalties).

Michael and Jayne Bean’s JB’s Hot Stuff took down the front rail of the oxer at fence 13, which followed a three-stride distance from another spread.

“The mare jumped unbelievably but you need a bit of luck — she just touched one fence and it came down,” said Michael.

Robert rode his mother Clare and Mandy Hall’s Catwalk IV, who lowered the front bar off the spread fence at 12.

“It’s just a shame, one of those things. She was jumping good really,” said Robert.

Check back over the weekend for more World Cup final news and don’t forget to pick up next week’s magazine for a full report from Paris.

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The USA’s Beezie Madden leads after the speed leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Paris tonight (Thursday, 12 April).

There were eight clear rounds over Santiago Varela’s course and Beezie rode Abigail S Wexner’s Breitling LS to finish 0.72sec faster than her nearest rival, Daniel Deusser.

“It’s always quite tense the first day at the final — it’s a bit of a juggling act knowing how much risk to take as going fast over big fences is obviously more of a risk than going slow,” she said. “So when it goes well it’s a relief.”

Beezie stood champion at the World Cup final in 2013, when she also won on the first day.

The German runner-up Daniel Deusser — who won the final in 2014 — piloted the 15-year-old grey gelding Cornet D’Amour, who belongs to the Stephex Stables.

“When I walked the course I thought there weren’t many options for a speed class, so I had mixed feelings, but in the end it was a very good course — nobody went really fast, so I think all the horses will still have power for tomorrow,” he said.

The USA claimed third too when Devin Ryan on Eddie Blue was just 0.23sec behind Daniel.

“I haven’t spent much time in Europe, but it’s been a dream of mine to represent the States at some level so I’m very happy to be here and to have two US riders up here,” he said.

The World Cup final is a three-leg competition. Riders’ placings tonight and in tomorrow’s jump-off class are translated into penalties, which are carried forward into the last leg on Sunday.

Britain’s two riders both had good rounds today, with one fence down apiece, and remain in the hunt in the overall competition.

Michael Whitaker sits 15th with Jayne Bean’s JB’s Hot Stuff, who just touched the upright plank at fence 11 to add 4sec to his time of 65.5sec.

“It all went as planned,” he said. “That was the one fence on the course you couldn’t touch and it was a real shame she touched it. She didn’t deserve it.”

Michael’s nephew Robert lies 20th on his mother Clare and Mandy Hall’s Catwalk IV, who lowered the pole on top of the gold upright into the double at fence nine. His total time including 4sec added was 71.84sec.

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“He jumped good really. He was a little bit tense up that line and he’d normally jump a double of verticals well, but he was a bit unlucky,” said Robert, adding: “I wouldn’t have changed anything if I’d been last in, I’d have tried to jump the same round.”

Check back tomorrow for more news from the World Cup jumping final and the dressage grand prix.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday. Full report from the World Cup final in next week’s magazine (dated 19 April).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

British and Irish flags were flying worldwide at the weekend (21-22 March) as four grands prix — from USA to Italy — were won by the home nations.

Guy Williams and nine-year-old gelding Basic landed the final CSI3* grand prix on the five-week Spanish Sunshine Tour in a one-two for Di and Pennie Cornish, who also co-own the runner-up Caritiar Z, ridden by Phillip Miller.

“He had a good rest before we brought him here then he’s been jumping in the main ring here once a week. This class was the main aim so it worked out,” Guy told H&H.

On the CSI3* Toscana Tour in Italy, 18-year-old Jessica Mendoza triumphed in the 1.50m grand prix riding the 14-year-old mare Spirit T.

“Spirit T loves the grass here — she always jumps amazingly well,” said Jessica, drawn second last of the 15 jump-off contenders, four of whom produced double clears.

Over in Germany at the CSI4* Braunschweig, Denis Lynch and Abbervail Van Het Dingeshof not only scooped Sunday’s grand prix — and collected the keys to a Volkswagen Tiguan car — but the victory sealed an outstanding hat-trick of wins over three days with the 15-year-old gelding.

“He’s had an unbelievable amount of seconds in his career so it’s great to get the wins in,” said Denis, recording his fourth five-star win of 2015 with the son of Non Stop.

“I just had one tactic in that jump-off and that was to win — it’s worth giving it a shot when you’ve got a jeep on offer!”

In Florida, the 1.60m World Cup qualifier grand prix at Live Oak International went to Cian O’Connor, who has a serious prospect in the form of the nine-year-old stallion Good Luck. Going head-to-head with Beezie Madden (Vanilla), the Irishman recorded the only double clear of the competition to lift the $16,500 top prize.

“This is only our seventh show together so I’m very excited about this one — he just cruised round,” Cian told H&H. “It was difficult to go clear, but that’s what a World Cup qualifier is supposed to do. Good horses, like good cream, will rise to the top.”

Don’t miss the full details about how the British and Irish riders got on abroad — and see the full scope of Cian’s new stallion in images — in this week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday, 26 March.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

What do Katy Perry, Catwoman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have in common? Well, on Saturday night (28 September), they were all showjumping at the LA Masters in California.

The trio — AKA Rodrigo Pessoa, Laura Kraut and Kent Farrington — were members of 11 teams who took part in a Pro-Am relay jumping competition, raising over $350,000 for charity.

Laura Kraut (Catwoman) and Hannah Selleck (Posion Ivy) were the winning combination against the clock in a hilarious evening of fancy dress antics.

“It’s not my usual attire, but everything stayed put!” said Hannah.

Laura Kraut added: “This was more about charity and having fun than the jumping competition and I’m thrilled for [charity] Just World International — this was my opportunity to help raise money for it.”

Also in action were USA riders Beezie Madden, Will Simpson, Jessica Springsteen and Jane Richard-Phillips of Switzerland.

Hollywood celebrities gathered to watch the fundraising gala evening at the LA Conference Center, including Bo Derek, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, and Bill Gates, whose daughter Jennifer teamed up with Richard Spooner as a “Fast and Furious” themed pairing, while The Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco joined Paris Sellon as “Cowboy and Indian”.

But the biggest laughs of the night came for Brazilian showjumper Rodrigo Pessoa, who channelled his inner Katy Perry and gave his cupcake bra a cheeky squeeze as he jumped every fence.

The charities to benefit from the night included Thrive Animal Rescue, Autism Speaks, Ride On, Mustard Seed Ranch and Baby2Baby.

You can read the full report from the LA Masters in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine (2 October 2014)

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Does the “final four” still have a place in modern showjumping? Despite discussion surrounding the controversial horse swapping competition at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) the event looks set to stay, according to the FEI.

The unique format of the WEG showjumping competition — in which the top four riders swap horses in the final round to decide the medals — has always provoked debate.

However, this year the competition was praised by both riders and fans, and the FEI has confirmed to H&H that there are no plans as yet to change the format.

“The final four was very much appreciated by the public and by viewers watching on television,” said an FEI spokesman, adding that there were no plans to change it.

“However, the FEI Jumping Committee is always prepared to study suggestions coming from the National Federations.”

In Normandy Dutchman Jeroen Dubbeldam took gold as the only rider to jump four clears. Patrice Delaveau took silver and Beezie Madden bronze, leaving only Rolf-Göran Bengtsson medal-less.

The riders take their saddles with them as they ride a round on each horse.

“The four horses in the final, even the oldest one, were fit at the end, and that in itself is proof of the success of this competition,” said course-designer Frederic Cottier.

Another spectator told H&H: “They had to jump a lot, but they didn’t look tired at all.”

But there were rumours some riders would prefer not to jump, in order to save their mount for future competition and would rather not have someone else ride their horse.

But winner Jeroen Dubbeldam said that wasn’t the correct attitude.

“All our horses are very well-schooled and fit — if you don’t want to do the change then you shouldn’t be here,” he said.

In last week’s comment Graham Fletcher said the 2014 competition was “as good as anything the sport has to offer” but questioned the fact that the top horses have a lot of jumping to do.

“In theory it’s not really conducive to modern showjumping,” he told H&H when questioned further.

“However, it was riveting competition in Normandy and 20,000 fans were enjoying it.”

Graham added that prize-money could be a factor, with so many opportunities to compete for top money on offer elsewhere.

“It is a shame that if anyone wants to go the whole way at WEG they are not sufficiently rewarded financially,” he added.

“If people didn’t want to jump and save their top horses, I’d understand that. A younger horse would handle the competition better, an older one would benefit from a break afterwards, and more prize money would allow for that.”

Canadian Eric Lamaze backed this up, as when asked whether he’d rather win WEG or the Rolex Grand Slam — worth €1m — he chose the latter (report, 18 September).

This news story was first published in H&H magazine on 25 September 2014

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Jeroen Dubbeldam has been crowned Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games individual jumping gold medallist in Normandy.

The Dutchman took gold as the only rider to jump four clear rounds in the unique horse-swapping final. Jeroen punched the air in delight after producing some masterful rounds on his rivals’ mounts and was aboard the great stallion Casall Ask when the title was won.

This was dual gold for Jeroen, who was also part of the Dutch squad who won the team championship on Friday.

“The crowd was cheering for Patrice [Delaveau], which I understand, but compliments to all of them for supporting us all so well,” said Jeroen, Olympic gold medallist in Sydney 2000.

France’s Patrice Delaveau collected the silver medal as a result of a single time-fault with Casall Ask, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson’s great stallion, in an otherwise faultless afternoon of high-pressure jumping.

Olympic gold medallist Beezie Madden (USA) finished with bronze having jumped two clears and two four-fault rounds and the Swedish rider finished just off the podium in fourth.

Don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound, out 11 September, for the full report and reaction to the championships.

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We have an absolute treat in store for us in Sunday’s horse-swapping final for the individual jumping championship at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

From Saturday’s thrilling decider, the top class quartet who will battle it out for the medals are:

• Patrice Delaveau of France riding the 12-year-old Quick Star stallion, Orient Express HDC
• Beezie Madden of USA riding the 12-year-old Randel Z gelding, Cortes C
• Rolf-Goran Bengtsson of Sweden riding the 14-year-old Caretino stallion, Casall Ask
• Jeroen Dubbeldam of the Netherlands riding the British-produced 10-year-old Rash R gelding, Zenith SFN

Just missing out on the final four were fifth-placed McLain Ward (USA) and finishing seventh in the world was the teenage Irish sensation Bertram Allen riding Molly Malone V.

All four riders will start on a clean slate for Sunday’s unique final where each rider jumps a round of fences on his or her own horse, before swapping on to each of the other three horses to jump the same track in turn. The world champion will be whoever has the fewest faults at the end of four rounds.

It’s going to be a thrilling conclusion, so tune in via twitter @horseandhound and don’t miss the full report in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, out 11 September.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Kent Farrington (USA) and Germany’s Christian Ahlmann are among a group of riders to have pulled out of the penultimate round of the individual championship at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Christian and Codex One were in 10^th position in the individual standings, 5pen behind the leaders, going through to Saturday’s top 30 decider. They had also been part of the fourth-placed German team. But, in a joint-decision with his national coach Otto Becker and the horse’s owner, Christian has elected to withdraw as he felt he could no longer contest a podium place.

“I will not go in the final round with Codex One,” he says in a statement. “Codex has already yielded great performances this year, having won the Aachen and Valkenswaard grands prix and I want to protect him.”

Kent Farrington, part of the bronze medal-winning USA squad at WEG with Voyeur, has made a similar decision. He was ranked 27th individually. A statement reads:

“The decision was made after consideration with Voyeur’s owners. Kent feels that there is a lot of jumping still to do in the individual qualifying competition; a lot of ground to make up in the leader board and the likelihood of qualifying for the individual final on Sunday, with the standard of jumping this weekend is not likely. He is very pleased with the way Voyeur jumped this week and is very pleased to have had the honor of being awarded a bronze medal with Team USA.”

Ludger Beerbaum is reported to have pulled out from 30th in the individual classification and Canada’s Yann Candele (Showgirl), ranked 22nd, has also withdrawn.

“Due to the mare’s age [14], between Yann, myself, and Mark [Laskin, chef d’equipe], we made the decision that it was too much to put her through,” explained Eric Lamaze, who is one of Showgirl’s owners. “If they were in the top 10, we would consider sending her, but being in 22nd and having so many riders in front, it is not possible for them to advance to ‘The Final Four’.  There are several other riders who have also made the decision not to go on Saturday for this reason.”

Great Britain’s Scott Brash pulled out of the individual competition on Wednesday (3 September).

The top 30 combinations are due to jump again on Saturday, after which the leading four go through to Sunday’s horse-swapping final. Beezie Madden (USA) is the current leader, with barely one fence separating the top eight riders.

Don’t miss the full reaction to these shock withdrawals, plus the full report from WEG, in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, out 11 September.

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The Netherlands have been crowned world champions at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. France took silver and the USA finished with bronze.

The Dutch quartet of Jeroen Dubbeldam (Zenith SFN), Maikel Van Der Vleuten (VDL Groep Verdi TN NOP), Jur Vrieling (VD Bubalu) and Gerco Schroder (Glock’s London NOP) showed fighting spirit in a tense competition in which barely a fence separated the top five teams.

“As a coach, your heart goes up and down but when you have good spirit in the team, you can achieve a lot of things,” said the winning chef d’equipe Rob Ehrens.

France came in to the final round in fourth place but battled back, much to the delight of the packed D’Ornano Stadium in Normandy, with clear rounds from Penelope Leprevost (Flora De Mariposa) and Kevin Staut (Reveur De Hurtebise HDC) to complete less than 2pen behind the leaders.

USA just pipped Germany to the final medal – by 0.1pen.

“An unlucky touch is the difference between winning gold and finishing fourth or fifth,” said US rider Kent Farrington.

The team’s anchorwoman Beezie Madden (Cortes C) has yet to touch a fence in the championship and now heads the individual standings ahead of Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (Casall Ask).

Brazil took fifth but, as Olympic hosts, they automatically qualify, meaning the fifth and final Olympic qualification spot goes to sixth-placed Sweden. Just missing out was the seventh-placed Irish squad of Darragh Kenny (Imothep), Bertram Allen (Molly Malone V), Denis Lynch (All Star 5) and Cameron Hanley (Antello Z).

Great Britain dropped out of contention yesterday when finishing 18^th of the 31 teams.

The final 30 individual riders return on Saturday, after which the final four will be decided for the horse-swapping final on Sunday.

Don’t miss the full report, reactions and behind-the-scenes news in next week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday 11 September.

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Beezie Madden was crowned the new Rolex FEI World Cup jumping champion in Sweden on Sunday after a thrilling head-to-head with Steve Guerdat of Switzerland.

Beezie’s victory with the 14-year-old gelding Simon handed USA back-to-back wins, after Rich Fellers took the title in 2012 with Flexible.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to win the World Cup — I can’t believe I did it,” said Beezie.

Olympic champion Steve Guerdat and Nino Des Buissonnets took the runner-up spot for the second year in succession when hitting two fences in the jump-off.

“I was in the same position last year, which is maybe why I took too many risks,” said Steve.

Frenchman Kevin Staut (Silvana) took third spot on the podium, ahead of Sergio Alvarez Moya on the former Nick Skelton ride Carlo 273, with fifth place going to McLain Ward and Super Trooper De Ness, also produced in Britain, by Nicky Boulter.

Denis Lynch was the best-placed Irishman, taking 14th place with All Star 5.

Don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound magazine (out Thursday 2 May) for full report, pictures and reactions from Gothenburg.

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Beezie Madden became the first American rider to win the Aachen grand prix since Anne Kurskinski on Starman in 1991 last week. Frenchman Roger Yves-Bost finished second on Ideal De La Loge, ahead of Germany’s Christian Ahlmann on Coster.

The Germans threw everything into a home Nations Cup win — the fifth leg in the Samsung Super League series — for the 24th time. Switzerland finished eight faults behind in second place, while Sweden, last after round one, bounced back to finish equal third on 20 faults with France.

The rollercoaster pattern of Britain’s season — two wins, two last places — continued with resounding last place on 34 faults. Britain has now slipped from second to fourth in the Samsung League.

Find out how the British riders got on in the Aachen grand prix and other classes in Horse & Hound’s full report on all the action, out tomorrow (12 July, 07)

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Beezie Madden, who took two show jumping medals at the 2006 World Equestrian Games, has been named American Equestrian of the Year. At the Pegasus Awards ceremony last Friday (12 January), the US team rider accepted her award to a standing ovation.

Madden, 44, from Cazenovia, NY was the first female rider to win over a million dollars and has been an anchor for the US show jumping team for many years, helping them win gold at the Athens Olympics. Last year she took individual and team silver medals at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, aboard Authentic.

“I am truly honoured to be the recipient of this award,” said Madden. “When I watch the videos, I see so many famous people, and I can’t believe I’m up there among them.”

The following night it was Authentic who was in the limelight when he was named USEF Horse of the Year in a ceremony in Louisville KY. Owned by Abigail Wexner, Authentic is an 11-year-old KWPN Dutch warmblood gelding. “He has touched the lives of so many people,” said Madden. “I want to say thank you on behalf of Authentic’s owner, Abigail Wexner.”

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Michael Whitaker missed out on a place in the top four change-horse show jumping final at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen tomorrow when finishing eighth in today’s penultimate two-round competition with Insul Tech Portofino.

The top 25 horses and riders were tested to the limit today over two courses of colossal fences, and a single pole down for the British rider in the first round proved very costly. Portofino was jumping big and clean until catching the oxer at fence seven and although she never touched another pole, the mare completed with an additional two time faults. The British duo were foot-perfect at their second attempt but, lying 12th going into the final stages, were unable to catch the leaders.

For the first time in the history of the world show jumping championships, three women go forward to the final along with Belgium’s Jos Lansink. Australia’s Edwina Alexander steered the seasoned 15-year-old mare Isovlas Pialotta to a superb double clear to move up from over night 21st to earn her place. Lansink’s Cavalor Cumano continued to make it all look like a walk in the park as the big grey sailed over the immense tracks with apparent ease to join her.

The home crowd was ecstatic when Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum survived a single error at the water in the first round to stay in the race for Germany with Shutterfly while, completing a truly world-class line-up, long-time leader Beezie Madden, whose horse Authentic made his first mistake of the tournament when also getting his feet wet, completes the final-four line-up.

Only one woman has ever taken the coveted World Championship title — Canada’s Gail Greenough who came out on top in Aachen in 1986 — and all the talk around the arena tonight was about the possibility that tomorrow’s winner would be another female. Following yesterday’s competition, the three girls agreed that while their horses should be similar to ride, Lansink’s colossal grey could prove something of a challenge for them. The Belgian rider insisted that Cumano is ridden by a girl when working at home every day but the sheer size of the stallion is likely to create some interesting moments.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now