Since the release of the highly anticipated film Big Star: The Nick Skelton Story in cinemas last June, one of the biggest questions among equestrian fans has been “When will it be released on streaming platforms?”

The good news is that the wait is almost over.

How to watch the Nick Skelton film

Big Star: The Nick Skelton Story is a documentary film charting the double Olympic medallist’s incredible sporting career. It received rave reviews on its cinema release, including a five-star rating from Horse & Hound, calling it “This summer’s must-see movie – and not just for equestrian fans”.

In exciting developments this week, it has been announced that the biopic will indeed be available on several popular streaming services with a release date of Tuesday 10 March 2026.

Big Star: The Nick Skelton Story will be available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango At Home and Vimeo On Demand.

“Ever since it was announced that the film was coming out in the cinemas, people have been asking when can we watch it outside the UK or at home if they missed it at the cinemas,” Nick told H&H. “It’s been a long time coming, but hopefully it’s going to be good.

“The response to the film has been amazing – so many people have said how entertaining and informative the film was.”

Showjumping hero’s inspirational story

Nick Skelton’s movie is an all-access documentary of the showjumping hero’s inspirational story.

“Crashing into the British showjumping scene during the heyday of the sport in the 1970s, Nick Skelton dominates the competition until he breaks his neck in an unlucky fall,” reads the film trailer. “Doctors tell him to quit riding, but he refuses to give up.

“He makes an against-all-odds comeback and pursues his elusive dream of winning an Olympic gold medal with the help of his once-in-a-lifetime horse Big Star.”

The pinnacle of Nick Skelton’s career came at the Rio Olympics in 2016 when, at the age of 58, he was crowned Olympic champion on crowd favourite Big Star. But he also won team gold at the London 2012 Olympics, an assortment of medals at European and World championships and he still holds the record for the British equestrian high jump.

Nick won the Hickstead Derby three times and triumphed in nearly every other major grand prix across the world with a string of top horses that also included Arko III, Dollar Girl, Apollo and St James during a glittering career spanning more than four decades.

So grab your popcorn and settle into your favourite armchair, it’s almost time to watch and enjoy the Nick Skelton film to your heart’s content.

Big Star: The Nick Skelton Story is directed by Sarah George, executive produced by Debbie Burrows and distributed by Dartmouth Films.

Stream now via Amazon Prime

How to watch Big Star from anywhere

Coverage on Amazon Prime may be geo-blocked outside the UK. A VPN, though, will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get 73% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2026, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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• Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
• Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing. 

Legendary showjumping stallion Big Star will move from Britain to stand in Europe next season, it has been announced.

Stallion AI Services, where the 2016 Olympic champion has stood since 2013, full-time since 2016, confirmed today (2 December) that the 19-year-old would be moving to Euro Horse in Belgium for next year.

“We’ve loved that horse as if he was ours,” Stallion AI Services founder and managing director Tullis Matson told H&H.

“He’s been a huge part of Stallion AI Services and it’s been great to follow his Olympic journey, and the biggest honour in the world [to stand him]. But we’re 100% behind the decision because they [owner Gary Widdowson and former rider Nick Skelton] want to supply the European breeders with fresh and chilled semen.”

Tullis explained that since Britain left the EU, border controls have hindered the supply of semen to the Continent. This move will allow breeders in Europe to put their mares to the team and individual gold medal-winner.

“Big Star has led the way within the British breeding industry for many years,” a spokesman for Stallion AI Services said. “The continued support from UK breeders will have played a huge part in producing a world-ranked stallion of the future.

“Stallion AI Services will retain full exclusivity of chilled semen supply for the UK and Ireland, along with worldwide exclusivity for frozen straws.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to have Big Star standing in the UK for so many years. We are incredibly excited to be given the opportunity of working with Gary and [Euro Horse owner] Axel Verlooy on the next step of Big Star’s journey. More information will be released shortly.”

Tullis added: “We’re lucky to have had this amazing horse here in the UK.”

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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 your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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

Nick Skelton’s long-term groom Mark Beever on unruly manes, swearing in front of Princess Anne and having a demi-perm to look like John Francome, as told to Jennifer Donald

None of my family was horsey but I’ve always loved racing and I learned to ride aged 10 at Dulwich Riding School alongside Dane Rawlins. We used to have competitions for condition and turnout in Hyde Park with all the other riding schools from the area. Riding in the ring has never interested me, I’ve just always liked looking after the horses.

When I left school, I worked for Dulwich Riding School before going to stunt rider Greg Powell, who has done stunts for the Bond films as well as jousting and he enjoyed hunting.

My first job in showjumping was working for international rider Sally Mapleson. She sent two horses to Nick Skelton – Rhapsody and Airborne – and I went with the horses. She said I wouldn’t last more than a couple of months with Nick, but 35 years later I’m still here…

Nick had just left the Edgars when I started and had great horses such as Apollo and St James. One of the first things I learnt was that Nick liked his horses to be tied up to eat their oats, then their hay, while you mucked out. When you’d finished sweeping up you’d go along and untie them all and close the doors.

Nick likes things very tidy, but it’s a great place to work. I’m currently looking after a five-year-old stallion for US rider Lindsay Maxwell and I still have Big Star (pictured) when he’s at home from his stud duties and help with general yard jobs. I had to isolate for nearly 15 weeks during the first lockdown last year as I’m diabetic – I ended up painting my whole house!

Nobody is perfect and once or twice I’ve overslept or been late for a class and Nick will say, “Bloody hell, where you been?” I am very laid-back and always like a cup of tea before I start a job – I think for that reason, plus years of experience, I make the job look easy but it is hard. I’ve got attached to some fantastic horses over the years and seeing them do well is so rewarding.

It only takes about 10 minutes to get a horse ready for Nick to ride. He’s only strict about the manes being dampened down with a brush – he just doesn’t like them sticking up. If I forget, he’ll get going with the brush and do it himself. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t brushed the shavings out of the tail, it’s only the mane he’s concerned about.

Everyone’s favourite horse was the amazing Dollar Girl, who didn’t have a bad bone in her body. Nick got her just six weeks before the Barcelona Olympics and it was a disaster. I was standing next to Princess Anne, talking to myself as always, saying, “Come on, Dolly,” and when she stopped at the last fence I said, “Oh f****** hell, what’s happened here?” I immediately realised and apologised, but she just laughed.

When I went in for the medal ceremony in Rio, I thought about kissing the sand because you see Novak Djokovic eating the grass when he wins Wimbledon. But then I thought, “Don’t be so stupid” – it’s funny what goes through your head in these situations. I do wish I’d taken a jar of sand from the venue though. I used to get choked up every time the national anthem played for Nick, but I actually cried in Rio.

As I had to be up early the next morning I didn’t join the party in the Olympic village. I went to a bar for one beer and everyone cheered when I walked in. Even now, when I hack out on the lanes, people will stop their cars and ask for selfies with Big Star.

I’ve always admired Ludger Beerbaum and jockey John Francome. When I first started at Nick’s, I wanted hair like John Francome’s so I actually had a demi-wave to make it curly! Not many people know that – until now… But John was an amazing jockey and, like Nick’s son Harry, a lot of that stems from doing showjumping first and becoming proper horsemen.

Ref: 28 January 2021

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Find out the story behind Nick’s acquisition of Big Star, with whom he won individual gold at the Rio Olympics

H&H Hero to Hero: Scott Brash and Nick Skelton *H&H Plus*

Olympic gold medal-winning showjumper Nick Skelton rode countless horses to the very highest level throughout his illustrious career, from Maybe, who took Nick from young riders into his first taste of international success, to Big Star, who obviously needs no introduction.

The story behind Nick’s acquisition of Big Star, with whom he won individual gold at the Rio Olympics, is an interesting one, though.

“It was 2008 and the American team were training at a showground in Holland before they travelled to the Beijing Olympics,” explains Nick, when H&H’s showjumping editor Jennifer Donald chatted to him on episode 31 of The Horse & Hound podcast.

“Laura [Kraut, Nick’s partner] drove out to Holland to go to a little show where the Americans were training, and when she arrived, a horse was jumping in the ring and she thought to herself ‘My God, this horse is unbelievable’. So she got out of the car and ran to the entrance of the ring to talk to the rider as he came out and it was a guy she knew from California; Alan Waldman. She asked him if the horse was for sale and he said ‘Yes it is but it’s expensive and I want him to go to a good rider’. She asked how much and she said ‘Oh God, yes that is expensive, but Nick has an owner who I think will buy him — would it be ok if Nick had him? ’ and he agreed. So Laura rang me telling me to get over there to see the horse.”

Article continues below…

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So Nick duly got on a plane with one of his owners, Gary Widdowson, and Gary’s father, Albert.

“When we got there, he was in the stable and he had the longest mane and as a five-year-old stallion we then stuck tack on him to try him, surrounded by mares and foals out in the field next to the paddock we were jumping in,” Nick says.

“He gave me the most amazing feeling over a fence but I thought he was too brave for his age. A 5ft3/4ins fence was put up, which is a big jump for a five-year-old, but he just came bounding down to it, gave it a foot of air, and before I’d pulled him up, Albert said ‘Right, I’m buying that horse’, so I had no say in it!”

And the rest, as they say, is history.

If you’d like to hear more from Nick, listen to episode 31 of The Horse and Hound podcast or search “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your favourite podcast app.

We are continuing to produce Horse & Hound as a weekly magazine during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as to keep our website at horseandhound.co.uk up to date with breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

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

Valegro, Nick Skelton’s superb Olympic gold and Teddy the Shetland are among those voted by you as the winners of the 2020 H&H Awards, in partnership with NAF.

Today (9 December) we announce the winners of our decade categories, following on from yesterday’s “of the year” titles.

Nick and Big Star’s individual Rio Olympic victory was, by a landslide, voted the Horserail moment of the decade.

“For me this is more than the moment of the decade, it’s the moment of a lifetime,” said Nick, whose tears on the podium revealed just how much the medal meant.

“It took many years and eight Olympic Games before I finally succeeded,” he reflected.

“I’d had many near-misses, such as in Athens and London, but when I woke up on the morning of the final in Rio, I had a good feeling that this was going to be the day, because I knew Big Star was getting better day by day.”

Nick and the Widdowsons’ great stallion were first to go in a nail-biting six-way jump-off 
to decide the medals.

“Going into that last round, 
I thought, ‘This is it, this is the last time I’m ever going to do this, because there’s not going to be another Olympic Games in me, 
or in Big Star,’” said Nick.

“I won it on the best horse 
I’ve ever had in my life. Whether the gold medal was due, or it 
came from above, I owe this award to Big Star.”

The incomparable Valegro, who won eight gold medals and broke every record going during his stellar career, not to mention continuing to delight his fans and raising money for charity since his retirement, was the worthy winner of the SEIB horse of the decade award.

“He’s never, ever, let us down, his country down or Charlotte down,” said Carl Hester, who co-owns Valegro with Roly Luard and Anne Barrott, and who was presented with the prize at home in Newent, Gloucestershire, by H&H dressage editor Polly Bryan.

“For him to be recognised like this is truly inspirational for all of us,” said Carl. “He is the perfect mixture of a horse who enjoys his work, and an athlete.”

Valegro’s rider Charlotte Dujardin was voted Uvex Helmets professional rider of the decade.

Her fairytale journey with Valegro brought her firmly into the spotlight, and she now has a string of rides set to continue her success, led by Mount St John Freestyle, with whom she won team and individual bronze at the World Equestrian Games in 2018.

“My biggest career highlight has to be London 2012 – it was my first Olympics, and to come away with double gold, I never dreamt that could happen,” said Charlotte as she collected her award from Polly.

“I find what I have achieved really surreal. I love what I do, competing and building partnerships with these horses.”

The Pikeur amateur rider of the decade award went to the inspirational 19-year-old para showjumper and disability campaigner Evie Toombes.

Evie said she was “elated” to win.

“I was shocked, it’s so kind of everyone who voted,” she added.

Evie was born with a form of spina bifida, which affects the nerves to her legs, bladder and bowel.

“I’m tube-fed directly into my bloodstream, I’ve had quite a lot of health issues,” she said, from a hospital bed in a room which even her parents are not currently allowed to visit.

“Find a way, not an excuse,” is her motto. “Riding gives me something to look forward to when I’m in hospital,” she said. “I’m not going through all this to sit on the sofa. Having a horse and being outdoors is fantastic for all our health and mental health.

“A kid with tubes is an easy target and I was bullied at school. But the riding school was fantastic, and I look back on those memories with fondness. Horses have always given me a safe place.”

• Hear more from Evie on tomorrow’s (Thursday 9 December) episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast.

Continues below…

Nick Skelton and Big Star win GOLD in Rio showjumping showdown

The Brit came off best in a six-horse jump-off at the Olympics today in Rio

Emotional Charlotte Dujardin takes individual gold in Rio dressage: ‘It’s on the cards to retire Valegro’

The British rider was well ahead of the competition today with a flawless test on Valegro, who was almost certainly

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Diminutive Instagram star Teddy the Shetland was named Balanced Horse Feeds pony of the decade.

The miniature Shetland would usually be gearing up for fundraising at Olympia at this time of year, visiting a children’s hospice or joining a Riding for the Disabled Association group’s carol-singing session.

Owners Alice and Molly Goring struggle to believe how much Teddy is loved throughout the world.

“We’ve tried 
our best to squeeze every inch 
of fun out of 2020,” Alice said. “Teddy lives 
for meeting people, and giving people hugs and making 
them smile.”

Charities Teddy supports include Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony, and Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

Molly said: “In lockdown we did a 5km run with Teddy for the hospice. Usually he travels at a slow pace but he did so well.”

Alice added: “We can’t wait to get back out to events in 2021 and for Teddy to give people some special memories.”

H&H editor in chief Sarah Jenkins said that to have a record number of votes for the awards this year means so much to all the H&H team, but even more to all of those shortlisted.

“So thank you very much to all of Horse & Hound’s readers for the near 58,000 votes cast,” she said.

“You will see in these videos how overwhelmed this year and decade’s winners were by all of your support. We couldn’t have worthier winners.”

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.

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

Facebook scammers have been targeting the equestrian community again — setting up a Facebook page and trying to con competition entrants into handing over credit or debit card details.

Stallion AI Services set up a page called Big Star Olympic Champion, and launched a competition to win a straw of frozen semen, as well as a framed Big Star shoe, and a chance to meet the stallion himself.

But a scam page was set up, closely resembling the genuine article, and the scammers behind it contacted hundreds of people who had entered the competition.

“They contacted these people saying they were the winner, and to fill in a form,” Stallion Ai Services’ Tullis Matson told H&H.

“It told them to fill in their credit card details and they’d do the rest. They say ‘click here to get your prize’, and that’s when they get you.”

Tullis said this was the second time one of his company’s pages has been duplicated. H&H has reported on similar attacks on show centre pages, all attempts to secure people’s financial details.

Continues below…

Equestrian world targeted by social media scams using fake show pages

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“They don’t hack you but they set up a fictitious page that looks just like yours,” he said. “This one had ‘Bigstar’ all one word, and ‘Olympicchampion’ all one word, but everything else was exactly the same.

“They’re very clever; it’s so frustrating.”

Tullis said Trading Standards was helpful, because it was fraudulent activity, and the fake page has now been removed.

If you think you may have been caught out by this, or a similar scam online, report it to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

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.

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 you get when you cross Ben Maher’s Olympic ride Rolette with Nick Skelton’s dual gold medallist Big Star? Well, if the genes have anything to do with it, this five-year-old is going to be one megastar showjumper.

The Belgian Warmblood gelding Polaris SCF is owned and bred by the US-based Spy Coast Farm LLC, where the fantastic mare Rolette retired as a broodmare in 2012. On 25 October her blue-blooded youngster topped the $5,000 Developing Jumper Series 5-Year-Old Jumper Championship at Tryon International Equestrian Center under rider David O’Brien. The pair produced the only clear round in the jump-off.

“Both Polaris SCF’s father and mother jumped at the Olympics, which is kind of cool,” said David. “He is a pretty straightforward horse. The bigger the set, the more he is impressed, so it was nice to get him in there with that kind of atmosphere. In the jump-off, I was the last to go and the other two had a rail down, so I was able to take my time and, as my boss would say, ‘equitate it’.”

The top showjumping mare Rolette took Ben Maher to the 2008 Olympics where they were the best-placed Brits, finishing 19th individually. The 10-year-old left Ben’s yard in 2008 after being bought by Lisa Lourie for a rumoured £3.5million and went on to be ridden internationally by Irish-born Shane Sweetnam before she retired to stud.

This popular developing jumper series showcases and educates young equine talent in the United States and David swept all three age divisions in the finals with Spy Coast Farm-owned horses. He headed the six-year-olds with Octavius SCF (Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve x Beluga) and the seven-year-old final with Nightshade SCF (Baldev x Olisina).

Spy Coast Farm in Kentucky was founded in 2003 and offers a holistic approach to the breeding, training and healthcare of broodmares and foals. Owner Lisa Lourie has made a significant investment in American-bred sport horses.

Continued below…

Ben Maher’s Olympic horse Rolette sold to America

Show jumper Ben Maher has revealed exclusively to H&H that Rolette has been sold abroad for an unspecified sum

H&H exclusive: Rolette will leave for Florida this week

Ben Maher's former top show jumper will be ridden by Ireland's Shane Sweetnam at Spy Coast Farm when she arrives

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

“Initially, it seemed like a part of the industry that was sort of left on the table – that it was an untapped resource,” she said. “I never like to see waste, and I knew that some of the best mares in the world were not being used to their best advantage, so I saw an opportunity to just jump into the breeding industry.”

“Rolette is still alive and kicking at 22 years old. She has been retired from breeding but enjoys her life out with the ‘Golden Girls’.”

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.

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

Charlotte Dujardin and Nick Skelton are among some of Britain’s most talented athletes included in a vote of greatest Olympic moments.

The BBC has asked the public to vote for their favourite British moment from a list of 25, from Tokyo 1964 to Rio 2016.

“There have been tear-jerkers, jaw-droppers and simply those that have been awe-inspiring,” said a BBC spokesman.

“Great Britain has enjoyed some incredible moments at the summer Olympics – but what is the greatest?”

Among the shortlist, chosen by the BBC, is dressage superstar Charlotte Dujardin and her famous dancing partner Valegro’s double gold medal-winning performances of London 2012, and showjumping legend Nick Skelton and Big Star’s individual gold at Rio 2016.

Nick told H&H he was “very honoured” to be nominated, especially as there are only 25 nominees from across so many Games.

“Let’s hope all equestrians vote and we do well for our sport,” he said.

Charlotte and Nick face competition from the likes of pentathlete Mary Peter’s Munich 1972 gold medal, runner Kelly Holmes’ double gold at Athens 2004, cyclist Chris Hoy’s treble gold at Beijing 2008 and swimmer Becky Adlington, who aged 19 in Beijing became the first British woman to take a swimming gold since 1960 – she went on to a second gold days later. Britain’s ”Super Saturday” at London 2012, when Jessica Ennis-Hill, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah all won individual golds within 44 minutes, is also on the list.

Article continued below…

Charlotte Dujardin wins second Olympic gold medal

Charlotte Dujardin and Laura Bechtolsheimer added individual Olympic dressage medals to their team gold

Nick Skelton and Big Star win GOLD in Rio showjumping showdown

The Brit came off best in a six-horse jump-off at the Olympics today in Rio

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The public has until 10am on 25 July to vote. Television presenters Clare Balding and Gabby Logan will count down the moments during a special BBC One programme from 1.15pm on 25 July, on what should have been the opening weekend of Tokyo 2020.

“We will be counting down with them via a live text, so get involved with your favourite moments using #bbcOlympics,” said the spokesman.

To vote, visit the BBC website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/53221821

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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

When Nick Skelton was crowned Olympic showjumping champion in 2016, there was a lot of talk about a film being made of his phenomenal life story.

All the ingredients were there for a Hollywood classic — a much-loved horse and rider showing courage and tenacity, a from-the-brink comeback after Nick broke his neck in a fall, ending with the fairy tale of Rio when the 58-year-old stepped up on the podium to receive his gold medal, wiping away a tear as he did so.

“I suppose mine is a good story,” Nick said. “And the same with Big Star – he was out injured, didn’t really compete for two years and the last competition he won was the Aachen grand prix in 2013. So to come back and do all that is a good story, too.”

It turns out that Bobby Kraut, the 21-year-old screenwriter son of Nick’s partner Laura Kraut, has taken up the mantle to write the screenplay. All it needs now is the green light from Hollywood to potentially take this epic tale to the big screen.

“Bobby is hoping to go in to the film industry so he wrote the film all on his own, pretty soon after it all happened — he just hasn’t done anything with it yet,” Nick told H&H. “Now we just need someone to look at it and decide if it’s feasible to make a documentary or a film from it.”

According to Nick, they showed the script to American actor and filmmaker Robert Duvall, who read it and “really liked it”. The screenplay tells Nick’s story and ends with the record-breaking rider’s seventh Olympic appearance in 2016 where he won his second gold medal with the mighty Big Star.

Continues below…

‘I’d do it all again’: watch Nick Skelton and Big Star’s retirement ceremony

A packed Castle Arena gave legends Nick Skelton and Big Star a fitting send-off

Nick Skelton and Big Star win GOLD in Rio showjumping showdown

The Brit came off best in a six-horse jump-off at the Olympics today in Rio

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“Bobby has done a really good job of it,” said Nick. “It’s all there, we just need to find someone to take it on.”

So who would Nick like to see playing him on the big screen?

“One step at a time – we need someone to give it the go-ahead first!” he said.

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Big Star, Valegro and Chilli Morning are set to make guest appearances at Cheltenham’s Countryside Day next month (15 November).

Sir AP McCoy will also be trying his hand at dressage in a lesson with London 2012 Olympic team gold and individual bronze medallist Laura Tomlinson.

The day is a fundraiser for the Countryside Alliance and also this year for Equestrian Team GBR, to raise money towards the expenses of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“I am very excited about giving AP a lesson on one of our homebred grand prix horses,” said Laura. “It should be very entertaining seeing how he handles a very different type of power to what he is used to!”

The demonstration will take place at 11.45am in the parade ring, ahead of the racing.

This is not Sir AP’s first foray into dressage at Cheltenham — in 2015, the 20-time champion jockey returned to the paddock for a lesson aboard Barolo with Charlotte Dujardin.

“I don’t think AP has cantered this slowly in his life before,” said Yogi Breisner at the time.

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AP McCoy turns his hand to dressage at Cheltenham

AP McCoy performed a dressage demo with Charlotte Dujardin at Cheltenham

Big Star back in the ring — with John Whitaker on board

I‘ thought I could show them all how it’s done!’

Multiple Olympic gold medal-winners Big Star and Valegro and 2015 Badminton victor Chilli Morning will be parading for fans.

They will be joined by dual Champion Chase winner Sprinter Sacre, one of the most successful and much-loved chasers of recent years, who completes the quartet of retired equine sporting heroes.

A silent auction, which will start on 26 October and run until 15 November, is expected to be one of the main fundraisers. This will include money can’t buy lots, donated by top British riders.

Gates open at 10.40am and racing starts at 12.30pm.

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Nearly three years to the day that Big Star and Nick Skelton clinched that momentous Olympic gold medal in Rio, the now 16-year-old stallion was back in the ring — with another legendary rider in the saddle, John Whitaker.

The pair were taking part in the stallion showcase at the Equitop Bolesworth Young Horse Championships on Sunday (18 August) alongside the likes of Je T’Aime Flamenco, Noble Warrior, SFS Aristio and Argento. And with the fences already set up in the main arena for the following class, the seven-year-old championship, John admitted he was almost tempted to give the double Olympic gold medal-winning stallion a pop over a jump or two.

“I thought I could show them all how it’s done!” John told H&H. “I said when Nick retired that it was him that was knackered – the horse was fine! And he felt really good in there. I was very tempted to have a jump on him.”

On entering the Bolesworth arena, Big Star announced his arrival with his trademark neigh and looked as though he was keen to go full pelt over the coloured fences again as John trotted him round in front of the spectators.

“When you have 10 stallions in an arena, you have to keep your wits about you,” said John, whose daughter Louise took the reins on his top ride Argento for the event. “Stallions are often very lazy at home but the complete opposite at a show, but they were all really well behaved.”

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John had ridden Big Star once before at the British Breeding Stallion Event in 2018, while his nephew Jack Whitaker took the reins on the Widdowsons’ champion son of Quick Star at the Stallion AI Services open day last year.

“The stallion parade was a great thing to have at a young horse show where you also had the elite foal auction and everyone was looking at the breeding — it was very fitting to show off these top stallions,” added John.

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“Big Star’s such an icon, a big character — what a fantastic experience,” summed up 16-year-old Jack Whitaker after taking the reins on Nick Skelton’s 2016 Olympic gold medal-winning ride.

It’s not every day a teenager, albeit one of Great Britain’s most promising young riders, has the opportunity to ride an Olympic champion but Jack received a last-minute call-up to take the reins on Big Star at the Stallion AI Services and Twemlows Stud open day on Saturday (21 April) where some of the country’s leading stallions were being paraded.

“My dad [Michael Whitaker] was going to take Cassionato, but he was competing in Shanghai so I took Cassionato instead,” Jack told H&H. “Then John [Whitaker] couldn’t make it either so I rode Argento, too. I was then asked to ride one of the other stallions — it turned out to be Big Star, because unfortunately Nick was busy that weekend. It was a big day for me!”

So how did it feel to take the reins on the mighty Big Star?

“He felt fresh, he’s fairly lively!” said Jack. “Tullis [Matson] has been riding him while he’s at stud and he told me he could be a bit sharp, but what a horse. And the crowds were brilliant, so many people came out to see him.”

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Jack did have one regret, however.

“I wasn’t allowed to jump Big Star, unfortunately — that would have been amazing,” said Jack, although he did pop over a few fences on both the grand prix-winning Argento and the 2016 Olympic contender Cassionato — who, like Big Star, is owned by Gary and Beverley Widdowson.

Jack’s trio of showjumping stallions were joined by the likes of Jaguar Mail, Murka’s Gem and Arko III, another former Nick Skelton ride, for this hugely popular annual event. Managing director of Stallion AI Services Tullis Matson even made the most dramatic of entrances — via parachute.

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In this week’s magazine, out 19 April, don’t miss our special report from the British Dressage Winter Championships, plus full analysis from the Grand National — including expert comment, pictures and more. Read our report from the dressage and showjumping World Cup finals, and in this week’s ‘vet clinic’ we discuss the facts about fitness.

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Planning to breed in 2018? Check out our round-up of 12 super stallions you should know about this year

1. Dream Boy (Vivaldi x Ferro)

This elegant, long-legged Vivaldi x Ferro son made his dressage grand prix debut with Holland’s Hans Peter Minderhoud in January, scoring just a shade under 75% and looking every inch a future international star. His foals inherit his lightness across the ground, impressive hind leg and modern type, and he has a number of licensed sons, the oldest of which turn five this year.

Age: 10

Studbook: KWPN

Stud fee: €1,750+VAT, elitestallions.co.uk

2. Delatio (De Niro x Rubinstein I)

Delatio boasts a super temperament and passes on reliable rideability. By the legendary De Niro, and out of the Rubinstein mare Rubina, Delatio is a strong British contender for this year’s World Equestrian Games with Britain’s Emile Faurie, having qualified for the World Cup final in Paris. He has already produced successful offspring, including the keur mare Elhouette and small tour horse Emando.

Age: 14

Studbook: Hanoverian

Stud fee: €1,200+VAT, elitestallions.co.uk

3. Taloubet Z (Galoubet A x Polydor)

Having retired triumphantly from international showjumping in January this year, this multi-medalled stallion will now concentrate on his breeding career, with chilled semen available this year for the first time. A neat, quick jumper with superb technique, Christian Ahlmann’s Rio bronze medallist has already produced some exceptional offspring, despite his limited availability until this season. These include his daughter Taloubetdarco K Z, who also jumped in Rio for Japan.

Age: 18

Studbook: KWPN

Stud fee: €1,400 + VAT, elitestallions.co.uk

4. Big Star (Quick Star x Nimmerdor)

The Rio 2016 Olympic champion needs no introduction, and is once again standing in the UK for 2018. He passes his athleticism and great temperament on to his foals, as well as boasting high quality semen. His offspring are proving hugely popular, with a Big Star x Tinka’s Boy foal being sold for £92,000 at the Bolesworth Elite Auction in 2017.

Age: 15

Studbook: KWPN

Stud fee (UK): £3,500 + VAT (fresh/chilled), £900 + VAT per straw (frozen), stallionai.co.uk

5. Jaguar Mail (Hand In Glove x Laudanum)

The highest ranked stallion standing in the UK for 2018, this outstanding dual-purpose sire has produced top eventing offspring including Michael Jung’s European team and individual gold medallist FischerTakinou, and double world young horse champion Tenareze. He himself showjumped at the 2008 Olympics with Sweden’s Peter Eriksson. The Hand In Glove son brings plenty of blood, being 82% thoroughbred, as well as rideability and a generous character.

Age: 21

Studbook: Selle Francais

Stud fee: €1500 + VAT, elitestallions.co.uk

6. Checkter (Cellestial x Lord Pezi)

This striking, super careful young stallion, currently standing at the Böckmann stud in Germany, dominated his 2017 performance test, scoring 9.66, including 10 for his technique and 9.8 for rideability. His sire, Cellestial, jumped at international grand prix, while his damline has an impressive performance record and has also produced several licensed sons.

Age: 5

Studbook: Oldenburg

Stud fee: €1000 + VAT, elitestallions.co.uk

7. Woodlander Wild Love (Woodlander Wild Child x For Compliment)

This son of Woodlander Wild Child is in his first season of breeding, but looks to be just as impressive as his record-breaking sire, whose dam is the double world young horse champion Woodlander Farouche. Wild Love was champion of both his Hanoverian and WBS-UK licensings and was also the top-scoring two-year-old of the Futurity series in 2017, prompting Woodlander stud’s Lynne Crowden to describe him as “the best stallion we have ever bred”.

Age: 3

Studbook: Hanoverian

Stud fee: £750, woodlanderstud.com

8. Murka’s Gem (Good Twist x Noble Jay)

The clone of the legendary showjumper Gem Twist, Murka’s Gem is now publicly available for breeding and produced an exciting first crop of foals in 2016. Genetically identical to the Olympic medallist Gem Twist, Murka’s Gem is a very correct, careful jumper, and an exciting prospect for anyone looking for a thoroughbred stallion.

Age: 7

Studbook: AES

Stud fee: £800 + VAT, stallionai.co.uk

9. Elton John (Clearway x Kannan)

This fantastically scopey nine-year-old comes from a super jumping damline — his granddam Llotte produced Marcus Ehning’s superstar showjumper Plot Blue, also a renowned sire. Now competing at grand prix himself, Elton John has reached the world young horse championships at Lanaken three times and passes on his power and easy ability to his offspring.

Age: 9

Studbook: KWPN

Stud fee: €750.00 + VAT, team-nijhof.nl/en

10. Foundation (Fidertanz x De Vito)

This 10-year-old Fidertanz son is virtually unbeaten at international small tour with Germany’s Matthias Rath. He combines immense power with suppleness and elasticity, and scored 10 for both trot and canter in his performance test. This impressive stallion already has a number of licensed sons and Bundeschampionate finalists among his offspring.

Age: 10

Studbook: Hanoverian

Stud fee: €1,200 + VAT, schockemoehle.com

11. Dante’s Jr (Dante Weltino x Sir Donnerhall I)

A modern, classy stallion in his first year of breeding at the Schockemöhle stud in Germany, Dante’s Jr is pleasing on the eye and demonstrates incredible balance and cadence in all three paces. His stunning sire, Dante Weltino, led Sweden to bronze at the 2017 European Championships, also finishing fourth individually.

Age: 3

Studbook: Hanoverian

Stud fee: €1,000 + VAT, schockemoehle.com

12. Party Trick (Chilli Morning x Tolan R)

An exciting young stallion by none other than Badminton winner Chilli Morning, Party Trick was champion of his SHB(GB) grading in 2016 and his offspring include the filly Saxon Party, who was awarded an elite premium score at last year’s Futurity. Party Trick, who reached the Burghley young event horse final, boasts a wonderfully trainable attitude, plenty of scope and has proved highly fertile.

Age: 6

Studbook: SHB(GB)

Stud fee (UK): £650, gauntlett.me.uk

Don’t miss this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (5 April 2018), with our 44-page breeding pull out

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

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From his early days as a jockey to his favourite stallions who have stood at Stallion AI Services, find out more about the charismatic founder of the UK's largest equine semen collection and distribution centre

1. Despite his horsey family, Tullis didn’t start riding until he was 15

“My family were all horsey, and my brother Edward was riding as soon as he could walk, but I rebelled at everything — I must have been a horrible child,” says Tullis.

2. He spent a year as assistant trainer to Phillip Hobbs

After leaving school at 16, Tullis found his first job with the Somerset trainer, and after a year became his assistant trainer. “That put me on the straight and narrow and taught me some discipline,” says Tullis.

3. He rode in 77 point-to-points

“I had one winner, on a horse of my grandmother’s,” he recalls. “I was never the best at pointing though — I was always dieting, and then I was too weak as a result.”

4. An accident with a mare prompted him to study artificial insemination (AI)

After his racing career, Tullis came back to Shropshire to work on his father’s stud at Twemlows.

“One day, one of my father’s Irish draught stallions was covering a mare and he ruptured her inside, and she died. We thought then that there had to be a better way to do it, and so I went to New Zealand aged 21 to learn the basics of AI. Other countries were way ahead of the UK then — we’re traditionally much more dominated by the thoroughbred industry, which still bans the use of AI,” explains Tullis.

5. There’s one particular horse who holds a special place in his memories

The first famous stallion to arrive at Stallion AI was Demonstrator, Ferdi Eilberg’s international grand prix dressage horse. He stood at the stud from 2003 until his death in 2013, and is buried at the centre. “I’m an emotional person anyway, but I was a wreck when Demonstrator died,” remembers Tullis. “We had a real connection, I always felt he was part human.”

6. He always makes time to ride Big Star

“Some people don’t believe that I ride Big Star but I love riding him out around the farm in summer,” says Tullis. “He’s lovely to ride. It’s important to make sure all the stallions have as normal a life as possible.”

7. He loves to skydive — and has logged around 1,600 jumps

Tullis spent many years working as a cameraman for the skydiving company that uses his land. “On Fridays and Saturdays I would collect from a stallion, go up to do a jump, then collect again before going back up. I loved it,” he says.

8. He was once reprimanded by the Civil Aviation Authority — for reading H&H

“I always used to read the new Horse & Hound on my way up in the plane to do a jump, and stash the copies in a bag containing safety equipment. But after getting a strip torn off me when the CAA did an inspection I had to stuff them down the front of my jumpsuit before jumping out.”

9. Animals Tullis has helped collect semen from include camels, antelopes and even lions

“I really enjoy helping set up laboratories abroad, in countries such as Kuwait and Dubai, and have even collected off camels in the Middle East. It’s exactly the same as with a horse, but whereas a horse takes 30 seconds, a camel takes 15 minutes so you have to be patient,” he says. “Camel semen doesn’t freeze very well; we’re always looking into new freezing techniques.”

Continued below…

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10. He is a Trustee of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and passionate about saving rare breeds

“I used to be a bit ignorant about rare breeds until I became more involved with them, and realised that, for example, Suffolk horses could be extinct by 2027 unless we do something to save them,” he said. There are currently three Suffolk horses at Stallion AI, as well as a number of Cleveland Bays — another endangered breed. Tullis also works with Chester Zoo to help preserve endangered species such as rhinos and lions.

11. He can look at a sample of semen and name the stallion it came from

“I can match the semen to the stallion, just from its particular traits and the way it moves. I probably get it right about 80 to 90% of the time,” he chuckles.

Don’t miss the full interview with Tullis Matson in today’s special breeding issue of Horse & Hound magazine (5 April 2018)

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

Stallion AI Services near Whitchurch, Shropshire, is the UK’s largest semen collection and distribution centre, standing a number of top sport and rare breed stallions. Founder and managing director Tullis Matson gives H&H a tour around the centre’s stunning new facilities

Don’t miss our full interview with Tullis Matson in today’s special breeding issue of Horse & Hound magazine (5 April 2018)

The Stallion AI team pictured here with Suffolk stallion Craikhow Hall Jenson

The bright, spacious collection area features a fully rubberised floor, as well as secure stables for the ‘teaser’ mares. Here, the Olympic stallion and prolific sire Jaguar Mail is in action.

On arrival at the centre each stallion is allocated his own headcollar, bandages, boots and grooming kit, as well as specific collection coats for his handler and his semen collector.

Among the new facilities at Chapel Field Stud is a 54ft horse walker with rubberised floors and CCTV. “It’s important to ensure the stallions have as normal a life as possible so they all go out each day,” says managing director Tullis Matson.

As the UK’s largest equine frozen semen storage centre, Stallion AI is home to more than 1.4million straws of semen, stored at -196 degrees in nitrogen tanks, all colour coded. The centre has collected semen from over 1200 stallions of 47 different breeds.

The centre is home to Murka’s Gem, a seven-year-old genetic clone of the legendary showjumper Gem Twist

The stud’s state-of-the-art laboratory allows the stud to stay at the forefront of technology, developing advanced freezing techniques as well as pioneering work in areas such as epididymal sperm extraction — harvesting sperm cells after castration, or if a stallion has had to be put down suddenly.

The yard and paddocks are fitted with extensive CCTV, with a camera in every stable allowing centre staff and stallion owners to keep tabs on their horses 24 hours a day via ‘Stalcam’.

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

Retired Olympic champion Big Star has been named stallion of the year by KWPN.

Nick Skelton’s gold medal-winning partner, owned by Gary and Beverley Widdowson, will be honoured at the KWPN Stallion Show in the Netherlands (31 January – 3 February).

The now 15-year-old stallion by Quick Star x Nimmerdor was retired last May at Royal Windsor Horse Show following a remarkable career.

“One of the highlights of the stallion show is the awarding of the honorable title, stallion of the year 2017,” said a KWPN spokesman.

“This year the title goes to a jumping stallion. There is one stallion that makes the hearts of all jumping enthusiasts beat faster: Big Star.

“In 2017 the stallion said goodbye to the sport after his extremely successful jumping career. Reason enough to pay tribute to this powerhouse because of his unprecedented achievements that he has provided for many years.

“The Olympic champion will come back to his native country especially for the stallion show. On Thursday, 1 February, Big Star will enter the ring once more.”

With Nick, Big Star won individual gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and was on the gold medal-winning team at the London Olympics in 2012.

Big Star now stands at stud at Stallion AI Services.

He already has progeny on the ground in the UK, the eldest of whom is four years old. Last year one of Big Star’s foals sold for £90,000.

A spokesman for British Showjumping celebrated the news of Big Star receiving the award.

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“An incredibly charismatic horse, it is impossible to not feel immense affection towards his infectious personality and way of going,” he said.

“Big Star, with his exuberance and lion-hearted way neighing at the fences as he enters the arena through to the way he attacks each fence on the course made him a personality in his own right.”

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Star sires were in the spotlight as BBC One’s Countryfile visited Stallion AI Services.

A rare Eriskay pony, Big Star, a Shire and Gem Twist’s clone Murka’s Gem all featured on this week’s show, which aired yesterday (7 January).

Presenter Adam Henson, whose father Joe was a founder of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) visited the Shropshire base to find out how the business is helping preserve endangered breeds.

Tullis Matson of Stallion AI spoke of the critical numbers some breeds have reached and the work his company and the RBST is doing to prevent further decline.

“There’s just over 900 female [breeding Shires] left in the country, so yes there’s a few about, but it won’t take long for the breed [numbers] to get smaller and smaller, the genetic pool to shrink and then we have other issues as well,” he said.

“[The Eriskay] really are on the border-line of extinction.

“They could be [lost for ever] if we don’t do something about it — they are really lovely animals and it would be a real great shame to lose them.”

He added technology has “come on so much” that they are able to preserve semen samples in ways that did not exist even five years ago.

Adam said it is “companies like this that are giving many of our rare breeds a fighting chance of survival”.

Tom Beeston of the RBST said the charity’s gene bank is preserving eggs, semen and embryos of all sorts of rare breeds and species.

“We have about 70 horses across the 13 breeds [on the RBST’s watchlist] in the gene bank already,” he told viewers.

“But we need 350 in there, so that’s £1.5million to £2million we need just for the equines.”

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Adam also met Big Star and Nick Skelton on his trip to Stallion AI.

“He was the superstar, I was just the pilot,” said Nick in response to Adam’s praise for the combination’s two Olympic gold medals.

Nick added Big Star already has progeny on the ground in the UK, the eldest of whom is four years old, and that last year one of the legendary stallion’s foals sold for £90,000.

“When [Big Star] was competing at the top, before Rio and after London, we were offered a lot of money for him, but the owners — Gary and Beverley Widdowson — didn’t want to sell him,” said Nick.

“They wanted to keep him for his jumping and also for his career at stud, where he is doing a great job.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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

While much of central England ground to a halt after Sunday’s “snow bomb” dumped several inches of the white stuff, in a Warwickshire field a certain bay stallion was having an absolute whale of a time.

Nick Skelton’s double Olympic gold medal-winning ride Big Star, now enjoying a very happy retirement from competition at the age of 14, couldn’t contain his excitement at being met by knee-deep snow when he was turned out today (11 December).

“He was having a great time playing around,” said Nick, whose stables received a massive covering of around eight inches of snow.

“Henry” maintained all the grace and athleticism he showed in the ring as he kicked up his heels — and posed majestically for the camera — loving every minute of his “snow day” in the magical winter wonderland.

Just down the road, it was all hands on deck at the racing establishment of Nick’s son, National Hunt trainer Dan Skelton, when staff struggled to negotiate the country lanes to get to work.

“A few turned up but the roads were blocked — luckily Sunday is a pretty quiet day though,” said Nick.

As you would expect from the Skelton team, they managed to keep the show on the road with a 4am start on the gritter and tractors and after some expert harrowing the gallops were open for business as usual.

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H&H recently visited the Warwickshire stables of dual Olympic champion Nick Skelton

By this morning, they’d even managed to get the day’s three runners on the lorry and out of Lodge Hill, making it down to Fontwell Park racecourse in West Sussex, where jockey Harry Skelton rode an impressive winning double, first in a novices’ hurdle on the short-priced favourite Roksana, following up with a seven-length victory in a handicap chase on Get On The Yager.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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Big Star’s owner Gary Widdowson hopes to have secured future showjumping stars for Britain after he paid more than €70,000 (£62,500) for two Big Star embryos.

Mr Widdowson secured one embryo for €41,000, the second for €30,500 at this week’s Zangersheide online embryo auction (21-24 October)

“British showjumping is not in the greatest position right now because we’re lacking horses, but hopefully these two will now stay in the UK,” Mr Widdowson told H&H.

The first of the embryos bought by Mr Widdowson is out of Tinka’s Serenade (Tinka’s Boy x African Drum), Billy Twomey’s hugely successful showjumping ride, who was retired last year at the age of 19.

Billy partnered the chestnut mare, who is co-owned by Sue Davies, to many five-star victories, as well as at the 2012 Olympics, 2010 World Equestrian Games and World Cup finals in 2011 and 2014.

The embryo went for €41,000, the second highest price paid across the auction, after a Casall x Nabab De Reve embryo, which was sold to France for €46,000.

Mr Widdowson’s second Big Star embryo is out of Spirit T (Tornado x Carnaval Drum), the international ride of Jessica Mendoza, who was travelling reserve for the Rio Olympics.

“Tinka’s Serenade and Spirit T are fantastic mares, and good mares make a good foal, in theory,” Mr Widdowson said. “Obviously owning Big Star has a lot to do with [buying the embryos], but if we want to keep jumping going in the UK we need that quality.”

Mr Widdowson was the only British buyer at the auction, at which 26 embryos were sold.

“It is a bit disappointing that we were the only British buyer, but I’m hoping that if it works out for us, other people in this country may look into it. It’s an opportunity to get your hands on something you wouldn’t be able to otherwise,” added Gary.

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The embryos are both being carried by mares from the Twemlows stud. Having been bought by Mr Widdowson along with the embryos, the mares will return to Twemlows after the foals are weaned for the same price.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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

In this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (12 October 2017), read an exclusive extract from Nick Skelton’s new autobiography Gold, which hits the shelves on 19 October. Here Nick reveals his five favourite horses of all time

None of the medals and accolades bestowed upon Nick would have been possible without the team around him and his gallant, talented and obliging equine partners.

1. Big Star

“He’s the ultimate horse and without doubt the best I’ve ever ridden. He was only five when I got him but you could see he had all the attributes then and the older he got, the more they became apparent.

“The final three rounds he jumped in Rio were as good as he’s ever jumped — and he gave me a similar feeling when he won the Aachen grand prix in 2013, and the German championship [Warsteiner Prize] there in 2012, too. He never jumped a bad round and you can probably count on two hands the number of fences he’s had down in eight years of competition.

“When you walked the course, you didn’t worry about anything with Big Star — as long as you were within the vicinity of the jump when you rode it, it didn’t matter if you were a foot long or a foot deep. You just never contemplated having a jump down. The feeling on him was just totally amazing.”

2. Top Gun

“He had the same qualities as Big Star — all the scope, he was careful and he had the rideability. He didn’t have the best style in the world — he went along with his head up in the air a bit — but saying that, when he left me he was jumping in a really good style.

“But I think he reverted back again to his old ways with Jan Tops riding him. I knew how good he was, so I was so sad to lose that horse. I tried everything I could to keep him from being sold, but unfortunately he had to be. He went on to win an Olympic gold medal as well.”

3. Arko III

“Arko was such a beautiful, classic style of jumper. His rideability was perhaps lacking — he wasn’t the easiest horse because he was a little bit mouthy — but he was very careful and extremely brave.

“Again, as with Big Star, you never worried much about what tracks they built when you went to shows — he could jump anything.

“I suppose there are some ‘what ifs’ with him, like at the Athens Olympics [when the pair were in the gold medal position going in to the final round yet finished 11th], but I would put that down to a little bit of inexperience.”

4. Dollar Girl

“She was the absolute stable favourite. She was very intelligent. You walked into the stable in the morning and she had her head over the box looking for you. She had all the ability, but you had to make her do it. You had to ride her a little bit aggressively. But again she won a lot — the World Cup final in 1995, Calgary, St Gallen… so many grands prix. I think she’d be as competitive in today’s sport. In fact, I think all these horses would be equally competitive now as they were back then.”

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“He was careful, competitive and quick. You wouldn’t think he had all the scope, but he always managed to do it — you never went to a place where he couldn’t jump it. He even won in Calgary, and two years on the trot at Olympia he took the grand prix and the World Cup qualifier. That ability came from wanting to do it; when he went in the ring, like all these horses, he just had that desire to compete. They were all fighters.”

Don’t miss this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (12 October 2017), with our exclusive extract from Gold: My autobiography, published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on 19 October, priced £20 in hardback

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

Big Star’s shoe will be among the lots up for grabs at a “Jump For Life” show and auction this weekend (Sunday, 10 September) in aid of Cancer Research UK.

The event at Quainton Stud, Bucks features a full British Showjumping schedule from newcomers to 1.35m grand prix with a total prize fund of £7,500.

The auction, which will be live streamed on the Jump For Life Facebook page, will take place before the big class at around 12.30pm.

Other interesting lots include coverings by stallions Vellini, CS Online and a choice of stallions at the New Priory Stud.

There is also a sculpture donated by artist Charles Elliott, husband of show jumper Abbe (nee Burchmore-Eames) and an Arsenal shirt signed by 21 first-team players, donated by former player Nigel Winterburn, whose daughter rides.

“People have been really really generous from the moment we mentioned it was in aid of Cancer Research UK,” said organiser Ryan O’Sullivan.

“The Big Star shoe and photo is probably our top lot. The lucky buyer will receive the shoe, engraved and framed, plus a photograph of Nick and Big Star that they can then take along for a very special visit to Nick’s yard where he will personally sign the photograph for them.”

All details of the show and a list of auction and raffle prizes can be found on the website www.jumpforlife.org. Bids can be made prior to the auction by emailing rosullivan123@icloud.com or phoning 07881 371739.

Continued below…

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It is the second time the show has run, with the previous event in 2015 raising over £12,500. On that occasion, the top lot was a commission painting that sold for £750.

“Last year we had an issue with cancer in the family — which is what inspired us in the first place — so we didn’t hold the show, but we hope to run it as an annual event from now on,” said Ryan.

“We first came up with the idea over a glass of wine one cold evening in the winter. We’d been affected by cancer and we thought it would be nice to do something a bit proactive.

“While showjumping is already community, it’s amazing to see how much an event like this really brings everyone together.”

Coursebuilder Phil Ashworth and the judges have all donated their time for free at the event, which has attracted maximum entries.

“I think a £400 first prize for the Foxhunter and £250 for the newcomers really pulled people in. We have some big names entered for the grand prix, including Tim Stockdale and Laura Renwick,” said Ryan.

“There is also an art exhibition taking place, so it should be a good show for spectators.”

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

One year ago today (19 August) we reached the end of the emotional rollercoaster ride that was the Olympic showjumping in Rio. After Great Britain’s team disappointment, and some close-shaves along the way, it was the heroic pairing of Nick Skelton and Big Star’s turn to shine. To celebrate the anniversary of this momentous day, we relive some of the highlights of their epic journey to Olympic gold — you may just need those tissues once again…

1. Oh that jump!

Big Star began his Olympic campaign with three surprise four-fault rounds. Nick put it down to being “a bit rusty” after a long spell on the sidelines. But there was no denying the 13-year-old stallion’s will to clear every maximum height fence – knees up! “He hadn’t jumped anything that big for a long time,” said Nick. “I’d done some fairly decent stuff at home, but it’s nothing like going in the ring — you need the adrenalin and the excitement. But I always had total belief in him.”

2. Into the blue

Despite this dazzling image of the pair clearing the open water, the obstacle caused a bit of controversy for the pair in the second round. On team day, pathfinder Nick had been furious to be given four faults for touching the tape at the 4.3m wide water. “That horse has never been in a water jump in his life and I didn’t think he was in that one,” he said. The Brits appealed, but unsuccessfully — it would not have affected the result, however.

3. Soaring through to the individual final

Despite the disappointment of the British team crashing out of contention, Nick and Big Star were progressing through sweetly as individuals. “When he had the vertical down [in the treble combination] in the second round of the team competition, I thought, ‘That’s it he’s never going to hit another one’,” said Nick. “When you walked in the ring on Big Star, you had no worries — he felt as if he could jump absolutely anything.” The pair squeaked through as one of the final 35 individual riders where, crucially, they all began on a clean sheet.

4. The ‘runaway train’ at full pelt

The pair’s confidence was sky high coming into the individual final and, according to Nick, Big Star was jumping better than ever. He didn’t touch a pole over the next two rounds and, with six combinations remaining faultless, the Olympic medals would be decided in a race against the clock. “Just before I set off in the jump-off, I thought ‘Well, this is it. It’s my last chance — there ain’t going to be another time!’” said Nick, who acted as trailblazer. Big Star’s owner Gary Widdowson once described his pride and joy’s way of going as a bit like a “runaway train”, but the 13-year-old stallion’s electrifying turn of speed lit up the Deodoro arena. We all held a collective breath as the lightning quick Eric Lamaze entered the arena on Fine Lady 5 — then erupted with joy when, agonizingly for the Canadian, that penultimate rail fell. Nick and Big Star were Olympic champions.

5. Riding the emotional wave

Is that a speck of dust in your eye, Mark Beever? After a lifetime in the saddle and 16 years after breaking his neck, Nick had fulfilled the ultimate comeback — and we don’t blame his lifelong groom for shedding a tear or two. “I’m glad it was sunny so I could have my sunglasses on, because I had such red eyes!” said Mark. “But to win gold was just the best thing to ever happen and an amazing feeling to walk in there knowing it was because you were gold medallists. I just wanted to let out a big scream!”

6. Thank you, Henry!

This heartfelt image summed up everything about the Olympic spirit — winning a medal is the ultimate accolade for any athlete, but, when it comes to the equestrian events, it’s all down to an absolute partnership between horse and rider, meaning there’s always one more person to thank. “I always thought Big Star was something special and if there was a horse that could win gold, it was him,” said Nick.

7. ‘It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy’

Despite missing out on Olympic gold by the cruellest blow, bronze medallist Eric Lamaze joined the new champion for this touching moment. Nick chose this picture as one of his favourite images from the Games and Eric has a print hanging on his wall at home. “Eric said to me: ‘Unbelievable — it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy’,” said Nick.

8. GOLD!

After a career spanning over four decades and having represented his country at every Olympics since 1988 bar one (Sydney 2000, when he’d broken his neck), one of the sport’s most popular riders finally won the individual title that had been the driving force behind his twilight years in the saddle. In 2012, when Nick was part of the gold medal-winning team, he was in such a rush to step up on the podium he jumped the gun and gave us all a giggle, but this time around the podium pro was perfectly poised for his victory salute.

9. ‘I’ve had a long, long career and to do it now is unbelievable to me’

The ice cool showjumper melted on that podium as the national anthem belted out around the world – and an entire nation wept with him. If anyone deserved that gold medal it was Nick and Big Star and together they wrote the perfect final chapter in what is one of the sport’s greatest stories.

10. Rule Britannia

At the age of 58, Nick Skelton, became Great Britain’s first individual Olympic showjumping champion and Britain’s oldest Olympic medallist since 1908. One thing’s for sure, we’ll never forget that magical day in Rio…

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

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Crowds packed into the Castle Arena – and standing several deep outside – gave Nick Skelton and Big Star a standing ovation as the pair bowed out at Royal Windsor Horse Show yesterday (14 May).

Nick’s groom Mark Beever, partner Laura Kraut, son Dan and Big Star’s owners Gary and Beverley Widdowson were among those forming a guard of honour for the showjumping legends’ retirement ceremony.

The Queen and Prince Philip were in the audience as footage and stills from Nick’s stellar career were played.

“When you came back from your broken neck and took Arko to Athens, that was amazing,” said compere Nick Brooks-Ward. “For you to go on and win team gold in London and individual gold in Rio says to us here at Royal Windsor: you are the greatest showjumper the world has ever seen.”

Asked whether he knew from the time Big Star won the British Showjumping six-year-old championship in 2009 that he would be an Olympic gold medal-winner, Nick replied: “From the day I bought him when he was five, I had that in my mind.

“He’s the most amazing horse. He won all the six-year-old finals, went on to London – and the one thing this horse has never done, he’s never let me down.”

“Neither have you, Nick,” said Mr Brooks-Ward. “Trust me.”

Nick’s younger son, jockey Harry, was unable to attend due to racing commitments but sent a message to his father that was read out:

“Dad, I’m so sorry I’m not there, but when I asked you if I should go racing today or come to Windsor, you said, go and do your job and try and ride some winners.

“I thought, that’s what has got you to where you are, your hard work, dedication and determination. My first great memory of you in the ring was when Dollar Girl won the World Cup final in 1995. You went through so much from then to Rio 2016, and when you finally reached your childhood dream to take individual gold was the best day of my life. I am the proudest son alive and so glad you’ve stopped at the top. I hope I will make you as proud as I am of you one day. See you later, love you, Harry.”

After some of Nick’s many successes were listed to the crowd, the Olympic champion thanked his owners, sponsors, staff and fellow competitors.

“I’m very grateful to them, and very proud of what I’ve done,” he added.

“I’ve represented my country more than 180 times and been very proud of every moment. I’d do it all again if I could.”

Nick swapped his Team GB jacket for tweed and removed the saddle, and the saddlecloth in which he and Big Star had won Rio Gold, then was joined for a final unmounted lap of honour by his mounted team-mates John and Michael Whitaker and Scott Brash.

As Auld Lang Syne was played, stallion and rider made their way around the arena – with some bucking from Big Star – to tumultuous applause.

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“The greatest showjumper the world has ever seen, and the greatest horse for Team GB,” said Mr Brooks-Ward. “Nick Skelton CBE and Big Star!”

>>>Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Nick Skelton in a special tribute issue of Horse & Hound (out on Thursday 18 May) where he also reflects on the defining moments from the past four decades and pays tribute to his many great horses. You can also enjoy reports on all the action at this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show — it’s a real collector’s item!

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

Showjumper Nick Skelton and his brilliant partner Big Star have bowed out for the final time in a moving ceremony at Royal Windsor Horse Show this afternoon (Sunday, 14 May).

The all-conquering combination of 59-year-old double Olympic gold medallist and the Widdowsons’ 14-year-old stallion left the Castle Arena in front of a huge and appreciative audience, which included The Queen.

“I have always stated that when Big Star finished I would too,” said Nick. “This sport has given me more than I could ever have hoped over the past 43 years and it is such a difficult decision to make, but I’m not getting any younger and it is nice for the two of us to end on the highest note possible.”

Over the past four decades, Nick amassed Olympic, World and European Championship medals, won the Hickstead Derby three times, the Calgary grand prix four times and was appointed a CBE for services to equestrianism in the 2017 New Year Honours.

His fellow riders have paid some touching tributes to the Olympic champion’s outstanding achievements and longevity in the saddle.

Continued below…

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“Nick will be hugely missed, after all he’s done for his country,” Scott Brash told H&H. “Not many athletes can say they’ve achieved so much and set so many records, which I think will prove unbeatable.”

Michael Whitaker, with whom Nick rode on countless teams, said: “He’s had a great career and he couldn’t have gone out on a better note — it took two years of planning but it all came together for him at the Rio Olympics.”

Commentator and former rider Steve Hadley added: “I’ve been commentating for 40 years and the only times I’ve got emotional live on air were in London and Rio. In London it was the emotion of the whole team succeeding, then in Rio, it was the enormity of what Nick had achieved on his own. I hesitate to use the word genius, but I’d say Nick, John and Michael Whitaker have it in spades on a horse.”

>>>Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Nick Skelton in a special tribute issue of Horse & Hound (out on Thursday 18 May) where he also reflects on the defining moments from the past four decades and pays tribute to his many great horses. You can also enjoy reports on all the action at this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show — it’s a real collector’s item!

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

As the the Olympic gold medal-winning duo Nick Skelton and Big Star prepare to officially retire at Royal Windsor Horse Show in front of The Queen this afternoon (14 May 2017), we find out how the partnership began

Tell us how your partnership with Big Star began?

“I wouldn’t have found him if it hadn’t been for Laura [Kraut]. She was heading to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the US team went for training at a little country show in Holland. She arrived at 8am and saw this five-year-old jumping in the ring with an American rider called Alan Waldman. She thought ‘Christ, this is the most amazing horse I’ve ever seen’ and went running up to Alan to ask if his horse was for sale. He said yes, but that he wanted him to go to someone really good because he thought Big Star was the best horse he’d ever had. Laura rang me and said you’d better get over here quick to see this horse, and that was it.”

You’ve ridden some phenomenal horses over the years, what makes Big Star so good?

“I always thought he was something special. I’ve been to Olympics on horses, who, if they were cars, would have been in the red — you’re squeezing everything out of them — whereas Big Star is always in the green. He can withstand the pressure of competitions, too — and at big championships you’ve got to apply the pressure from day one, every fence is a winning post. You pass Big Star first when you walk on the yard — he’s in the stable where Arko used to be — but he’s usually got his head down eating.”

Big Star’s owners Gary and Beverley Widdowson have been huge supporters of showjumping — how did you team up with them?

“The first time I competed outside of England was at Dublin spring show in 1973 and Gary was on the junior team with me. We just hit it off, became friends and kept meeting each other at shows. He stopped riding and went in to his business but eventually he came to me wanting to buy a horse and we bought Major Wager, who went on to win so many grands prix. When Major Wager retired, Gary and I went our separate ways, but then came back together and bought a few more horses, then Carlo and Big Star. The whole Widdowson family have been amazing — they never put any pressure on me, or say I have to jump here or there, they leave it totally up to me, and for that I’m really grateful.”

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“It has been an accumulation of everything — me being out of the sport for a long time and having a lot of injuries. Then Big Star has had injuries and it’s been a real fight to get him back to that level. There have been an awful lot of people who have helped along the way. My groom Mark Beever has been with me for 31 years and he only looks after Big Star — he doesn’t do any other horses — but he’s here from 7am to 6pm just messing about with that horse, massaging him, icing him, grooming him, walking on the roads… He does so much. But in Rio, when I came out after the jump-off, I said to Laura I don’t think I’ve done enough to win. But the good thing about Big Star is his action — he’s always doing a lot so he looks like he’s travelling quicker than he actually is, and I didn’t go full bore on him. So I think the other riders just assumed I’d gone quicker than I had. I didn’t watch any of them — I just watched the scoreboard. I got a bit nervous when Eric Lamaze went in but then I heard the crowd go, and that was it, I’d won.”

Don’t miss our special Nick Skelton tribute issue of Horse & Hound magazine, out this Thursday (18 May 2017)

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

An emotional video of Nick Skelton explaining what retiring at Royal Windsor Horse Show will mean to him has been released ahead of the event.

Rio 2016 Olympic gold individual medallists Nick and Big Star will retire from competition in front of The Queen and crowds at Royal Windsor in a special ceremony on Sunday (14 May).

“I think for both of us — Big Star and myself — to retire at Royal Windsor in front of Her Majesty The Queen will be a truly big honour,” said Nick.

He added the show, which has been upgraded to CSI5* status for this year, is one of the “great venues” of the sport.

“To retire there is probably the nicest place you could go,” said Nick.

“You don’t often get a horse and rider retiring on the same day. I have been very, very lucky and gone to places I never dreamed I would go and I’m really looking forward going out on a high at Royal Windsor.”

Nick also pays tribute to Big Star in a second touching clip.

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His long-serving groom, Mark Beever, also pays tribute to his employer of 31 years.

“There will never be another Nick Skelton,” he said.

“A fantastic jockey, the best in the world and the best horse in the world, so who else would you want to work for?

“Thank you for all the memories. It is the end of an era.”

Nick Skelton’s showjumping career includes seven Olympic Games and 20 championship medals.

He broke his neck in a fall in 2000 and doctors told him he would never ride again. But Nick defied the odds to get back in the saddle and make a remarkable return to competition, partnering Big Star to Olympic team gold in London 2012 and individual glory in Rio 2016.

Royal Windsor show director, Simon Brooks-Ward, added: “Nick Skelton is not only a legend of equestrian sport but of the whole sporting world.

“What he has achieved in his career is remarkable and we are honoured he has chosen Royal Windsor Horse Show as the place to officially retire along with Big Star.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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

Fans will be able to read the full story behind showjumping legend Nick Skelton when he releases a new autobiography later this year.

The 59-year-old rider, who announced his retirement earlier this month, has teamed up with co-writer Bernadette Hewitt to tell all on his 40-year career in the sport.

As well as partnering the phenomenal Big Star to individual gold in Rio 2016 and team gold in London 2012, Nick took part in six other Olympic games.

Having started out on horseback at the age of 18months, he collected his first major title in 1975 when he won team silver and individual gold at the junior European championships. He still holds the British Show Jumping high jump record of 7’7”, which he set in 1978 on Lastic.

The book will cover dramatic turns, including when Nick was forced into early retirement after breaking his neck in a fall in 2000. He later bounced back to compete on the talented stallion Arko III.

Nick said: “Since I made the decision to retire from competition, for the first time in my life I have the time to devote to telling my story, so it’s the right moment for it. I’m delighted to be working with Orion and Bernie on this book, and I’m looking forward to signing copies of the finished product.”

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The Orion publishing group announced this week that Alan Samson, publisher of Weidenfeld & Nicolson had bought the rights to Nick’s autobiography from Johnny Whitmore, commercial director at the Stellar Group.

“Nick Skelton’s autobiography will be one of the leading sports autobiographies of the autumn, and like its subject it should endure,” said Alan.

“It is not only a perfect book for the aspiring horseman or horsewoman, but for all of us who admired Nick’s heroic and unforgettable feats at the Rio Olympics.”

Nick Skelton: My Autobiography will be published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on 19 October 2017, hardback £20, eBook £10.99 .

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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

After more than four decades at the top of the sport and at the age of 59, Nick Skelton has announced his retirement. Big Star, the stallion with whom he won two Olympic gold medals, will also be retired from the sport. An official farewell ceremony will be held for this legendary partnership at Royal Windsor Horse Show on Sunday 14 May.

“It has come to a point, after months of thought and consideration, that myself and my partner Big Star have decided to retire from competition,” said Nick.

“Although there are many people, including my family, Gary and Beverley Widdowson, and my team, that were looking forward to us carrying on this year, we feel that Big Star has done everything that a rider could ask and it is time for him to relax and enjoy his stallion duties.

“I have always stated that when Big Star finished I would too. This sport has given me more than I could ever have hoped over the past 43 years and it is such a difficult decision to make, but I’m not getting any younger and it is nice for the two of us to end on the highest note possible.”

Nick’s stellar career

Among his outstanding list of achievements, 59-year-old Nick has won 16 championship medals — two Olympic golds, five at world championships (one silver and four bronze) and nine European medals (three gold, three silver and three bronze) as well as the junior European title in 1975.

He’s bounced back from a broken neck suffered in a catastrophic fall in 2000 and still holds the British showjumping high jump record set in 1978. He won the Hickstead Derby three years on the trot and the World Cup final in 1995. His first Olympic gold medal came at the age of 54 and he completed the double in 2016 at the age of 58, making him the oldest British Olympic gold medallist since 1908.

Nick finished third behind Andy Murray in the 2016 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award and in the 2017 New Year Honours he was appointed a CBE for services to equestrianism. He also won Horse & Hound’s Lifetime Achievement Award in November 2016 (watch video below of Nick’s family and friends looking back on his outstanding career, plus Nick accepting his award) and won the title of best athlete of the year at the FEI awards in Tokyo.

Continued below…

Nick Skelton and Big Star: how it all began

As the the Olympic gold medal-winning duo Nick

Big Star ruled out of competition with injury

Big Star will not compete at Olympia or

Nick Skelton: exclusively behind the scenes at home

H&H recently visited the Warwickshire stables of dual

As well as the Widdowsons’ 14-year-old stallion, he has partnered an army of top class horses including Apollo, St James, Maybe, Hopes Are high, Carlo 273, Arko III and Dollar Girl.

“Thank you to all the incredible friends and fans for your support — we are truly appreciative and humbled,” said Nick. “Thank you to all of my owners and sponsors throughout my career — I couldn’t have done it without you. And lastly, thank you to all the horses I’ve ridden — you have provided me with opportunities I could never have imagined.”

Full details of Nick and Big Star’s retirement ceremony at Royal Windsor will be released shortly. Tickets can be purchased at www.rwhs.co.uk

Don’t miss our Nick Skelton commemorative issue, where we celebrate his 40-year-career in full, in 18 May issue of H&H magazine.

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

Rio legends Valegro, Chilli Morning and Big Star together with their long-serving grooms will parade in front of their fans at Cheltenham.

The trio will be joined by charismatic chaser Sprinter Sacre, who retired from his stellar racing career last year.

The one-off parade will take place on day two of Cheltenham’s April meeting (20 April).

Alongside the equine heroes will be those who have cared for them.

These are: Alan Davies, who has travelled all across the world with Valegro; Mark Beever, who has been at the heart of Nick Skelton’s team for 35 years; William Fox-Pitt’s head girl of 25 years, Jackie Potts; and head lad Corky Browne, who has been at Nicky Henderson’s yard for 40 years.

They will parade in the paddock at around 5.50pm, ahead of the start of the Pertemps Champions Willberry Charity Flat race at 6.15pm.

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Former eventer Chilli Morning became the first stallion to win Badminton, taking the 2015 title with William Fox-Pitt.

The combination finished 12th at the 2016 Olympics and the son of Phantomic has retired to stud.

Rio was also the final competition for dressage superstar Valegro, who successfully defended his London 2012 Olympic gold with Charlotte Dujardin. He officially retired in an emotional send-off at Olympia in December.

Meanwhile, Big Star is the only one of the four still competing. Described by Nick as the “best horse he has ever ridden”, the combination won team gold at London 2012 and took top individual honours at last year’s Olympics.

Meanwhile, Sprinter Sacre won an amazing 18 out of 24 races during his career on the track, including a 19-length victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.

He returned from a series of setbacks to regain the Queen Mother Champion Chase crown in 2016 to tremendous acclaim.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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Rio heroes Nick Skelton and Big Star are heading to the Randox Health Grand National Festival.

Racegoers will have the chance to get a “Skelfie” with the gold medal-winning combination on the opening day of next month’s meeting (7 April).

The pair will be in the winner’s enclosure from 12.45pm-1.10pm and fans will be able to have their picture taken with them both.

Big Star will then also appear ahead of the Betway Bowl steeplechase in Aintree’s parade ring at around 2.30pm.

“Big Star is in great shape and we look forward to meeting racegoers and parading at Aintree,” said Nick.

He added the meeting is a “fantastic national sporting event” and he “can’t wait” to be part of the opening day.

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The showjumping stars made history at the 2016 Olympics where they took individual gold. They were also on the British gold medal-winning team at the London 2012 Games.

Andrew Tulloch, head of racing at the racecourse, said he is “delighted” the pair can join guests at Aintree.

“The partnership between Nick and Big Star is legendary, so we’re pleased our racegoers will have the opportunity to meet them and see one of the best showjumping horses in the world being paraded at the home of the Grand National,” he added.

This year’s Grand National meeting runs from 6-8 April, with the feature race taking place on the Saturday at 5.15pm.

The David Pipe-trained Vieux Lion Rouge, who finished seventh here last year, is the 10/1 favourite.

Last year’s runner-up The Last Samuri will be aiming to go one better this year, while Definitely Red and Blaklion are among the others topping the odds.

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

Oh the stories these three legends could tell…

Lining up for their celebrity photo call are the stallions Jaguar Mail, Big Star and Arko III — all of whom are currently barn buddies at Twemlows Hall in Shropshire, the hub of Stallion AI Services.

Between them, these three amigos have amassed millions of pounds in prize-money, have stamped their names on countless grand prix trophies — and of course there are a couple of Olympic gold medals in their collective loot as well.

And now, with any luck, these blue-blooded equines are passing on their winning DNA to the next generation.

Jaguar Mail and Arko are residents at Twemlows for the full breeding season, while Big Star is paying a flying visit to have his semen collected and frozen before it is exported worldwide.

Stud Manager Kate Ashmore says: “All three of them are absolutely delightful boys to have on the yard. They are well-mannered and always keen to have a cuddle — which is a good job really as they get those in abundance!”

According to Kate, the trio are pretty good friends, who happily spend their days munching hay with their heads out of the window, watching the goings on of the yard.

“It’s like having three film stars on the yard, they’re constantly having to pose for staff selfies!” she adds.

The list of accolades, titles and honours bestowed upon these three stallions is dazzling, with a grand total of four Olympic appearances between them.

Big Star (Quick Star x Nimmerdor), owned by Gary and Beverley Widdowson, is currently the world’s number one showjumping stallion and Nick Skelton describes him as the “best horse I’ve ever ridden”.

Arko III (Argentinus x Beach Boy), also ridden by Nick Skelton, representing Great Britain at the 2004 Athens Olympics, was the number one showjumper in the world from 2004-2006. He looks majestic at the age of 23.

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Twenty-year-old Jaguar Mail (Hand In Glove x Laudanum) represented Sweden at the 2008 Beijing Olympics under showjumper Peter Eriksson and has established himself as one of the leading sires of eventers.

We can just imagine after the lights go out, this world-famous trio trying to decide between them who jumped the highest, who galloped the fastest — and who has posed for the most selfies…

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Nick Skelton’s Olympic gold medal-winning ride Big Star has picked up a leg injury which has ruled him out of competition until the start of next year.

The pair had been due to compete at the five-star show in Geneva this week (8-11 December), hoping to stake their claim on the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping and the €1million bonus on offer.

But the injury, reported to be a relatively minor twist to a leg joint, means Big Star will not be able to jump until January.

As a result, the Olympic champions will also miss the London International Horse Show at Olympia next week (13-19 December). There had been much excitement surrounding the pair’s first competitive reappearance on home soil since winning gold at the Olympic Games in Rio in August.

“He has twisted a joint, it’s nothing terrible but four to six weeks rest from top level competition is the order of the day; and it goes without saying that is what we will do,” said Nick.

“We are all extremely disappointed that he will not be making his presence felt at both these shows but trust everyone understands that his welfare is paramount.

“He is fine to be ridden and exercised gently so we are still aiming to parade him at Olympia.  He is such a character, who could possibly deprive him of being in the spotlight once again, especially when it is on home soil at such a special show!”.

The parade of Olympic medallists at Olympia takes place on the evening of Friday 16 December.

Continued below…

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Gary and Beverley Widdowson’s 13-year-old Quick Star stallion has jumped at two shows since winning Olympic gold four months ago. He and Nick helped the Great Britain team finish second in the Nations Cup final in Barcelona with a tremendous double clear and gallant jump-off effort. Last month the multi-winning partnership secured two podium places in Toronto, including third in the World Cup qualifier.

Big Star had been lightly jumped in the build-up to the Olympics after a 15-month lay-off with a suspensory injury incurred in the summer of 2014. Nick and the stallion returned to competition at the end of 2015.

The pair made their first tilt at the Rolex Grand Slam in 2013, winning the Aachen grand prix. However, injury ruled Nick and Big Star out of the second leg at Spruce Meadows in September of that year.

Nick has been nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year, which takes place on Sunday 18 December in Birmingham and will be broadcast live on the Sunday evening. To vote online, you will need to pre-register here.

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The British Showjumping (BS) national six-year-old championship is to be renamed after Big Star, to ensure his “tremendous talent and performance are acknowledged within the sport”.

BS said it was “with great delight” that it announced the competition will be renamed the Big Star Championships from 2017.

The 2016 Olympic gold medal-winner took the six-year-old title in 2009.

“I have always felt that the age-class system is the correct way to produce a horse with long term performance in mind,” rider Nick Skelton said.

“When Big Star won in 2009 I knew that he was incredibly special and that we had a potential medal-winner in him.

“We have always taken our time to produce him slowly and to see it paid off in the way that it has been with back-to-back golds still makes me emotional when I think about it.

“I am delighted that Big Star is being recognised in this way and I hope it inspires others to take the same route and produce young horses through what I believe to be the correct path.”

BS said Nick’s decision to take Big Star through the age class structure is testament to the national competition format, and hopes it will “inspire other breeders, owners, producers and riders hoping for top level success to follow in his path”.

Chief executive Iain Graham added: “We very much wanted to ensure that Big Star’s name was kept at the forefront of everyone’s minds within the sport by renaming a championship title after him and there couldn’t have been a more fitting one than the national six-year-olds.”

A new bronze trophy of Nick and Big Star jumping in Rio, called Making History, will be created for the competition, by sculptor Carolyn Morton.

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Iain added: “The series will commence in the spring and culminate at our national championships in August and we look forward to seeing horses, who may well follow in Big Star’s footsteps, crowned and awarded the prestigious new perpetual trophy which is being created for it.”

Gary Widdowson, who owns Big Star with his wife Beverley, said they were “delighted” by the honour.

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Horse & Hound catches up with the Olympic champion at home in Warwickshire to talk about those early days with ponies, why Big Star is just so special — and the moment he thought he might never ride again

…on how it all began

When it started all those years ago, my mother used to rider for pleasure and my father was in the Veterinary Corps in the army. We had fields behind where we lived and I liked being outside and I liked the horses, so they bought me a pony called Oxo who I learnt to ride on. I kept him until he died when he was 40.

…on Big Star

I’ve had some very good horses along the way — but I don’t think I’ve had one as good as [Big Star]. He’s super talented, he has a huge heart and his mentality is very good — he’s got everything you need in a horse.

…on Rio

I think to win in Rio was probably the ultimate in any sportsman’s life. To win the Olympic Games is it. And it’s very special to me as I’ve been going for so many years and had so many near misses and accidents. I didn’t ride for two years, Big Star was off for two years and so to come back and do that was very special. I’ve had so many letters from the older generation who’ve said what an inspiration it was to watch — they’ve now been inspired to get up and go and do stuff that they weren’t doing before.

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…on broken bones

I watched the Sydney Games in 2000 from my bed with a broken neck. I had a cage on for four months and a hard collar on for another two months — I mean it was a long, long road. I got told then that they didn’t think I’d ride again. I didn’t really know what to do and then I finally found a surgeon in Germany who thought it would come right if I gave it enough time. That was the only thing I wanted to hear so I thought, great — I’ll ride.

Don’t miss our exclusive at home interview with Nick in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (20 October 2016)

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

H&H recently visited the Warwickshire stables of dual Olympic champion Nick Skelton and we encountered some super star horses, a devoted dog and a gleaming array of trophies. We hope you enjoy this exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Nick’s yard and don’t miss the full interview in tomorrow’s issue of the magazine (20 October).

1. Brilliant partnership

Nick Skelton and Big Star in front of the stables. Nick has ridden and produced the Quick Star stallion since finding him as a five-year-old, saying he always knew he could win Olympic gold. (And we just love, love, love Big Star’s saddle pad!)

2. Winners galore

The walls are covered in mementos of 58-year-old Nick’s global successes from a career spanning well over four decades.

3. A beautiful setting

Nick and “Henry” in the beautiful Warwickshire foothills he calls home.

4. Tacking up

Helped by groom of 31 years, Mark Beever, Nick puts the finishing touches to an immaculate Big Star.

5. Gold!

The nearly-finished new accommodation block at the nearby racing stables of Nick’s trainer son Dan Skelton, is decorated with the Union flag and a brilliantly improvised makeshift gold medal.

6. Good vibrations

Big Star enjoys some down time every day on the Vitafloor — a stable with a vibrating floor — under the heat lamps.

7. Gold star for Big Star

Hanging on Big Star’s stable door is this gold star that was sent to the yard after the 13-year-old stallion helped Nick win individual gold in Rio in August.

8. Hacking out

Groom Mark Beever rides out Big Star — “He walks at a snail’s pace” at home says Nick of the laid-back stallion.

9. Worth his weight in gold

Nick proudly displays his team gold medal from the London Olympics in 2012 and the individual gold medal from Rio in 2016.

10. Beautiful Big Star

Owned by Gary and Beverley Widdowson, the handsome stallion now combines competing with stud duties.

11. That’s a lot of polishing!

Nick’s impressive collection of silverware fills the shelves.

12. Grub’s up

Carrots and hay are on the lunch menu for one lucky horse on Nick’s yard, which he shares with partner Laura Kraut.

13. Training for success

Riders and horses working in Nick’s outdoor school which has a backdrop to die for.

14. Keeping an eye on proceedings

“If I strike a very regal pose, perhaps the photographer will stop taking pictures of Big Star and concentrate on me instead” —Nick’s dog Elsa enjoying the Autumn sunshine.

Continued below…

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15. The famous steps!

Nick’s mounting block, which travelled all the way to Rio and back, and took a starring role in the medal ceremony.

16. Spa treatments

Big Star enjoys some hydrotherapy on the racing yard.

17. Just the three of us

Nick with his Olympic medal-winning ride Big Star and his beautiful dog Elsa enjoying a well-earned break at home after the whirlwind of Rio.

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

Individual showjumping Olympic gold medalist, Nick Skelton made a guest appearance at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) this weekend (8-9 October), where he received the HOYS Equestrian of the Year title.

He also revealed what his plans are for his superstar horse Big Star, who paraded in front on his fans during the final night of the show and shared the latest news on the drive to see him crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY).

Where next for Big Star?

“Big Star will be competing at Olympia (13-19 December). I’ve decided to take him there so that I can give something back to the people who have supported us. Big Star’s fans in England don’t get a chance to see him competing much, so that’s why I want to take him,” explained Nick, who won’t be jumping on the Sunday as it clashes with SPOTY.

“He loves the attention and has a great character and temperament so going out in front of everyone doesn’t bother him at all.”

Continued below…

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Will you be back at the HOYS venue, the NEC, for the BBC SPOTY Award?

“Well I’ve had the invitation to attend it. To get nominated would be great, but it would be in my wildest dreams to think that I could be winning it, especially with the likes of Mo Farah and Andy Murray, who have a huge following. I don’t know how many votes I need to win but I’m sure British Showjumping will push it — we’ll see what comes.”

How many autographs have you signed since Rio?

“I don’t know — but a lot! I had a crampy hand when I’d finished here [at HOYS] today. It’s amazing though — it’s good for the sport and for our country. It’s great that people turn out and want a piece of us.”

As told to LloydBell

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Nick Skelton, Big Star and a promising young Whitaker were among the winners at this year’s British Showjumping (BS) Awards Ball.

The awards took place earlier this week (4 October) at the St Johns Hotel in Solihull.

More than 400 guests attended the evening that celebrated the country’s top showjumping talent.

Legendary rider Nick Skelton was a worthy winner of the British Showjumping award.

His Olympic gold medal-winning partner,

Big Star, and the stallion’s owners, Gary and Beverley Widdowson, received the Horse and Owner of the Year award.

Jack Whitaker (pictured above with Michael and William in 2015), the 14-year-old son of Michael, took home the Leading Pony Rider of the Year award and Peter Charles’ children, Sienna and Harry, also received awards.

The siblings took home the Leading Children on Horses of the Year and the Leading Junior Rider of the Year titles respectively.

Oxfordshire-based Tim Wilks was named as the Leading Young Rider of the year and Helen Tredwell was the International Stairway League winner.

Grooms, coaches and breeders were also celebrated at the awards.

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Mark Beever (pictured above) , groom to Nick Skelton, won the Top Level Team Grooms award, Corinne Bracken received UKCC Coach of the Year and John Roberts, received the British Breeders award for Spirit T.

“The evening saw in excess of 400 guests celebrate with the extremely worthy nominees and winners from grassroots competitors through to those that achieved podium success,” said a BS spokesman.

“BS would like to thank its sponsors, supporters, nominees and guests who made the evening possible and also the team who worked on the event to make it such a memorable one.”

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

Top names from the world of dressage and showjumping are entered to compete at this year’s Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

British Rio Olympic showjumpers John and Michael Whitaker top the list of household names confirmed for the CSI3* classes on 6-9 October.

Robert Smith, William Funnell, Tim Stockdale, Guy Williams, Nicole Pavitt and Joe Clayton are among the other leading Brits confirmed for this year’s show, held at Birmingham NEC on 5-9 October.

There are a total of 32 spaces for riders in the 11 international classes over the week, with 16 British places available. Sunday’s leading showjumper of the year grand prix feature’s the largest prize fund of HOYS at £40,000.

Riders from Belgium, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and the US make up the international contingent.

These include Shane Breen, Denis Lynch, Billy Twomey, Cian O’Connor and Julien Epaillard.

Meanwhile, double Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin heads the line-up for the Arbonne Dressage Future Elite Championship, which showcases Britain’s up-and-coming young dressage horses, on 7 October.

She will ride the eight-year-old Diamond Hit gelding Hawtins Delicato.

Also vying for the title is Michael Eilberg (Sa Coeur), Emile Faurie (Mount St John De La Beaute), Bryony Goodwin (Hawtins Floriana), Kate Cowell (Samba) Tom Goode (Dior III) and Sonnar Murray-Brown (Erlentanz).

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What else is on?

Showing, driving, mounted games, displays and a performance from the cast of West End hit musical Mamma Mia also feature on the HOYS timetable.

Highlights will include a parade by Rio 2016 individual gold medallists Nick Skelton and Big Star during the evening performance on 9 October.

Fellow Olympic medallist Carl Hester will be giving a masterclass on 7 October and both Carl and Nick will also be signing autographs in the shopping village during the show.

Book your tickets here

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“Everyone cheered him when he came off the lorry – he jumped off the ramp like a raging bull!” said Mark Beever, who has been Nick Skelton’s groom for the past 31 years and has looked after Big Star, or Henry as he is known at home, since the stallion arrived on the yard as a five-year-old.

The large entourage who welcomed Big Star home included Nick’s family, friends and the extended Skelton team, and the attention being lavished on the 13-year-old stallion has not stopped since, with social media buzzing with pictures of the stallion – and his rider, of course.

There were balloons on the gate to welcome Big Star back from Rio — but not in his stable.

“He’s a bit sharp like that — he wouldn’t be too impressed if we decorated his stable,” said Nick.

“He’s very placid but anything out of his normal routine and he gets a bit highly strung.”

But despite his new status as an A-list equine, Big Star is now back in his daily routine of spa treatments, grazing and being generally pampered by his devoted groom Mark.

“He’s so easy to handle, very good to do anything with – he doesn’t think he’s a stallion,” said Mark.

“I hand-graze him for two hours every day and he goes up to the spa at Dan’s racing yard every day. He’s had his photograph taken with all the racing lads because they all backed him. Apparently he was 16-1 so they’ve won a lot of money!”

But the Olympic gold medal-winner is not without his quirks.

“He cons you a little bit sometimes – when you take him into the tacking up area and start to put his bridle on, without fail he’ll start yawning,” said Mark. “He just wants you to think he’s tired!”

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But it’s not all rock star treatment for Big Star, he waits his turn for his dinner like everyone else.

“A lot of people say he must get fed first but no, we go along the line and he’ll wait patiently until whenever it’s his turn, he’s brilliant,” says Mark.

Read the full interview with Nick Skelton’s groom Mark Beever in the 15 September issue of Horse & Hound.

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In the week since Nick Skelton was crowned Olympic champion in Rio, he’s hurtled through a whirlwind of interviews, television appearances and Skelfies — he even earned a round of applause on the flight back from Rio when the pilot announced his presence on the plane.

So with the gold medal apparently now neatly tucked in Nick’s sock drawer alongside the team accolade from 2012, has there been time to reflect on what happens next?

“I’ll keep going as long as Big Star keeps going,” says Nick. “But it was amazing to get there – to execute something you’ve planned for so many years.”

After a well-deserved holiday, the short-term plan for Big Star is to jump a few smaller classes in Europe as a sweetener after the rigours of Rio, but one very big prize could be in the Warwickshire rider’s sights.

“I think I’ll probably try to tackle the [Rolex] Grand Slam,” he told H&H — something Big Star’s owners Gary and Beverley Widdowson would fully support.

In 2013 Nick and Big Star became the first grand slam contenders when they won the Aachen grand prix. But shortly afterwards, the stallion was hit by injury and the pair were unable to chase the title at the remaining legs in Spruce Meadows and Geneva.

One of the many benefits of winning an Olympic gold medal in showjumping is that it automatically qualifies you to compete in any CSIO or CSI grand prix. As Nick is currently ranked 309 in the Longines world rankings, this opens up a whole host of opportunities not normally afforded to someone outside the top 30 or 40.

Related articles:

• Big Star: the ‘runaway train’ who neighs at jumps
• Nick Skelton ‘amazed’ by calls for him to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year
• 9 things you need to know about Olympic champion Nick Skelton

So as Nick rides this golden wave, there’s only one question to ask our new national hero – will we ever see him foxtrotting his way on to Strictly Come Dancing?

“No you will not — not a chance!”

Sequins or not, it’s great to have this brilliant pair back to their very best.

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

He came, he saw, he conquered the world. The story of Nick Skelton and Big Star winning Olympic gold in Rio is tailor made for any Hollywood film producer — there have been tremendous highs, devastating lows but above all, one horse who, against all odds, made it happen. Big Star — never has a horse been better named. He’s always been a star, but in Rio he became a legend. We pick out just 10 of the many, many reasons he captured our hearts.

1. He can defy gravity

Big Star sprouts wings to clear the water jump — his nemesis on day two. The pair are airborne for long enough and high enough for Rio air traffic control to pick them up on radar.

2. He poses like a professional

Phones out – it’s time for a photo opp. Big Star shows his best side and poses like a professional for his legion of fans.

3. No scope, no hope

“These Olympic fences are ridiculously small,” says Big Star, and clears them by an extra metre, just to prove his point.

4. He jumps for pure joy

Ears pricked and knees neatly tucked, a slightly “rusty” Big Star improved with every round in Rio and he and Nick make the perfect picture over the triple bar.

5. He is faster than any racehorse

Having cleared the final fence in the jump-off and with Olympic gold at stake, Nick and Big Star could easily be riding the finish at the Cheltenham Festival.

6. He can clear absolutely anything

Blindingly bright Rio 2016-themed verticals, wavy planks that make your eyes go funny and oxers built like trains — it’s all in a day’s work for Big Star.

7. We love his enthusiasm for the job

He neighs at the jumps before he even enters the arena and then he’s up and at ‘em — chomping at the bit, itching to go faster. All Big Star wants to do is win.

8. It’s like he’s never been away

It’s been over two years since we last saw Nick and Big Star jumping at the top level, and against the clock – this has been the comeback of all comebacks. But he couldn’t have timed it better.

9. One Olympic gold medal just wasn’t enough

Only a horse of this stature could return, four years later, and produce a gold medal-winning performance for a second time.

10. We all want to give him a big hug

As Nick prepares to step up on the podium, his groom of 31 years, Mark Beever, embraces his beloved “Henry” with the biggest bear hug. We all want to give him one too. Thank you Big Star, you’ve made a nation very proud.

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Listen carefully before Team GB’s Nick Skelton and Big Star enter the arena and you will hear a distinctive — and very distinguished — neigh. For such is the 13-year-old stallion’s enthusiasm for the job that he whinnies as soon as he spots a fence.

“We’ve talked about it so many times – Big Star’s almost saying ‘OK, let’s get it on with it!’” says his proud owner Gary Widdowson.

“Every time he goes in the tunnel to the arena, as soon as he sees the jumps, he gives this full stallion-like neigh. It shows there’s a bit more to Big Star – he just loves what he does. You can tell – he’s always got his ears pricked, too.”

Another of Big Star’s unique attributes, reveals Gary, is the way he moves.

“If you watch him in the ring, he really pounds the ground,” he says.

“He comes round the corner, Nick’s holding back this runaway train, he’s striking the ground as he goes to the fences, then he throws himself in to the ground as he jumps. The vets have said the amount of pressure he puts down as he moves is way more than any other horse.”

Gary, his wife Beverley, daughter Hayley and grandson Oliver were all in Rio to cheer on Big Star, who they call “part of the family”, alongside their second Team GB horse Cassionato, who is ridden by Michael Whitaker.

Nick and Big Star were part of the British team that won Olympic gold in London 2012 and fulfilled their ambition of adding an individual medal to their bustling trophy cabinet in Rio.

“Nick said that he didn’t think Big Star had ever felt better,” says Gary.

“So many riders have said to us ‘If I can’t win the Olympics, I hope Nick and Big Star do’ – it just shows the esteem in which he’s held among them.”

The full interview with Gary Widdowson was published in Horse & Hound (Friday 12 August, 2016).

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Nick Skelton and his Olympic gold medal-winning partner Big Star made their long-awaited return to top level showjumping at La Baule, France last week (12-15 May).

This was the pair’s first major show since they finished third in the Global Champions Tour grand prix of Estoril in 2014 and their first team appearance since winning the Nations Cup in Dublin in 2013.

“He felt like the good old Big Star,” Nick told H&H.

On Friday (13 May) Nick and the 13-year-old stallion, a Dutch-bred son of Quick Star, represented Great Britain in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup. The pair looked as good as ever, jumping one of eight double clears in the team competition. The British squad finished sixth.

The recurrence of a leg injury kept Beverley Widdowson’s stallion out of competition for the latter half of 2014 and most of 2015, when he and Nick made a comeback to lower level competition.

At the start of this year, Nick took Big Star to Florida for the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and jumped him lightly before “Henry” picked up an infection in his leg from a cut, which required another short spell on the sidelines.

“We jumped him in America just to get him going,” explained Nick. “But the Nations Cup in La Baule has always been the main plan.”

The Warwickshire rider jumped Big Star at a three-star show in Le Touquet, France, the week before stepping up to five-star level at La Baule, where they returned to their usual slot as pathfinders for the British team.

Continued below…

Graham Fletcher: ‘Nick Skelton and Big Star make an Olympic medal more likely’ *H&H VIP*

Big Star and other elite stallions: behind the scenes at Stallion AI Services [PICTURES]

Big Star out of action for a year

Nick, who won team gold with Big Star at the Games in London in 2012, is bidding for a spot on the British Olympic team in Rio in August.

“Di [Lampard, Great Britain’s showjumping performance manager] doesn’t want me to jump him too much and I don’t want to overdo it,” said Nick. “But Rio is the big aim this year.”

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Olympic gold medal winner Big Star will be making his return to the show ring next week.

Nick Skelton’s London 2012 partner has not been seen at a competition since the Global Champions Tour grand prix in Estoril in 2014.

The pair will be competing in Vilamoura, Portugal, at the Atlantic Tour, which started on Thursday (24 September) and runs until 18 October.

“Big Star is making a comeback,” Nick told H&H.

“He looks good and has been jumping at home for about 12 weeks. I will start him off in the small classes and see how we go, as he hasn’t been in the ring for 16 months.”

The 12-year-old stallion has been off following the recurrence of a leg injury.

Following the GCT in 2014 he was found to have torn his lower suspensory.

Nick told H&H at the time that it meant “a good amount of time off”.

The son of Quick Star, owned by Beverley Widdowson, was sidelined for nine months from September 2013 with a similar injury and was brought back extremely carefully by Nick and his team.

The injury has meant Nick has been missing from championship teams the past two summers, missing the 2014 World Equestrian Games and the Europeans this summer

Nick has been competing Untouched, Cliff 67 and Curious George this season. He last competed at the CSI2* in Brussels in early September.

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With the brilliant showjumping stallion Big Star joining the ranks of elite sires on the books of Stallion AI Services, we decided it was time to go behind-the-scenes at the Shropshire centre.

We discovered a revolutionary company that is breaking new boundaries in breeding techniques — from the way semen is frozen, chilled and collected, to how stallions are managed.

1. Star showjumpers

Stallions Je T’Aime Flamenco (left) — who jumped to great success with Irishman Billy Twomey — and Nick Skelton’s 2012 Olympic gold medal-winning ride Big Star are just two of the A-list residents.

2. Meet the team

Tullis Matson (centre) is the founder and managing director of this forward-thinking business which attracts 80-90 stallions a year and has more than 800 stallions in stock.

3. Stud manager Kate Ashmore

Kate inspects the latest collection from Big Star (by Quick Star), who is proving to be one of the most fertile stallions they’ve ever had. “From the average stallion we might get 10 doses per collection, but then you have stallions that really break the mould and Big Star is one of those — yesterday he gave us 33 doses,” she says.

4. Big Star in action

Owner Gary Widdowson turned down substantial offers to stand the 12-year-old stallion in Europe: “It gave us great pride in keeping Big Star for Great Britain at the Olympics and now it’s given us great pride to keep him at stud in Great Britain.”

5. Lab technician Nikoletta Gouzopoulou processes frozen semen for export

Last year the company shipped nearly 1,500 doses to 19 different countries, with a total value of just over £1million.

6. Multi-talented

The classy stallion Lefonic, by Zafonic, is an ex-racehorse showing tremendous promise as a sire of competition horses. Other big names on the books include Mill Law, Sir Shutterfly and Serano Gold.

7. Collection time

During their busiest periods, the team are collecting from a stallion every 15min and freezing takes place within a couple of hours of collection. Black Jack, pictured, is a son of Cornet Obolensky, who will be standing in the UK for one year only.

8. Going places

The company has grown from a tiny lab at the bottom of the yard to a multinational company with plans to expand further in 2016 with the building of a new centre that will be run along the lines of European breeding farms. “What we’re doing here is brilliant, but this new place will hopefully make us one of the best in the world,” says Kate Ashmore, who will be overseeing the exciting project.

9. Five-star accommodation

The current stallions in residence.

10. Twemlows Hall

The hall is also home to Edward Matson’s thriving and equally revolutionary embryo transfer business.

11. The Suffolk Punch

Currently on the critical list of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, the Suffolk Punch has been one of Tullis Matson’s “projects” to help improve freezing processes. “Certain breeds are more difficult to freeze than others and when you find the key to unlock the problem, it helps them all. We can now freeze 90%, whereas a few years ago it was 60-70%,” he says.

12. And finally…

Just in case you need a reminder of why Big Star is one of the best showjumping stallions we’ve ever seen, watch his video at the top of this page.

You can read the full feature about Stallion AI Services in Horse & Hound’s breeding special pull-out (12 March 2015).

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Four famous names have become the latest stars of the horse world to become inducted into the prestigious British Horse Society (BHS) hall of fame.

Olympic gold medal winners Valegro and Big Star represented the equine heroes, while William Funnell and Jane Holderness-Roddam were selected as riders.

Jane joins her sister, Jennie Loriston-Clarke in the hall of fame, while William joins his wife Pippa — making them the first husband and wife team to be recognised.

“It’s a tremendous honour,” said Jane, who was the first British woman to compete in eventing at an Olympics, at Mexico in 1968.

“Really it’s not just for me, it’s for all the people and horses along the way that have helped me to get where I am today. It’s a great feeling to see my plaque up there on the wall with all those superstars.”

William added: “When you see all the great names that are on the wall, to be up there with them feels very special.”

Carl Hester said the equestrian world is “so lucky” to have a celebration of talent such as this.

“Valegro has been such a massive part of the success of British dressage that this recognition is not just for us, but for everyone that’s supported him and seen him go from strength to strength,” he added.

Valegro’s owner Roly Luard said she was “very, very proud of the horse, very proud of the rider and very proud of the trainer.

“We feel so lucky and privileged to be here on this fantastic day, I won’t forget this ever,” she said.

Big Star’s owners Beverley and Gary Widdowson added: “We are honoured to be here, Big Star has done us proud. We are very privileged to own a horse like him – his name certainly befits him!”

The BHS Hall of Fame celebrates the heroes and heroines — human and equine — of the equestrian world.

A ceremony was held last week (1 December) at the Household Cavalry’s Knightsbridge barracks.

> Members of the public may cast their vote to nominate equestrians and horses as laureates. Email: halloffame@bhs.org.uk

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Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos won the Longines Global Champions Tour of Estoril, Portugal, with one of only two triple clears. It was a lucrative weekend for the world number one, who also took top spot in the 1.55m jump-off class the previous day.

British supporters had plenty to cheer about on Saturday night (12 July) as Nick Skelton and Big Star made a dazzling return to the podium, taking third behind Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa (Status FRH).

“There were fantastic riders and horses in the jump-off and it’s a big advantage coming near the end, so I was able to see Rodrigo and Nick,” said Scott, who collected a €100,000 top prize to add to the €50,000 he picked up on Friday.

“It was a well-built course, Frank Rothenberger did a great job as he always does. It was a long course and the calibre of jumping has been unbelievable again.”

Scott’s Olympic team-mate Nick Skelton has nursed Beverley Widdowson’s 11-year-old stallion back from an injury he picked up last year and the pair produced the quickest time in the jump-off, but the final oxer fell.

“I am very pleased with him, because he has been off for nine months,” said Nick. “It’s the first time he is back in the swing of things.”

Results of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Cascais, Estoril

• Scott Brash (Hello Sanctos) GBR, 0/0/0 45.43sec
• Rodrigo Pessoa (Status FRH) BRA, 0/0/0 46.24sec
• Nick Skelton (Big Star) GBR, 0/0/4 43.32sec
• Bassem Hassan Mohammed (Victoria) QAT, 0/0/4 51.55sec
• Christian Ahlmann (Aragon Z) GER, 0/0/8 45.27sec
• Nadja Peter Steiner (Capuera II) SUI 0/1

Don’t miss the full report in next week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday 17 July.

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Robert Whitaker has landed the Alltech grand prix for the Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy at Royal Windsor Horse Show. The 31-year-old rode his mother Clare’s Catwalk IV to victory, beating his cousin William Whitaker (Fandango) into second, with Dan Neilson third on Varo M.

“He’s 11 now, but he’s still improving and there isn’t a fence too big for him,” said Robert after a thrilling 11-rider jump-off. “He gets better at every show. He was superb today.”

The capacity crowd had plenty to cheer about, with seven of the top eight places in this strong international class being filled by British riders. Nick Skelton and Big Star were also back in action in round one, producing their third jumping clear of the show.

Don’t miss the full report from Windsor Horse Show in Thursday’s issue of Horse & Hound (out 22 May).

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Fans of Olympic gold medal-winning showjumper Big Star could be in for a treat if visiting Royal Windsor Horse Show next week (14-18 May).

Nick Skelton’s 11-year-old has been largely sidelined since sustaining a suspensory injury last August. But his entry at Windsor signals his first steps back on the road to the FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games (WEG).

The injury curtailed a fantastic campaign last summer, when the pair had notched a hat-trick of big wins — the CSIO Rome grand prix, CHIO Aachen grand prix and the FEI Nations Cup in Dublin. Since then he has been limited to a few minor classes in the US.

“I took Big Star to Florida for the winter to recuperate and jumped some small classes,” said Nick. “I’m hopefully trying to get him ready for WEG.”

Nick is aiming to take Big Star to the Hamburg Global Champions Tour at the end of the month and feels Windsor would be “good preparation”.

“I will only bring him if he is 100% fit,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting back in action with him — the past 9 months have been a bit quiet.”

10 nations have entered for the international showjumping — including the £53,000 CSI3* Kings Cup (17 May) and the £35,000 CSI3* Alltech Grand Prix for the Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy (18 May) — including 7 of the top-10 UK riders.

In addition, fans have a chance to watch dressage world number 1 Charlotte Dujardin in the CDI3* FEI dressage evening performances on 15 and 16 May.

For more information visit: www.rwhs.co.uk

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