Latest from Horse & Hound in John-whitaker

‘To lift a trophy 51 years after your first is an achievement you can’t replicate in any other sport’, says Chris Smith

Chris Smith — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 09:35:00 +0000

Watching John Whitaker win the Cock O’ The North at the Great Yorkshire Show last week was an incredible experience. To lift a major trophy 51 years after your first victory is an achievement you simply couldn’t replicate in any other sport.

John admitted afterwards that this was the best of his seven wins and the atmosphere in the arena was special. The whole experience gave you goosebumps.

If last-man-in Richard Howley had jumped clear and snatched the win, I think the crowd would have booed him out of the ring. That’s despite how many years he’s spent living in Yorkshire! The backing you get from the home crowd is unmatched.

The Cock O’ The North is a unique class. While the Hickstead Derby is equally timeless, the Cock is accessible to most grand prix horses. That said, it usually takes a round in that massive arena for horses to settle and get their heads around the obstacles, like the double of walls and brushes.

There was a time when course-designers put real imagination into creating these enduring challenges. They carry just as much prestige today as they did half a century ago, which makes me wonder if we are capable of creating modern equivalents.

It remains one of a handful of events that hasn’t lost its value or respect and is arguably our biggest truly national class. Part of the magic is how easy the class is to follow for the public, to the point where even the security staff were buzzing about John’s win.

Despite everything he has achieved, John remains completely down to earth. I spent two hours wandering around the cattle lines with him. The Great Yorkshire is a proper county show, where you can still sit in the Jersey cattle shed and have a coffee with a group of local farmers.

The best of his seven wins: John Whitaker lifts the Cock O’ The North trophy, 51 years after first claiming the title. (Image credit: Simon Dewhurst Photography Limited)

“Only as good as the entry list”

A show is only ever as good as the riders on the entry list, and while big names still want to win at Great Yorkshire, how many of our top 20 riders do you see supporting our national championships? In Belgium or the Netherlands, team selection dictates that riders must compete at their national finals and it preserves their status.

Many of our finals have lost their gloss. The Big Star six-year-old final was fantastic when it was held at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), but now it has dwindled to the point where we sometimes see only 12 to 15 entries in a qualifier.

I talked about the talent seekers in my last column, and how difficult it was for course-designers to build a track that could cater for seven-year-olds and a broader spectrum of horses.

It’s a class that undoubtedly needs a rethink, but it’s attracted the biggest numbers of any qualifier this year. So when the discussion happens, we have to remember that changes need to benefit not only horses and riders but the show centres, who are also trying to make a living.

A framework for progression

One thing they have on the Continent that we lack is a framework for progression. Countries like France require riders to lodge a certain number of clears before they can step up. In Britain, someone jumping a 1m track today could enter a grand prix next weekend.

A tiered structure would raise standards, protect horse welfare and give riders meaningful milestones.

Without the current blanket approach, tack rules could also be tiered. Grouping a grassroots rider jumping 80cm into the exact same bracket as a professional jumping 1.30m makes zero sense.

Other countries adapt bit rules by level. In Germany, young horses must compete in a simple snaffle until they are six years old.

You only have to look at the Billy Stud to see the success of that approach; their young horses are almost always in snaffles.

It reminds me of a brilliant exchange between Tony Pavitt and Marcus Ehning in a collecting ring. Tony asked Marcus what they do in Germany if a young horse can’t go in a snaffle. Marcus just smiled and said: “We sell them to England!”

● Do you agree with Chris’s comments? How else could we improve the framework for progression? Let us know your thoughts at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

For more exclusive insights and anaylsis from top names in the equestrian world, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘I didn’t want to make it too easy for the younger guys!’ John Whitaker pips nephew to win seventh Cock O’ the North

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:21:52 +0000

John Whitaker joked that he “didn’t want to make it too easy” for the younger members of his family as he pipped nephew James to win the Cock O’ the North at the Great Yorkshire Show for the seventh time – 51 years after he first won the prestigious title.

John and his veteran superstar Equine America Unick Du Francport were second-last to go in the seven-strong final round, and as they went in in was James and Just Call Me Henry’s time of 40.7sec that was the one to beat.

John said it was “one of those rounds that everything came off”; they accelerated from the start, 18-year-old “Frank” looking like a horse 10 years younger as they cruised fast and sure, getting a cracking turn to the multicoloured oxer and taking a stride out to the second-last.

The noise from the crowd was building from the double of walls – and it became a roar as they cleared the final GYS planks to stop the clock on 38.77sec. Last to go Richard Howley and Hornet Des Grange finished a shade in front – but agonisingly tipped the very last fence for four faults.

“It felt really good,” John said. “My plan was just to try to beat James as Call Me Henry and James are very quick and mine isn’t really that quick. I made a plan and just knew I had to do everything from the word go.

“We were quick everywhere and everything came up; every time I turned, I had a stride, and he’s on really good form, which helps. He’s great.”

John added that it was “fantastic” to win the title again.

“It’s just a great show,” he said. “The Cock O’ the North is always an unbelievable atmosphere, and not a spare seat. It’s proper lovely, nice jumping.”

And asked what James said afterwards, John said “he didn’t say a lot, really!”

“I don’t want to make it too easy for the younger guys!” he said.

To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

A Who’s Who of Whitakers: how well do you know the famous family of showjumpers?

Jennifer Donald — Fri, 15 May 2026 10:28:36 +0000

The Whitaker family of showjumpers has been the backbone of the sport for nearly half a century.

The famous sporting dynasty stems from the late Donald Whitaker, a Yorkshire farmer, and his wife Enid Whitaker, a keen horsewoman, and it is through their four sons, John, Michael, Ian and Steven, that the legendary Whitaker showjumping name was made.

Here is a complete Who’s Who of the famous Whitaker family.

The Whitaker family Who’s Who

Family of John Whitaker, married to Clare Whitaker

John Whitaker (born 1955) is the oldest of the four brothers and has been at the top of the sport for five decades, winning 21 championship medals, including with the mighty Milton. He and wife Clare have three children, Louise, Robert and Joanne Whitaker, all of whom compete internationally.

Louise Whitaker

John and Clare’s eldest daughter Louise (born 1980) is now a highly respected producer of young horses, married to Ian Turner with two children, Harvey and Sienna.

Robert Whitaker

John and Clare’s son Robert (born 1983) regularly competes at five-star level showjumping and is a British team rider and Hickstead Derby winner. He and wife Kate have two young daughters, Evie and Millie, both of whom are keen young riders.

Joanne Whitaker

The youngest of John and Clare’s children, Joanne (born 1987) is also a hugely talented rider, producing many top horses in their early years.

The Whitaker family tree (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Family of Steven Whitaker, married to Carole Whitaker

Steven Whitaker (born 1957) also competed in showjumping to international level and now runs an equestrian business with son Joe. He and Carole have four children, Ellen, Joe, Thomas and Donald Whitaker, all of whom are international showjumpers.

Ellen Whitaker

Steven and Carole’s eldest daughter Ellen Whitaker (born 1986) is a very successful international rider and has made her name winning some of the world’s biggest grands prix. She has two sons, Harry and Frankie, with her former partner Antonio Marinas Soto.

Joe Whitaker

Steven and Carole’s second child Joe (born 1988) has also jumped on British teams, as well as riding as a National Hunt jockey. He is married to Fiona and they have four children, Sophia, Stevie Joe, Emily and Bonnie.

Thomas Whitaker

The third of Steven and Carole’s children, Tom Whitaker (born 1990) runs his own business, Tom Whitaker Equestrian, buying, selling and producing horses as well as competing internationally and teaching.

Donald Whitaker

The youngest of Steven and Carole’s four children, Donald Whitaker (born 1992) is named after his grandfather, the late patriarch of the Whitaker clan, and he is making a real name for himself on the international circuit, currently based in Germany with girlfriend German team rider Nicola Pohl.

The Whitaker family celebrate Michael and Melissa’s wedding (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Family of Michael Whitaker, married to Melissa Whitaker

Michael Whitaker (born 1960) is the third son of Enid and Donald, following in the footsteps of his oldest brother John to become one of the greatest showjumpers in the world, winning 15 championship medals and the Hickstead Derby four times. He and Melissa have three children, Jack, Molly and Katy.

Jack Whitaker

Jack Whitaker (born 2001) is one of the brightest young stars in showjumping, having won individual gold at the pony European Championships and he is representing the Whitaker family showjumping dynasty as a regular competitor on the five-star circuit.

Family of Ian Whitaker, married to Alison Whitaker

Although he’s a knowledgeable horseman, Ian is the only brother who followed the farming route rather than becoming a professional showjumper. He and his wife Alison have nevertheless passed on the jumping genes as all three of their sons, William, George and James, are involved in the sport.

William Whitaker

The oldest son of Ian and Alison, William (born 1989) is another member of the Whitaker family to represent Great Britain on showjumping teams, as well as jumping to victory in grands prix and he has won the Hickstead Derby. He is married to Elisabeth Whitaker and they have three children, Isabella, Oliver and Evelyn.

George Whitaker

William’s younger brother George (born 1992) is another successful showjumper from the family competing at both national and international level. He is married to fellow showjumper Michaela Whitaker and the couple run Dallamires Stables together. Their young daughter Gracie May is achieving great success in the show ring.

James Whitaker

The youngest son of Ian and Alison, Jim (born 1997) is a regular winner on the national circuit and Queen’s Cup victor, producing some top class horses from his base in Yorkshire. He married Isabella in 2024.

Then we mustn’t forget international rider Joe Clayton, who is a second cousin of the Whitakers and was based with Michael Whitaker in his early days.

It’s quite some family – no wonder the Whitakers have become showjumping royalty!

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

He’s back! John Whitaker makes winning return after two months on the sidelines

Jennifer Donald — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:18:15 +0000

Legendary showjumper John Whitaker has made a very welcome return to competition after spending two months on the sidelines.

At the end of February, the 70-year-old Yorkshireman underwent a hernia operation and had to take a very rare few weeks out of the saddle while he recuperated.

Proving, however, that you can’t keep a good man down, it wasn’t long before John Whitaker was back riding again. At just his second show back since his operation, John made a seamless return to his winning ways at the CSI2* Spring International at Chard, Somerset.

The Olympic, world and European championship medallist partnered his 18-year-old stalwart Equine America Unick Du Francport to land the CSI2* big tour Longines rankings grand prix with the only double clear.

“‘Frank’, touch wood, seems really strong and happy, he jumped well all weekend,” said John, who was making a debut appearance at Chard after his enforced time off.

“We did one small show, but this is our first decent show back since the op, so we’re just building back up.”

John Whitaker shows his rivals how it should be done

Ben Townley’s 1.45m grand prix track at Chard was exacting jumping, with a tight time-allowed. Katie Speller, 37th to go with Z7 Pink Panther, produced the first clean sheet, and just two others joined her for the jump-off – Gemma Stevens, with the nine-year-old Warrior Special, and John.

Katie was first out and had a rail, stopping the clock in 40.37sec before Gemma also tipped one, in the double of verticals, an atom faster in a time of 40.36sec.

The door was left wide open for John and Frank, who have delivered clears under much higher pressure, and they remained faultless in 43.15sec.

“In the first round, you had no choice but to go for it to make the time,” said John. “In the jump-off, I was lucky to be after the other two.

“I set off quite quickly just in case I had an early fence and once I was through the double of verticals, which was big enough and easy to knock down, I eased up a bit and made sure the rest was clear.”

John and Frank were crowned the worthy winners, Gemma finishing second and Katie taking the final podium spot. Placing fourth and fifth with a time-fault apiece in round one were John’s nephew William Whitaker (Millfield Quickstep) and Eoin Brennan (Augustus Z).

It’s great to have you back, John!

Read the full report from the CSI2* Spring International at Chard in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday 30 April.

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

A 50-year age range in the jump-off: young Irishman wins London grand prix and John Whitaker fourth

Pippa Roome — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 21:48:34 +0000

Tom Wachman became the youngest winner of the London Horse Show grand prix, sponsored by Turkish Airlines, when he claimed the honours at just 20 years old this evening.

“It means a lot to win this – it’s obviously an amazing show here, very prestigious, a historic show over the years. I got a personal invitation from the show, so I’m very grateful to them,” said Tom. “There’s a big team around me – I’m sitting up top but it’s more down to them than me so I’m very lucky.”

The Irishman piloted the 12-year-old Do It Easy to victory in a five-horse jump-off. Do It Easy belongs to Coolmore Showjumping; Tom is from a family steeped in the thoroughbred side of equestrianism as his grandfather is John Magnier, owner of the enormous Coolmore breeding and racing operation.

Tom said of Do It Easy: “He’s a very versatile horse. You can do a grand prix or a speed class. Any day you want him, he’s so reliable. He’s had so many good results at big shows all around and he’s been my second horse all year, behind Tabasco [De Toxandria Z], so for him to get a win like today is brilliant. He’s such a trier in the ring.”

Thirty-five went to post in this final top-level class of the London show and of the 30 who faulted, 16 had at least one of their penalties in the line comprising the imposing red Turkish Airlines treble (fence 7abc) and the blue upright with a water tray under it at fence eight, which followed the treble on four short strides. Those caught out by this line included Saturday winners Matt Sampson and Balento C.S.

Other Brits suffered a bout of first fence-itis – Ben Maher (Faltic HB), Donald Whitaker (Ulania 3) and his cousin Robert Whitaker (Gentleman VH Veldhof) all touched off the back bar before further faults.

The line starting with fence nine, a candy striped oxer over a water tray off a turn, was also influential and the show’s leading rider Victor Bettendorf (Doha De Riverland) knocked both fence nine and the red plank off a forward five strides at fence 11.

London Horse Show grand prix: how it was won

Matt Sampson’s partner Kara Chad was first into the arena and then first to go in the jump-off, clocking a neat, accurate round with Igor GPH in 33.64sec.

“I think whenever a rider opens up the start list the night before, you’re like, ‘Please don’t go first’, but anyway, I was first, and you can’t change that,” said the Canadian rider, who has recently bought a base in Sussex with Matt after “seven or eight year living out of a suitcase” all over the world.

“But I know my horse very, very well – he and I have been partnered together for three years now, and he’s just incredible. He has this crazy fighting ability. We know each other inside out, so to be honest, going first didn’t bother me too much.”

Austria’s Max Kühner was next in with Greece 5, trying to make it a double after his World Cup qualifier victory the day before. The 11-year-old Mylord Carthago HN mare has only been with Max for about three months and the pair finished behind Kara in 34.14sec.

“She’s naturally a very fast horse, but the jump-off was technical with the turns in the beginning so I didn’t want to overdo it with her – I hoped to rely a little bit on natural speed but it was a bit too slow for the win,” said Max, who explained the mare has her own way of doing things and he needs to work on her ride-ability – “she needs to learn to understand and accept my support” – as well as making compromises in his own style to suit her.

Tom was next and executed to perfection a plan made with his trainer Cian O’Connor, with two early tight turnbacks and one stride fewer than the rest down the line to the upright over a water tray (fence eight in the first round). He finished 1.05sec faster than Kara to take the lead.

John Whitaker and Equine America Unick Du Francport take fourth in the grand prix at London International. (Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)

The crowd favourite came next when John Whitaker – 50 years older than Tom at 70 – cantered in. He gave it a shot and looked like he too was going to take out a stride to the water tray upright, but he had to steady for the extra seventh stride and Equine America Unick Du Francport brought it and the wing down with his hind legs for eventual fourth.

Dutch Olympian Kim Emmen rounded out the jump-off with Helix Du Seigneur, but she was obviously slower than Tom as she approached the last and then had it down to finish fifth.

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

‘It’s still a win!’ John Whitaker shares London spoils with Seb Hughes and his 18.2hh star – in unusual fashion

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 15:03:31 +0000

John Whitaker and Sharid shared the London International Horse Show Cavago six-bar spoils with Seb Hughes and Colorado Volo – in slightly unusual fashion.

Both combinations had cleared 1.80m in the third round in effortless style, the two horses clearing the verticals with inches to spare. But as the only two, from 17 starters, to come back for round four, both had a run-out, Seb at the third vertical and John at the second.

John and Sultan Saud’s 16-year-old six-bar specialist came second here last year and won in 2023, and John said he was feeling confident as he came in for the last round.

“The first round wasn’t bad; he was a bit fresh and strong, and the second round was average but the third round was very, very good so I was feeling quite confident!” he said.

“I rode in thinking all I had to do was get through, and it would be good if we jumped them all. Maybe I sat a bit too quiet – but it’s still a win!”

John said the Toulon gelding is not the easiest to ride.

“The six-bars suit him really well and normally he gets better and better, which he did today,” he said. “He can be a bit awkward; going fast blows his brains a bit and I did go a bit fast yesterday, so maybe that’s what made him a bit sharp today.

“He’s been a really good horse for me, he’s got a lot of ability – he just sometimes gets a bit enthusiastic!”

= Winner. Sebastian Hughes (GBR) and Colorado Volo in The CSI 5* Cavago Six Bar at The London International Horse Show, Excel London, London, UK. December 20th 2025 (Image credit: Elli Birch)

Seb has been bringing his own “Chief” to London for four years, and every time has been in the money, but this was his first win.

“This year’s been fantastic as he won in Hong Kong, tied at Horse of the Year Show and has now won here, that was my personal goal,” he said.

“This is his speciality class; usually after the first round, he relaxes more and jumps better. He loves it. And just to come here; this is one of the best shows in the world so to be able to jump here is amazing.”

Straight after his round, Seb told the crowd Chief had been a fantastic horse for him.

“I’d have liked to go again but they’re not machines, and he’s done everything I asked,” he added.

Seb has produced Chief all the way, and as the Spartacus TN gelding is 18.2hh, he has always given him the time he needs.

“He’ll be 14 next year and he feels as good as he did when he was eight,” he said.

Max Kuhner and EIC Cooley Jump the Q had made it to the fourth round but withdrew before it.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)

‘What the **** just happened?!’ Gemma Stevens pips John Whitaker to win London six-bar

(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)

‘A very great friend and a true legend’: top riders lead the tributes to John Whitaker on his 70th birthday

(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)

How to watch London International Horse Show: TV guide, live streaming, free BBC coverage

(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)

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

Arise ‘Sir John’! Whitaker surprises fans during 70th birthday celebrations

Jennifer Donald — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 07:30:27 +0000

The showjumping world has been celebrating living legend John Whitaker’s 70th birthday in style.

To mark the much-loved horseman’s “jubilee” year, John was presented with a procession of seven Colin the Caterpillar cakes, all carried by members of the Whitaker family, at Hickstead’s Royal International Horse Show and his family and fellow riders shared touching tributes to the showjumping maestro in H&H.

Then, at last week’s Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) in London (8-10 August), he was not only surprised with a party – complete with puissance-themed cake – he also received a hero’s reception in the ring.

John Whitaker: knight in shining armour

During the second day of the show, John was dressed up as a knight in shining armour and was smuggled into the main arena aboard a grey charger borrowed from the show’s performers, The Knights of Middle England, before being unveiled to huge cheers from the crowd.

“It was a fairly mammoth task getting dressed up – it was also one of the hottest days of the year, so I was a bit warm!” says John.

“Then I really couldn’t see much underneath the helmet, so it was difficult to know where I was going and the horse was a bit spooky with all the jumps in the ring. But I felt safe enough!

“I walked in and stood where they do the prize giving and they gradually introduced me to the spectators and when they revealed my name I took the helmet off and gave them a wave.”

John Whitaker dressed as a knight in shining armour to celebrate his 70th birthday at the Longines Global Champions Tour of London 2025. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“Sir John” canters off into the sunset – avoiding the showjumps

John made his grand exit by cantering round the ring in a lap of honour, to great applause.

“It wasn’t that easy in the outfit, but at least I could see where I was going by this point!” he says.

With his trusty steed still spooking at the showjumping fences as he went, John resisted the temptation to pop over an oxer on his way out, however.

“It did cross my mind, but it would have been a bit embarrassing if he’d stopped and I’d fallen off with all that gear on, so I told myself no!” says John.

LGCT media manager Floss Bish-Jones adds: “At the Longines Global Champions Tour, we wanted to mark John Whitaker’s 70th birthday with something truly unforgettable,” she says, describing John’s transformation into a knight as “a fitting tribute to a man whose courage, honour, and unwavering dedication have defined decades at the top of our sport.

John Whitaker dressed as a knight in shining armour to celebrate his 70th birthday at the Longines Global Champions Tour of London 2025. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“John is, and always will be, a true icon. Just as knights inspired generations in history, John has inspired riders and fans around the globe, and this was our way of celebrating that incredible legacy. John will always be the knight of our sport!”

John thoroughly enjoyed his week of 70th birthday celebrations, saying: “I felt very honoured by it all.”

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Legendary showjumper John Whitaker reveals his idols and what he wished he’d known while growing up, as he turns 70

Jennifer Donald — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 15:25:27 +0000

John Whitaker is one of the most decorated showjumpers in the history of the sport, winning more than 20 championship medals including team silver at the Los Angeles Olympics. As we mark his 70th birthday today (5 August), John shares some key lessons he has learnt during his incredible career in this first-person piece from the H&H archives...

David Broome and Harvey Smith were my idols growing up. When I started competing at the bigger shows, they were at the top of the sport, so they certainly inspired me. They were both brilliant in different ways, so I used to watch and learn what I could from them – and many other top riders over the years such as Hugo Simon and Nelson Pessoa. Even now, sometimes when I’m riding I’ll think, “How would Hugo Simon solve that problem?”

At a show one day, David advised me, “When you think you’ve done enough work on your horse, do another 10 minutes,” and I think about that tip quite often – never cut your work short.

My parents, Enid and Donald, were hugely influential, too – they encouraged my three brothers and me to never give up and remember there’s always another day. My father always tried to take the pressure off and give us confidence – he never made us feel like we had to win at all costs.

You could have nine fences down out of a course of 10 and he’d say, “By gum, he jumped that one fence unbelievably.”

In my younger days I was always changing the bits on my horses. My father suggested I should adjust the feed instead, and it worked – sort things from the inside out.

John Whitaker on the confidence of youth

I wish I’d known when I was starting out that you can’t win every class. When you’re young you think you can win everything and when you don’t it’s disappointing.

Even now, I find it really hard to make myself go slow – for example if I’m in a class just to train a horse.

In the back of my mind I’m thinking I should be trying to win. But learning to be a good loser does come with experience – you need to be resilient, leave your mistakes behind and crack on again tomorrow.

Confidence is a massive part of this sport and success breeds success. Everybody has bad spells, but you learn to ride the storm, go back to basics – and not panic. That’s the difficult part.

Before I enter the ring, I try to stay focused, psyche myself up and tell myself I can win. I don’t think you’re any good if you don’t get some kind of nerves – it’s just about being able to control them – and I think the bigger the occasion, the better I ride. When I was young, I found big shows like Horse of the Year Show daunting so I used to say to myself, “What’s the worst that could happen? It’s not the end of the world, go out and do your best.”

I’m not particularly superstitious but, if I win a class, I tend to keep things the same – the tack, the warm up routine, how many jumps I do, keep wearing the same tie, my Great Britain underpants…

John Whitaker’s top tip – don’t forget the horses!

I got to a show once and discovered I didn’t have any of my kit in the back of my lorry – or any horses either! We’d all thought the others had taken care of it, so we arrived to discover an empty lorry. So that’s my top tip – don’t forget anything.

I reckon I ride better now than I did 20 years ago. I don’t win as much – I probably don’t take the same risks and I don’t have the same horsepower – but my position, control and balance is better than ever and I think that’s just a natural progression rather than something I’ve worked on.

The horse John would love to have right now

I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had so many good horses, but it would be nice to do what Nick Skelton did – to find a horse like Big Star to end my career with a final blast.

I would be happy to have any of my old horses in my string right now – Ryan’s Son or Hopscotch, but I wish I had Milton above all others. He was simply outstanding and filled you with confidence; having him was the fairytale.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘A very great friend and a true legend’: top riders lead the tributes to John Whitaker on his 70th birthday

Jennifer Donald — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 07:24:24 +0000

Showjumping legend John Whitaker has a vast talent that has underpinned his remarkable longevity as he continues to reign at the top of the sport in a glittering career spanning 50 years (and counting).

To celebrate this much-loved rider’s milestone 70th birthday today (5 August), we asked the great and good of the equestrian world to pay tribute to an inspiration, a hero, a pioneering sportsman and a true role model. Here’s what his fellow riders – and members of his family – had to say…

Happy Birthday John Whitaker!

Geoff Billington on John Whitaker: “He’s a man of few words, but when he says something, listen”

“John and I met when we were 12 but I tell everyone he didn’t speak until we were 15!” says Geoff Billington. “We used to go to the same riding club and he’d turn up in the cattle truck with the ponies he’d been delivering milk with in the morning while I was riding ponies for a coalman, and we’d just take the mickey out of each other.

“He didn’t have his jodhpurs washed from the beginning of the season to the end and he’d say my ponies had muck on them until June when their winter coats dropped out.

“He’s a man of few words, but when he says something listen because he always hits the nail on the head. He may look like a 90-year-old when he walks but as soon as he’s on a horse he looks like his 23-year-old self again. Happy birthday John, you’ve caught up with me again so welcome to your 70s – I just look a lot younger!”

Ludger Beerbaum: “An inspiration, both in what he stands for and what he’s demonstrated”

“John is unique and has always been very inspiring to me, both in what he stands for and what he has demonstrated, in the way he works his horses and his competitiveness,” says Ludger Beerbaum. “I first saw John riding his earliest rounds on Ryan’s Son and what stood out for me then was that everything he did was much more simple than the other riders at the time, then with Milton it was the same.

“Of course, everyone talks about Milton, but he’s been so successful across so many decades with so many different horses.

“I wish him all the best from the bottom of my heart.”

John Whitaker has many fond memories of competing at the Spruce Meadows Masters, including with his brilliant partner Milton. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Michael Whitaker: “Still leading the Whitaker family by example”

“I watched and learned from John when we were young, but who did he learn it from?” says John’s brother Michael Whitaker. “He was the start of the Whitaker family dynasty and he’s still leading it by example. Happy birthday John, I hope your arms have got longer and your pockets shorter, because it’s your round!”

Scott Brash on John Whitaker: “A privilege to grow up around him”

“I must have watched the Milton – Simply The Best video many times over as a kid, so I’ve always been a big admirer of John,” says Scott Brash. “Then it became a dream come true to jump alongside him.

“He and Michael were always fantastic to me when I started out on teams, and very supportive. I’ve admired all John’s successes throughout the years and he’s a fantastic team member for the country. You can always rely on him to produce a clear when it matters.

“Win, lose or draw he’s always the same. I’ve seen him win the biggest grand prix at the weekend, then on the Monday or Tuesday he’s back at a national show producing the next young horse – and he’s been working on the farm in-between!

“The partnerships he gains with his horses and his determination are what I admire most, he’s an incredible man and it’s been a privilege to grow up around him.

“Happy birthday John, keep rolling on because there’s many years of success left in you yet. Enjoy a well-deserved 70th.”

Donald Whitaker: “John made all my dreams become reality”

“I feel immensely privileged to be part of the same family as John,” says his nephew Donald Whitaker. “He’s the one that’s made it all happen and I wouldn’t be in the fortunate position I am now without him doing what he’s done in his life. He’s made all my dreams become reality.

“He’s always said to me, ‘Keep going, never give up,’ and he’s still as motivated as ever, even though this is a difficult job – you’re losing most of the time. He’s inspirational, he’s family, but he’s also a legend.”

John Whitaker on Ryan’s Son in the Hickstead Derby. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Nick Skelton on John Whitaker: “A very great friend and a true legend of the sport”

“The story of how John and I first met isn’t printable, but he and I grew up riding together, jumped on countless teams together and he’s been a very great friend for many years,” says Nick Skelton. “He’s so consistent, he never gives up and he deserves his status as a true legend of the sport.

“Have a great birthday John, but get your hand in your pocket for a change and put on a 70th birthday party!”

Peder Fredricson: “I watched John and Milton in awe”

“John is a living, active legend,” says Peder Fredricson. “When you think about showjumping, John Whitaker is the first name that comes up in everybody’s mind.

“My first memory of him is me lying on the floor watching him and Milton on television. When I did my first Olympics in 1992 in Barcelona at the age of 20, John was there with Milton. I didn’t get to meet him on that occasion but I watched him in awe – it’s always been a pleasure to watch him ride.

“He has a fantastic way of keeping the horse in balance, but he has a very modern, competitive way of riding – even though he’s been riding the same his whole life – and it’s inspiring to see someone riding like that, even more impressive to be doing it at his age.

“Thank you for all the inspiration John, and keep going!”

Graham Fletcher: “No one can emulate his brilliance”

“Very few sportsmen are remembered long after they hang up their boots but, when the time eventually comes, John Whitaker most certainly will be in that exclusive category,” says Graham Fletcher. “I’ve known him for decades, ridden against him and with him on teams, and no one can emulate his brilliance.

“The one thing we can all learn from him is that when he has a bad round you never see him get annoyed or cross with his horse. He knows there’s work to do and next time you see him he’ll have done his homework and that horse will be going a lot better.

“I’ve seen him on horses and thought, ‘Why are you bothering with that, John?’ Then weeks later you’ll think, ‘Wow, that’s a good horse!’

“Happy birthday John. It’s your 70th, so go and spoil yourself with something you never do… have a beer!”

John, Michael, William and Robert Whitaker together. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

William Whitaker: “Proving that good horsemanship is the foundation of it all”

“John has been my idol since I first started riding; someone I’ve always looked up to for advice, both on and off the horse,” says John’s nephew William Whitaker. “The next generation are very lucky to have someone like him to emulate. As well as being a fantastic horseman and competitor, I admire his mentality – his ability not to get too excited when it goes well and not get too down when it doesn’t.

“It’s amazing to look back at how the sport has evolved during his career, but that just proves that good horsemanship is the foundation of it all. Even after all these years, he still makes me nervous if he’s after me in a jump-off.

“So happy birthday John. Keep going and one day I’ll beat you!”

Di Lampard on John Whitaker: “A massive inspiration”

“John has been a leader of our sport for so many years and to still be at the top makes him a legend for sure,” says Di Lampard. “He’s been a massive inspiration in my career and very supportive, right through from my riding days to my chef d’equipe days.”

Tim Gredley: “I wanted to become a showjumper after I asked for his autograph at Hickstead”

“John is part of my first memory of wanting to be a showjumper when, aged about 13, I asked for his autograph at Hickstead’s collecting ring,” says Tim Gredley. “I was doing working hunters at the time and that was the moment I realised showjumping was what I wanted to do. So going from that to jumping on teams alongside him is very surreal.

“John is incredibly resilient. When you have a bad day, he’s the first person you should go and speak to. He makes it sound like nothing’s happened, nothing’s gone wrong – start again tomorrow. I think his motto is ‘Tomorrow is another day’.

“To ride on a team with him is brilliant, because he realises that it’s quite a stressful situation for the younger generation. He tries to keep you relaxed with a laugh and a joke, and actually half the time when you’re nervous all you need to do is have a little giggle and you’re fine.

“So happy birthday John, time to treat yourself to a new pair of boots because there’s another 10 years in you left at least!”

John Whitaker with his great partner Equine America Unick du Francport in action for the British team. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Lizzie Bunn and the Bunn family: “Still showing everyone he’s as good as ever”

“In the run-up to this milestone birthday John has been at Hickstead competing at the Agria Royal International, showing everyone he’s just as good as ever,” says Lizzie Bunn. “John has been a friend of the Bunn family for the best part of five decades, and indeed this summer marks 50 years since he made his Nations Cup debut here at Hickstead – a winning debut, of course!

“Since then he’s been on more than 180 Nations Cup teams around the world, and in 2023 and 2024 he produced crucial clear rounds to help Britain to win back-to-back titles in the Agria Nations Cup.

“He is a legend of a horseman and his long, prolific career is testament to that.

“One of my father Douglas Bunn’s proudest moments was watching John win the Hickstead Derby in 2004, riding Dad’s home-bred Buddy Bunn. It was an exceptional performance, considering it was a catch ride and John had only ridden the horse a couple of times before winning. It was a moment our family will remember forever.

“We would like to wish John a very happy 70th Birthday.”

Robert Whitaker: “The grandfather we all look up to”

“To me he’s just my dad but both he and my mum have always been so supportive of everything I’ve done,” says John’s son Robert Whitaker. “He’s always there if I need him.

“What he’s achieved in the sport is very rare – his longevity is incredible, but he’s evolved as the sport has changed and stayed at the top for 50 years.

“I think he just loves kids in general, but he’s great now with my children and they love watching all the old videos of him on YouTube. They tell me how much they look up to him – probably as much as I do.”

Harry Charles on John Whitaker: “A trailblazer with an incredible mindset”

“One of my biggest milestones in the sport was jumping on my first team alongside John in the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona,” says Harry Charles. “I went double clear and to do it in front of him was pressure! But it also meant so much because we all grew up watching him.

“Anyone would dream to have a career like John and he’s still as determined now as he was at my age and that’s something that keeps pushing me. I’d love to have half the drive and motivation as him.

“It’s an incredible mindset to have, especially when there’s not much left for him to win, plus his adaptability and willingness to learn in an ever-changing sport is for me what is so impressive. Hopefully I get to tell my kids that I got to ride with John – and my dad can tell his grandkids the same. Maybe my kids will jump against him too!

“He remains a trailblazer and we’re all privileged to be part of this incredible era.”

John Whitaker partners up with his granddaughter Evie Whitaker to finish sixth in the GS Equestrian Pony Club Mini Major Relay. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Geir Gulliksen: “A gentleman on and off the horse”

“John is a gentleman and a gentleman on a horse,” says Geir. “He treats every horse positively and he makes it believe that anything is possible. All young people can look to John and see how he treats his horses, how he rides them and how he looks after them.

“He has such a relaxed atmosphere around him and as a rider he’s brilliant. I’ve known him for nearly 50 years and he’s still as unbelievably good now that he’s 70. He said to me one day, ‘I cannot tell you what I’m doing, I just do it,’ and that’s exactly how he is – a natural horseman and fantastic for his horses.”

Jennifer Donald: “A true ambassador for his beloved sport”

“If there’s another sport that has celebrated one of its leading athletes turning 70 while at the very top of his game, I’d love to hear about it,” says H&H showjumping editor Jennifer Donald. “Like countless other pony-mad youngsters, a poster of John and Milton had pride of place on my bedroom wall and, at Hickstead recently, I saw a group of children come rushing out of the collecting ring excitedly shouting ‘We got his autograph! He spoke to us!’ I assumed they were talking about one of the younger generation of top riders, but it was John Whitaker they were so thrilled to have met – a touching reminder that his influence continues to transcend the generations.

“I feel immensely privileged to work with someone who is unflinchingly generous with his time, honest with his opinions and a true ambassador for his beloved sport. I still get goosebumps at shows when the crowd cheers louder for him than any other rider and I will never tire of listening to John’s wonderful stories. Happy birthday John and thank you for everything!”

Steven Wilde: “Crowds cheer the roof off at the mere mention of his name”

“I would like to thank John for making me look good as I’ve commentated on him all over the world!” says Steven. “At the mere mention of his name, crowds cheer the roof off, from Shanghai to Birmingham, Los Angeles to London. He’s a true superstar who lets his talent do the talking and horses are always better with him in the saddle. Happy birthday John!”

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘She means so much to me’: joy as 20-year-old Olympic horse is coming home, thanks to £116,000 bid

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 14:48:55 +0000

Olympic mare Ornellaia is coming home, to the delight of her former partner John Whitaker.

The 20-year-old For Pleasure mare was top lot at the first Flanders Foal Auction of 2025, selling for €136,000 (£116,000) to the British-based Old Lodge Stud. Her first filly, Coeur d’Or Z was also sold, for €66,000 to a German journalist and breeder.

“Flanders Foal Auction answered many pressing questions with its first foal auction of the year,” a spokesperson for the sale said. “What is the value of a 20-year-old Olympic mare who delivered her first foal? Do global political unrest and wars affect auction prices? And does interest in jumping foals with proven pedigrees remain high? The outcome exceeded expectations, with an average price of €30,765.”

Ornellaia, who represented Britain at the 2016 Games with John, and at the 2021 young rider Europeans with Sienna Charles, where the team won bronze, was the first lot of the night, at Sentower Park in Belgium. Bidding was up to €75,000 before the auction even started, but it was Old Lodge Stud, founded by the late Prince Torki Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Kabeer of Saudi Arabia and now led by his son, Prince Sultan, that won the night.

“My daughter pointed out that Ornellaia was going to be auctioned, and that got the ball rolling,” said John, who rides for Old Lodge Stud and was watching the sale online.

“That mare still means so much to me. She has such a great mentality, always happy, ears always forward. I really like her. I’m pleased she’s going to such a nice place, and that we’ll be able to see her and her future foals.”

Another British Olympic medal-winner was in bidding action at the sale; Peter Charles secured the first offspring ever sold out of the grand prix mare Azur HH. The Cornet Obolensky colt, Côte d’Azur HH Z, will move to the Charleses’ Heathcroft Farm.

Flanders Foal Auction has four more sales this season, the next of which is at Peelbergen on 28 June.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

A legendary horse and rider with a combined age of 86 and a red ribbon for The King’s carriage horse – what you might have missed at Royal Windsor Horse Show

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 19 May 2025 17:45:34 +0000

The sun shone, ponies gleamed, five-star showjumpers soared and cobs looked magnificent during a vintage Royal Windsor Horse Show (15-18 May) last week. So before the dust settles on this year’s show, let’s reflect on just some of the magical moments during the four-day spectacle, held in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

From an emotional victory for a vet who swapped his scrubs for a tweed suit to Jack Whitaker pipping his uncle John to the post, and even The King earning a brace of red ribbons, here are some of the epic highlights we reported on from this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show. You can read further coverage, including exclusive interviews and insight in our bumper report in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops from Thursday 22 May.

Red ribbons for The King at Royal Windsor Horse Show as Cleveland Bay carriage horse triumphs

Competing in his own back garden, The King’s majestic Cleveland Bays triumphed in this year’s ridden pure- and part-bred classes.

Thirteen-year-old Wyevale Harry, a carriage horse at the Royal Mews who is a key part of state occasions, was ridden by Isabel Oakley – a liveried helper at the Royal Mews – to take top spot in the pure-bred ridden Cleveland Bay class. Meanwhile Isabel’s colleague Bethany Atwell partnered The King’s St Ives to win the part-bred ridden Cleveland Bay class.

Find out how Isabel got the ride on “Harry” and the secrets to her success, along with the other Cleveland Bay winners

The world is not enough for mighty stallion Bond Jamesbond De Hay

Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet and his magnificent stallion Bond Jamesbond De Hay triumphed in Sunday’s coveted CSI5* Rolex grand prix, worth €125,000 (£105,000) to the winner. Harry Charles, who is getting married this summer, was the best of the British contingent, finishing third with top horse Sherlock.

Read the remarkable story of the class, including how the Olympic champion and other class favourites crashed out of contention

Vet swaps scrubs for a tweed suit – and wins

Equine vet Simon Constable led his daughter Zara aboard palomino Welsh section A Glyncoch Honey Pot for an emotional Royal Windsor Horse Show victory in both the open mini M&M plus the Pretty Polly (home-produced) championships at Royal Windsor.

“Every day we are amazed that we get to own her,” said Simon of the versatile pony

A historic Royal Windsor Horse Show double

Royal Windsor history was made when A-Level student Ruby Ward landed a winning double, producing champions in both the native and plaited working hunter pony classes with Lady Dublin of Corderry and Noble Banksy respectively.

Read about the “big, technical and cleverly built” course they faced

Winner of the Intermediate Working Hunter Ruby Ward and Noble Banksy at The Royal Windsor Horse Show, Windsor, Berkshire, United Kingdom. May 17th 2025 (Image credit: Elli Birch)

“He won’t give me tips!”

Royal Windsor isn’t Royal Windsor without a victory for the Whitaker family and there was nearly a Whitaker whitewash on day one when Jack Whitaker (Valmy De La Lande) pipped his uncle John Whitaker (Equine America Unick Du Francport) to victory in the CSI5* Defender Stakes, while Jack’s cousin Donald Whitaker picked up fifth.

“He has no respect for his old uncle!” joked John.

“John won’t give me tips!” quipped Jack in return.

With a combined age of 86 between 69-year-old John and his 17-year-old horse were the Royal Windsor crowd favourites

“Geezer” cob secures second championship and a bonus prize

Will Morton secured his second successive cob championship at Royal Windsor Horse Show, this time riding Valerie Hosegood’s skewbald heavyweight winner and “proper geezer” Bannview So Smart.

Read about the skewbald’s fitness regime and his prize for the healthy horse weight initiative “Weigh to Win”
To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘He won’t give me tips!’: Jack beats uncle John in Whitaker one-two at Royal Windsor Horse Show

Sarah Radford — Sat, 17 May 2025 10:26:04 +0000

There was nearly a Whitaker whitewash on the first day of Royal Windsor Horse Show, when Jack and uncle John landed an emphatic British one-two in the CSI5* Defender Stakes, while Donald picked up fifth.

The first jump off class of the programme was a real chance for riders to test their mettle in a top-tier international field, with 15 of the 33 starters posting clears, of whom 13 came forwards for the second phase.

It was difficult to predict a winner from such a bumper line-up but experience prevailed when John — the oldest rider in the class at 69 and also riding the oldest horse, 17-year-old Equine America Unick du Francport — laid down a superb bar from fifth to jump.

Times had been closely packed, with the quickest rounds, including the faulters, clocking between 40.71sec and 40.77sec.

But Jack Whitaker smashed the target on his experienced campaigner Valmy De La Lande, attacking the course in an untouchable 39.40sec to relegate his uncle to runner up.

John acknowledged that he was “very pleased” with the way “Frank” jumped but “not so pleased” with Jack.

“He has no respect for his old uncle!” he joked.

“I didn’t know if I’d be fast enough, there was so many in the jump off, but he jumped great. They had to go some to beat me, but Jack did it.”

Jack had ridden a superb round, leaving no margin to spare with the 16-year-old stallion, whose best result at Royal Windsor previously was a very close second in 2023.

“John didn’t give me any tips, he won’t give me tips!” Jack said.

‘Normally when he is like that, he is hard to beat’

“I just missed watching him but they said he was very good and very smooth and normally when he’s like that, he is hard to beat but at that height and that level Valmy is unbelievable, you can rely on him so much.

“I was pretty confident going into today,” he added. “I was on good form and I feel like I know which buttons to press with him now.

“When he’s like this I can just ride at jumps with him and nearly go as fast as I want to go.”

The hot-headed son of Mylord Carthargo seems to be improving with age and his recent run of form has included victories in the CSI2* and CSI3* grands prix in Arezzo.

“In his head he is so sharp, to the point when he was a younger horse, he was a bit of a pain in the arse and was harder to handle,” Jack said. “He’s always been so consistent and jumps a lot of clear rounds but it was hard to win on him before.

“Now he’s getting into his old age a bit he’s starting to calm down.”

Donald with his brilliant King George V-winning mare Millfield Collette, one of two other Whitakers, along with Robert, to make the second phase, took a less-risky turn to the final line to finish clear, 2.96sec behind the lead to finish as next-best Brit in fifth.

You may also be interested in…

(Image credit: Elli Birch/BootsandHooves)

Rider lines up for Rolex CSI5* grand prix hat-trick after opening with a victory at Royal Windsor Horse Show

(Image credit: Elli Birch/BootsandHooves)

Ultimate guide to help you make the most of your visit to Royal Windsor Horse Show

(Image credit: Elli Birch/BootsandHooves)

Avoid a fashion faux pas with our what to wear guide for Royal Windsor Horse Show

‘The LA Olympics are only three years away!’ John Whitaker switches to eventing as he turns 70

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 06:01:21 +0000

Legendary showjumper John Whitaker is trying his hand at eventing, as he feels it is “about time for a new challenge”.

The multiple medal-winning rider turns 70 this year, and he told H&H approaching the milestone made him wonder what else he could achieve.

“It was a toss-up between dressage and eventing and I thought dressage wouldn’t be exciting enough,” he said. “Vaulting was also a possibility but I wasn’t keen on what they have to wear – I prefer a jacket and breeches.”

John’s decision was confirmed by a youngster sired by his legendary stallion Argento, out of a thoroughbred mare.

“He was bred by my close friend Barbara E Castle, an American who moved here a few years ago,” he said. “She wanted an event horse with Argento’s jump and the mare’s speed, which she got – in spades.”

John said Filaloor P, who turns eight today (1 April) was obviously very special from the start.

“He jumped straight out of the arena the first time he was loose out there, over a six-bar gate, and made it look easy,” he said. “Then he showed us his speed, by galloping off round the field, and his beautiful movement that would be good enough to do pure dressage. That got me thinking.”

John has had to brush up on his dressage, not so much the moves but “remembering which letter was where!” He competed successfully up to advanced intermediate level last season, under a pseudonym, and had planned to enter the Lycetts Grantham Cup at the Thoresby Spring Carnival last weekend but was thwarted by a calendar issue.

“I thought it would be simpler if no one knew who I was so I’ve been competing as Hugh Jeauke – that’s my great-uncle who rode at Badminton before the war,” he said. “I had entered Thoresby as myself but then realised I wouldn’t have time to get to Basel for the World Cup Final this week, so I had to re-route.”

John intends to secure his and Filaloor’s minimum eligibility requirements for five-star this season, with his eye on Badminton next spring.

“If I’m going to do something, I want to do it properly,” he said. “Until a couple of years ago, my only experience of badminton was rackets and a shuttlecock. But we went to watch on cross-country day last year and I thought it looked worth doing – plus, it’s always the week before Royal Windsor so it fits nicely into the calendar.

“It’s a new challenge but it’s still all about riding and horsemanship, and learning something new every day, which I enjoy. And who knows, the LA Olympics are only three years away!”

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘I’m pinching the ride!’: 12-year-old borrows his dad’s horse (who’s won with John Whitaker) to win national title

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 15:47:46 +0000

At last year’s British Showjumping Spring Championships, Paul Barker won the 1.35m title with the 13-year-old son of Luidam, Green Grass. This year, the chestnut stallion was back at Arena UK (21-24 March) but with Paul’s 12-year-old son Charlie at the helm, heading the winter children-on-horses final in tremendous style.

Charlie launched a five-horse jump-off with a pathfinding round on Strides Maureen, before snatching the win from Honey Bowes (Lagrandessa W) with a smooth and neat round from final draw on their quality home-bred.

“Charlie started riding Green Grass in November and he’s ticked away over the winter with him,” said Paul. “He jumped one 1.30m with him at Stainsby Grange last week but this is the first time he’s gone properly against the clock.

“I just told him to get a good canter and keep a nice rhythm, the turnbacks today suited him.”

Charlie Barker on Green Grass: “I’m pinching the ride now!”

Paul Barker has previously loaned the ride on Green Grass to John Whitaker, who has competed him at five-star shows including at the London International, Spruce Meadows and on the Longines Global Champions Tour, even clearing 1.95m to win a six-bar at the CSIO5* of Rome in 2023.

“He’s a sensible stallion and has been easy for Charlie to get used to,” said Paul. “We’ll aim him [for the viewing trials] at Pony Of The Year Show now, in a few weeks’ time.”

Paul may find his days with Green Grass are now numbered if Charlie has his way.

“He’s pretty easy for a stallion and gives me a good feeling, I’m pinching the ride now!” said Charlie.

Read the full report from the British Showjumping Spring Championships at Arena UK in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday 27 March.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Two generations of Whitakers – with a 58-year age gap – win on same day

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 17:36:29 +0000

The Whitaker family were out in force last weekend, as 69-year-old John Whitaker landed a grand prix at Aintree on the same day his 11-year-old granddaughter Evie Whitaker earned her first 128cm winter qualifier.

Evie, the daughter of showjumpers Robert and Kate Whitaker, was competing at Morris Equestrian Centre’s small pony premier show in Ayrshire, Scotland, on her pony Barleyfields Button. She won the second of the show’s two 128cm winter qualifiers, jumping the faster of two treble clears to win by almost eight seconds.

“We’ve had the pony from a five-year-old and she’s seven now, so Evie has done everything with her from the start and they fit together like hand and glove,” said Kate, who made a 10-hour trip to the show from their base in Sussex.

“We thought it was time to try it, but we weren’t expecting to go three rounds. She jumped her first one on the Saturday and then on the Sunday managed to qualify.

“We had a chat before she went in and I said to her, ‘If the others beat you, they beat you, they are a lot more experienced, just keep it tidy and tight.’ I was dead proud of her.”

John Whitaker delivers a showjumping masterclass

Evie and her grandfather John Whitaker teamed up in the mini major at the London International Horse Show, finishing a very creditable sixth. Evie said that day that Granddad was “a bit slow”, but he was anything but in Aintree’s AW Jenkinson Forest Products winter grand prix.

The Olympic showjumping legend delivered a masterclass from last draw to snatch his first win of the year with 16-year-old Sharid. This was their first outing since London International Horse Show.

“It was a good course. It’s not easy to build a 1.40m when you’ve got good riders and good horses and get a good result, but it was good jumping,” he said.

John brought just two horses to the show, also giving Equine America Unick Du Francport, who has been off with an injury since September, his first jump back.

“Sharid is a bit more up to speed than ‘Frank’ because he jumped at London, so I just jumped Frank in some smaller classes,” he said.

Evie’s father, John’s son, Robert Whitaker was also in action that day, competing in the Longines FEI World Cup in Amsterdam with Vermento. Unfortunately four faults picked up in round one meant there was no chance of making it a family hat-trick spanning three generations, but with the Whitaker family in such flying form, it can’t be long before that dream becomes a reality.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘Everyone loves her:’ meet John Whitaker’s donkey who hob-nobs with grand prix horses and teaches the youngsters to jump

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 19:03:57 +0000

John Whitaker’s base is, as you’d expect, home to top grand prix and championship horses, promising youngsters and very nice home-breds.

It’s also home to Hazel, a 17-year-old donkey who is best friends with John’s superstar Equine America Unick Du Francport, brays with joy as she jumps fences by herself, and teaches the babies what it’s all about.

John’s daughter Joanne told H&H Hazel was not the ideal candidate for her original job, when she arrived about 15 years ago.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“Someone had told us if you keep a donkey with chickens, it keeps foxes away,” she said. “But every time there was even a little rustle in the bushes, she’d start hee-hawing and wake everyone up! So she became a companion for ones who need company or don’t settle in the fields; she’s the yard babysitter.”

Joanne recently shared a video of Hazel jumping tiny fences in the indoor school, shouting with joy as she did so – with some of the babies hot on her heels.

“If we put her loose on the school and there’s a little jump up, she always jumps it, she loves it,” Joanne said. “So she was loose in there, started jumping, and the foals started following her!”

A photo posted by on

Joanne said John did try backing Hazel when she was younger, “but she didn’t want to be backed; she’d just stand there,” so her role as yard babysitter was confirmed.

“My dad did mention at one point possibly putting her in foal to Argento and having a mule but it never actually happened,” she added.

“Her biggest companion is ‘Frank’; he won’t settle in the field without her, or even loose on the school. She’s always with him and when he walks past her door, she starts hee-hawing. If she thinks he’s going out without her, she just keeps honking. The kids love her and used to lead her about – but everyone loves her. She’s very, very cute.”

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

The greatest grandfather, a fearless teenager and 100mph ponies: what happened at this year’s London Horse Show?

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:12:44 +0000

Now that the final curtain has fallen on this year’s London International Horse Show (18-22 December), let’s reflect on just some of the magic moments from this year’s five-day equine extravaganza.

From a fearless teenager clearing nearly 7ft to a stunning Fell stallion enjoying the spotlight and the legendary John Whitaker competing alongside his granddaughter in the international arena, we’ve loved every minute.

Here are just some of our highlights from this year’s London Horse Show 2024 and you can read further coverage, including exclusive interviews and insight, in our bumper report in this week’s Horse & Hound, in the shops from Saturday 28 December.

The world’s greatest grandfather

Young Evie Whitaker may have described her grandfather John Whitaker as “a bit slow” but in one of the most magical performances of the week at the London Horse Show, the pair teamed up to compete in Wednesday’s GS Equestrian Pony Club Mini Major Relay. “You can forget the Olympics and world championships, this is serious pressure,” reflected John of riding alongside his granddaughter.

This is how they fared against the flying pair of Matt Sampson and Lilly McBride in the high-octane Mini Major Relay

Lottie Fry and Glamourdale win the 2024 freestyle at London International Horse Show. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The comeback of all comebacks at the London Horse Show

Lottie Fry and Glamourdale truly sparkled on the London International stage once again as they won back their 2022 title to top the FEI Dressage World Cup freestyle, presented by Bret Willson Dressage International Ltd and supported by Horse & Hound.

“I don’t think there’s any horse in the world with that much presence and that much ‘look at me’,” said Lottie.

Find out how Lottie bounced back from her surprise third-place finish in the previous day’s grand prix to nail her triumphant freestyle performance

Rachel Proudley riding Easy Boy de Laubry Z to win the LeMieux puissance at the London Horse Show. (Image credit: LIHS / Peter Nixon)

The fearless teenager everyone is talking about

Hitting the headlines for her outstanding horsemanship, bravery and wisdom far beyond her 19 years was LeMieux puissance victor Rachel Proudley and her brilliant partner Easy Boy de Laubry Z.

A 2.12m (6ft 11in) wall to clear? No problem!

Read why trail-hunting proved the perfect warm-up for puissance success

Power cuts and a horse called Chicken George

Our favourite horse in London was the brilliantly named Chicken George, who proved anything but a chicken when a power cut hit the London ExCeL midway through his jumping round with Italian showjumper Francesco Turturiello.

This is how they reacted when the arena was momentarily plunged into darkness

A mare of many talents makes London Horse Show history

The stunning 22-year-old mare Aplhaugs Lilja, known at home as “Rhino”, became the first Fjord to win at the London Horse Show.

This is her amazing journey to be crowned 2024 SSADL in-hand supreme champion

The stunning Aplhaugs Lilja wins at London Horse Show. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Grand prix hero makes winning return aged 21

Talking of veterans, we were delighted to see William Funnell’s former grand prix hero Billy Angelo back to his winning ways at the London International. Harry Skelton managed to completely out-horse his rivals by entering the ring for the Markel Jockeys Jumping in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund on the super 21-year-old gelding, but as it was all for a great cause, nobody really minded. Oh, except, perhaps, for the ever-competitive Nico de Boinville: “It’s a bit like me riding Sprinter Sacre in a 0-100 handicap race [for low-level horses]!” he quipped.

Find out which leading jockeys found their showjumping forte (and which didn’t…)

Harry Skelton and Billy Angelo lead the winning team in the Markel Jockeys Jumping in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund at the London International Horse Show. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

The fastest jump-off round we’ve ever seen

Incredible by name, incredible by nature – Daniel Coyle’s winning jump-off round on the Frankel-esque grey gelding was simply astonishing.

Find out how an unusual warm-up helped them win

Darragh Kenny is the King of London Horse Show

All hail the King of London International Horse Show, Darragh Kenny, who was crowned the show’s leading rider after his spectacular winning double, including topping Sunday’s Longines FEI World Cup with the brilliant Eddy Blue.

Read how Darragh became the first Irish rider in 17 years to claim the feature class

Gemma Stevens riding Envoy Merelsnest Z winners of The Cavago Six Bar at The London International Horse Show at ExCel in London in the UK between the 18 - 22 nd December 2024 (Image credit: LIHS / Peter Nixon)

Olympic eventer goes sky-high

We cannot repeat what Olympic eventer Gemma Stevens said after she and Envoy Merelsnest Z – AKA Dime Bar – cleared a whopping 1.95m to not only win Saturday’s Cavago six bar, but to beat showjumping legend John Whitaker in the process.

Let’s just say she was gobsmacked

Meet a tremendous Fell stallion who ‘loves an atmosphere’

The London Horse Show’s greatest showman was without doubt Fell stallion Birkettbank Master John, who dazzled with owner-rider Victoria Taylor to win the 2024 BSPS ridden M&M supreme championship.

Read their remarkable story to this winning moment

And finally…

We all know the London International Horse Show means it’s Christmas and we’re truly in the festive spirit after this glittering five-day extravaganza. But London’s other magical ingredient is 100mph ponies and their brilliant little riders and none went faster than Annabel Widdowson and the 23-year-old megastar pony Bunbury Conquest.

This was Annabel’s epic reaction after she took the Agria 128cm championships by a staggering margin

Annabel Widdowson riding Bunbury Conquest winners of The Agria 128cms Championship. (Image credit: LIHS / Peter Nixon)

To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout major shows during 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘What the **** just happened?!’ Gemma Stevens pips John Whitaker to win London six-bar

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 14:40:57 +0000

“What the **** just happened!?” said Gemma Stevens after she and Envoy Merelsnest Z triumphed in an all-star London International Horse Show six-bar, with last year’s winners John Whitaker and Sharid second.

Only these two of 13 starters made it to the fifth round, in which the final vertical stood at 1.95m. Gemma thought it was all over when “Dime Bar” agonisingly clipped that last fence – but then Sharid ran out twice at the second jump.

“I don’t understand!” Gemma said. “Honestly I can’t believe it. All I can say is ‘What the **** just happened’! I never thought that would happen in a million years.”

The world team gold medal-winning eventer said the stallion, owned by Brendon Stud and the Dime Bar Syndicate, had only jumped one six-bar before, at this show last year, and had not competed since August.

“He had a slightly sore joint; nothing serious, but had to have a couple of months’ walk work,” she said. “Then we brought him back, and then were invited here.”

Gemma said she was cross with herself in Wednesday’s (18 December) puissance, when she and “Dime Bar” had the wall down on the first attempt.

“I’ve only jumped a couple of 1.30m classes since the end of the [eventing] season and it’s a bit different coming down to a 1.80m wall!” she said. “I didn’t ride him right; I was so out of practice, so I was just thinking ‘Don’t mess it up again’!”

Gemma said she was delighted with the way Dime Bar jumped the last line, but thought the title was out of their reach.

“Me and John Whitaker – I was reading his book recently, he’s such a legend – so I thought ‘just don’t think about it, think about me and my horse, trying to do our best’,” she said.

“I actually thought my horse jumped really well; he didn’t touch the others, I thought it was all over but I was thrilled either way, then John had the trouble. This is honestly unbelievable.”

Gemma paid tribute to the ‘kindest, most sensitive horse you can imagine”.

“I knew he could jump a huge vertical, it’s just putting it all together,” she said. “He’s very hot, but always wants to do the right thing.”

To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout major shows such as London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Lightning quick pair win and John Whitaker jumps alongside his granddaughter in London: ‘Forget the Olympics, this is serious pressure’

Jennifer Donald — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 14:18:28 +0000

The London International Horse Show showjumping classes kicked off on Wednesday (18 December) with a high-octane win for Matt Sampson and Lilly McBride in the GS Equestrian Pony Club Mini Major Relay.

Matt led with a super clear on Rachel Evison’s 12-year-old Curraghgraigue Obos Flight before handing over to 10-year-old Lilly, representing the Fermanagh branch of the Pony Club riding the buzzy little pony Poynstown Little Albert Einsten.

This super young rider, paying her first visit to the London International (LIHS) cut every corner at tremendous speed, earning a high-five from her senior counterpart after they rocketed home clear in 21.50sec – what turned out to be an unassailable lead in this super competitive contest.

Matt Sampson: “I don’t think I’ve ever tried so hard round a 1.20m course in my life!”

“I don’t think I’ve ever tried so hard round a 1.20m course in my life!” said Matt, a grand prix winner here in London in 2022. “When Lily introduced herself to me and said, ‘Hello, and don’t let me down’, I thought we were on to a winner!

“It was on my shoulders to make sure it all went well for Lilly so there was a lot more pressure. I always try to do these Mini Major classes because I was that kid at one point and there are so many others like them in the crowd – it’s important to know that anything is possible.”

Lilly has been riding since she was six and she described her first experience in the showjumping ring at the London International as “very special”, describing her lap of honour, during which she punched the air before exiting at high speed, as the absolute highlight. Having taken her family “a full 24hr” to get to central London from Northern Ireland, there was great delight at her success.

And the secret to this speedy duo’s triumph? Their matching hair colour, assessed redhead Matt.

“We’re Team Ginger,” he said.

John Whitaker teams up with granddaughter Evie in the showjumping ring at London International

Finishing just over half a second behind Matt and Lilly in second were Alex Leggott for the Zetland Pony Club, who was paired with Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca, while in third was Harry Kelly riding Paris for the North Derry Pony Club. His partner Sebastian Hughes on Colorado Volo were enjoying a slightly smaller track as a warm-up for their puissance performance on Wednesday evening.

John Whitaker partners up with his granddaughter Evie Whitaker to finish sixth in the GS Equestrian Pony Club Mini Major Relay. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Not far behind in sixth with a double clear between them was Evie Whitaker, daughter of Robert and Kate Whitaker, who competed with her grandfather John Whitaker at the London International.

Evie described her grandfather as “a bit slow” but paid tribute to her “special” pony Blue, who she has borrowed from her sister Millie and was beautifully bedecked with gold tinsel and stars.

“You can forget the Olympics and world championships, this is serious pressure,” reflected John.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout major shows such as London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘On a horse, I feel like a young man’ Whitakers’ guard of honour as John given top HOYS award

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 18:51:16 +0000

The Whitakers formed a guard of honour at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) as legend John was named the show’s 2024 equestrian of the year.

The award, which HOYS gives annually to someone who has made an “extraordinary contribution to the community and dedication to not only HOYS but to the heart of our sport – the horse”, was presented in the main arena on the first day of international showjumping.

John, 69, was flanked by members of his family from brother Michael, 64, to John’s five-year-old great-niece Gracie-May, riding a Welsh pony.

John, who has been competing at HOYS since 1971, said: “I didn’t expect that! I was a bit lost for words but it’s very nice.

“It’s good to have all the family here; it’s amazing there are so many of us, and they all ride good!”

John Whitaker and granddaughter during his presentation, winner of Equestrian of the Year during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 9 - 13 th October 2024 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

John was 16 when he first jumped at HOYS and he has barely missed the event since. He recalled among his highlights winning the grand prix here, and the Masters with the incomparable Milton.

“Lots of great times,” he said. “A good thing about this sport is that you can be 69 and still hold your own, and I’m enjoying it.”

John said it was watching HOYS as a child, on prime-time television, that inspired him to do what he is still doing now.

“That’s what inspired me in the first place – luckily I lived on a farm and had a pony – and my brothers followed the interest and it came from there,” he said.

“There aren’t many sports where you can still be reasonably competitive aged 69. And beating them on the day – and thinking I can beat them on the day, which is probably more important.

“I go in there, and think I can beat them. They have to go to beat me, which keeps me going. If I knew I had no chance, I wouldn’t bother. I’m lucky. I feel good, my body’s holding out.

“I feel great on a horse; I might walk around like an old man but when I get on a horse, I feel like a young man. And I feel I can win, and that’s the main thing.”

To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You’re never too old! Meet the top riders still smashing it in their 60s

bethany.stone@futurenet.com (Bethany Stone) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 07:30:00 +0000

Both young and older horse riders alike could learn plenty from the equestrians who made it to the top – and stay there – well into their 60s.

Even as the world becomes more and more progressive, there are still few truly mixed-sex competitive sports. The fact that all genders compete on equal terms is just one of the many special qualities of horse sport.

Another thing that sets equestrian disciplines apart is the lack of an upper age limit. While many footballers hang up their boots before their 35th birthday, in horse sport you’re truly only as old as you feel. Across the disciplines and levels, from local shows to the very top, older horse riders compete against those who are many years their junior.

In fact, advancing years can be an elite equestrian’s secret weapon. The more horses you ride, hours of training you put in and top competitions you complete, the more experience you gain – giving you the edge at the highest level. If a rider manages to avoid injury, they can remain effective in the saddle over many decades and continue to scoop medals, titles and international appearances well after pensionable age.

Older horse riders still at the top of their game

Whether it’s performing a near-perfect grand prix freestyle or sailing around a five-star track, we’ve picked out some of the world-class older horse riders defying convention and showing no sign of slowing down in their 60s.

1. Juan Antonio Jiménez Cobo, 65

2XNDFXN Versailles, France. 31st July, 2024. Juan Antonio JIMENEZ COBO riding EUCLIDES MOR, Equestrian, Dressage Team and Individual Grand Prix during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on 31 July 2024 at Chateau de Versailles in Versailles, France - Photo Christophe Bricot/DPPI Media Credit: DPPI Media/Alamy Live News (Image credit: DPPI Media / Alamy Stock Photo)

The dressage rider became the country’s oldest ever Olympian at the Paris 2024 Games. He piloted striking grey Lusitano stallion Euclides MOR.

Born in Castro del Rio, Córdoba, in 1959, Juan Antonio is based in Madrid. His first Olympic appearance for Spain was in 2000 at the Sydney Games, where the dressage team came fifth overall. He represented Spain again in Athens 2004, where they earned the silver team medal.

Fresh off the back of his 2024 Olympic appearance for Spain, Juan Antonio headed to South Africa in early September to compete in the CDI3* at Ermelo with bright bay stallion Quartar. He finished sixth in the grand prix freestyle.

2. Phillip Dutton, 60

Phillip Dutton USA riding Mighty Nice, during the Team Show Jumping Phase of the Eventing Competition at the Olympic Equestrian Centre in Deodoro near Rio, Brazil on 9th August 2016 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Born in 1963 in New South Wales, Australia, Phillip Dutton’s illustrious eventing career has included representing two nations across seven Olympic Games.

He appeared at three Games for Australia, where he helped the eventing team top the podium on two consecutive occasions, in 1996 in Atlanta and in the 2000 home Games.

Phillip became a US citizen in 2006 and earned his first individual bronze medal at Rio 2016 on board Mighty Nice.

Phillip has enjoyed success on the US eventing circuit and has placed in the top 10 at both Burghley and Badminton. He has won once at the top level, taking the 2008 Kentucky Three-Day Event crown with Irish Sports Horse gelding Connaught.

This year, Phillip had two rides at Kentucky. He finished 15th on second ride Azure, while his first ride Quasi Cool fell at the final fence on cross-country day. Phillip later released an update to say the gelding was “resting comfortably in his stall”.

3. Michael Whitaker, 64

2F2N4XF Michael Whitaker riding For Fun during the 2019 Longines Global Champions Tour of Chantilly on July 13, 2019 in Chantilly, France - Photo Christophe Bricot / DPPI (Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Born in 1960 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Michael Whitaker is one of the founding members of the enormously successful Whitaker showjumping dynasty.

He has represented Great Britain in five Olympic Games. He first appeared at the LA Games in 1984, where he helped the showjumping team clinch the silver medal.

Michael’s numerous successes over the decades are too many to name, but include team gold and individual silver medals at the 1989 European Championships in Rotterdam with horse of a lifetime Monsanta. He also came third in the Netherlands World Cup final in 1994 atop Everest Midnight Madness.

In May 2024, Michael piloted Equine America Q Paravatti N – a ride he shares with his son Jack – to victory in the Longines Whitsun Tournament in Wiesbaden, a CSI4* competition.

4. Jill Irving, 61

Degas 12 Jill Irving during the Grand Prix at the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 at Tryon International Equestrian Centre, near Tryon North Carolina in the USA between 11th-23rd September 2018 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The Ontarian was set to make her Olympic debut for Canada with top dressage mount Delacroix 11 this year, but she ended up travelling to Paris as the alternate with chestnut KWPN stallion Genesis.

Born in 1963, Jill began her career on Canada’s hunter jumper circuit before switching to dressage. She made her FEI debut in 2013, aged 50. She helped Canada top the podium at the Pan American Games in Lima in 2019 on Degas 12, a year after her first World Equestrian Games appearance.

In July this year, she competed at Hartpury CDI3* and finished eighth in the grand prix special with Genesis.

5. Rolf Göran-Bengsston, 62

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The showjumper was the oldest in the discipline at Paris 2024. Competing for Sweden with 12-year-old stallion Zuccero HV, he helped earn a qualification for the team final. Sweden went on to finish sixth in the team jumping.

Paris marked Rolf-Göran Bengsston’s sixth Olympic appearance. He has earned a brace of Olympic silvers in his career: one team medal at Athens 2004 and one individual in Hong Kong at the Beijing 2008 Games.

Notable achievements include a spate of top-three placings in the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) in 2014 and 2015 with Caretino stallion Casall ASK, including wins in Doha, Chantilly, London and Rome. He was the LGCT Champion of Champions bronze medallist in 2015.

6. Andrew Hoy, 65

Andrew Hoy ( AUS) riding Vassily De Lassos during the cross country phase for the Olympic Eventing Competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held at Equestrian Park in Setagaya-ku in Tokyo in Japan between the 23rd July and 8th August 2021 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

A stalwart of the international eventing scene, Aussie rider Andrew Hoy has clocked up an impressive eight Olympic appearances for his country – the most ever for a member of team Australia. His six Olympic medals include three team golds won at back-to-back Games from Barcelona 1992 to Sydney 2000.

In 2006, Andrew came within touching distance of landing the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. He finished in pole position at Kentucky on Master Monarch and repeated this feat at Badminton atop Moonfleet. At Burghley in the same year, leaders Andrew and Moonfleet could afford to knock one fence in the final phase. Sadly, the combination rolled two poles and so the 2006 title went to fellow Australian Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia.

Andrew missed out on his ninth Olympic appearance at Paris this year, but it doesn’t mark the end of an era for this older horse rider, who said: “This chapter of ‘Paris 2024’ may be closing, but the book isn’t finished. We are excited to see what the future holds for us!”

7. John Whitaker, 69

John Whitaker riding Sharid, winner of THE SIX BAR during The London International Horse Show at ExCel in London between 13-18th December 2023 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

This living legend needs no introduction. Five years older than his brother Michael, John Whitaker has represented Great Britain at six Olympic Games. He has won too many accolades to name, but has earned 24 Olympic, World and European Championship medals to date.

Synonymous with John is his world-famous and beloved mount Milton. The legendary grey gelding was the first showjumper to earn £1m in prize money and had a fan base to rival contemporary film stars in the 1980s and early 90s. The pair’s crowning achievement was double gold at the 1989 Europeans in Rotterdam.

Recent success for John includes a win in the Global Champions League of Madrid in May this year. Along with teammate Gilles Thomas and representing Valkenswaard United, John finished top with gelding Equine America Unick de Francport. While John recently said “holding my own against good young riders” was one of his proudest achievements, everyone knows this older horse rider is not to be under estimated in any type of jumping competition.

8. Mary Hanna, 69

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

This dressage rider is set to celebrate her 70th birthday in December this year. The Australian has represented her country at five WEGs and six Olympics, debuting at Atlanta 1996.

Mary took a break from competition in 2019 to be with her daughter while she recovered from a serious fall. The following year, she became the first Australian rider ever to score above 80% in a grand prix freestyle competition.

She travelled to Paris 2024 with stallion Ivanhoe as team Australia’s dressage alternate. After the competition, she took to Instagram to say: “I thought afterwards I might be announcing my retirement from the sport. However it is quite the opposite. I feel so inspired and motivated by the outstanding performance of everyone involved, that I plan to continue to follow my dreams.”

Have we missed any older horse riders worth of inclusion in this article? Let us know about your favourite older equestrian athlete by email at hhletters@futurenet.com including your name, nearest town and county for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future edition of Horse & Hound magazine

‘My proudest achievement? Holding my own against good young riders’ says John Whitaker, 69, in new TV programme

Jennifer Donald — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 15:30:37 +0000

Legendary British showjumper John Whitaker says his proudest achievement in the sport is holding his own against the younger generation of riders. But we all know that it’s actually the hugely successful and much-loved 69-year-old Yorkshireman who continues to set the bar for his younger rivals.

In “Defying Age”, the fourth instalment of the free content series Rising Above presented by Longines, equestrian icon John Whitaker discusses why age is is just a number when it comes to competing at the top level in showjumping.

“The sport has changed so much, if you want to move up you have to change with the times,” he says in the programme which charts his journey to the top, the secrets behind his enduring success and the mindset that has kept him at the top of his game for five decades.

“In showjumping, there’s no time to dwell on mistakes,” he says.

John Whitaker: “It was a challenge to get back up to the top again after Milton”

The episode begins with John discussing the megastar grey Milton, his “all-time favourite”.

“He wasn’t a very big horse, but when he went into the arena, he grew,” says John, before admitting: “After Milton it was quite difficult. I had a couple of years where I was a bit down. It was a challenge to get back up to the top again. Sometimes the hardest thing is to pull yourself together after a bad day and face the next competition.”

John’s enduring love for the sport and his horses continues to inspire us all.

“People ask me, how long are you going to carry on riding? I say, I’m feeling good. I’m going to keep going longer, because I have a new pair of boots,” he jokes.

“My proudest achievement is to compete against all these good young riders and hold my own. Wait, I haven’t finished yet. I still want to keep going and winning.”

Inspiring the next generation

His advice to the younger generation of riders is, “Get over your obstacles in life as quickly as you can. Try to stay positive, enjoy, and keep going.”

As commentator Frederik De Backer suggests in a clip of John Whitaker competing during the programme, “Like a fine wine, John gets better every year.”

The Longines Global Champions Tour’s Rising Above series, produced in partnership with Longines, is available to stream on YouTube and all social media channels.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout the Paralympic Games, Burghley, HOYS and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘Nothing beats this’: spectacular British hat-trick launches day one of London LGCT show

Jennifer Donald — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 18:41:30 +0000

The British national anthem rang out three glorious times at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on a sun-drenched opening day of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) of London (16-18 August).

Great Britain’s newly crowned European young rider champion Olli Fletcher was clearly relishing competing back on home soil and he took the opening five-star class, the Roseblood Wine 1.45m two-phase, with an ambitious ride on Cajus 42. This talented 10-year-old son of Comme Il Faut is just stepping up to this level.

“He tried his heart out, bless him – he’s not used to this kind of atmosphere,” said Olli. “I’ve had him for a year now and I’ve always believed in him – he has so much ability and so much talent, it’s just been about fine-tuning the smaller details.

“Nothing beats hearing the national anthem – especially on home soil.”

LGCT London: “Faster than I thought it would be”

In the earlier CSI2* classes, James Whitaker (Just Call Me Henry) and Simon Crippen (Zeus Valencie) scored an exhilarating victory apiece. James’s success came in the Lemieux 1.40m speed class, with “total nutter” Henry.

“He’s only nine but hopefully he’ll keep stepping up and keep going well,” said James. “I think he’s got a touch of ADHD though and he doesn’t like having a rug on, so he took off with me in the prize-giving!”

Simon Crippen gave spectators plenty to cheer about in the 1.25m two-phase Martin Collins London Cup on his LGCT debut.

“The class was faster than I thought it would be, but Zeus Valencie is always a very quick horse and she’s usually there or thereabouts,” said Simon, whose win in London comes in the wake of a tremendous eighth-place finish in the King George V Gold Cup at the Royal International riding Handsome.

Olympic medallists in action on day one

The opening class of the day, the CSI2* 1.15m GCTV two-phase went to show debutant Ali Hussain Alnowais of the UAE riding the lovely mare Celine 267.

Day one concluded with a French victory for Simon Delestre, fresh from his team bronze medal-winning performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He claimed the €7,050 top prize with Olga Van De Kruishoeve, nearly half a sec clear of the chasing pack. John Whitaker received a hero’s welcome and finished best of the Brits in this class in fourth riding Sharid.

Simon Delestre was up against a raft of recent Olympic medallists at the show, including the newly crowned Olympic champion Christian Kukuk and Britain’s gold medal-winning heroes Harry Charles and Scott Brash. Ben Maher was on team duties in Dublin on Friday, helping Great Britain finish third behind USA and Ireland in the Nations Cup of Ireland by The Underwriting Exchange, before he is set to join his team-mates in London for a celebratory Olympic ceremony on Saturday.

You can follow all the action at the LGCT London with Horse & Hound and we’ll bring you all the news and insight in next week’s magazine, in the shops Thursday 22 August.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout the Paralympic Games, Burghley, HOYS and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Horse & Hound’s 140th anniversary legends: Milton – John Whitaker’s wonder horse who won over £1m during his career

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 15:30:37 +0000

John Whitaker’s floating wonder horse was the first showjumper to win over £1m. But his scintillating results tell only half the story of this charismatic showman, writes Jennifer Donald, as we celebrate Horse & Hound’s 140th anniversary in 2024

Every so often in our sport, a partnership captures the heart of a generation and earns a place in history. For nearly a decade, audiences were held spellbound by the magical aura of Milton and his rider John Whitaker. With the gelding’s sparkling white coat and breathtaking ability to float over the highest fences, Milton could rival Hollywood stars for his fans’ adoration; how fortunate that he thrived on the attention.

We revelled in the wonderful affair Milton had with John, who coaxed every ounce of brilliance from his willing wonder horse to triumph in back-to-back World Cups, claim over 30 major classes, six championship medals and become the first showjumper to win over £1m.

But the tale is tinged with tragedy as Milton’s original rider Caroline Bradley died before seeing her protégé reach the Olympic potential she had pinpointed in him.

Born in 1977 and originally named Marius Silver Jubilee, Milton was the result of a shrewd pairing conjured up by Oxfordshire breeder John Harding-Rolls, and had jumping blood pulsing through his veins.

His sire Marius was a big winner for Caroline, including the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, hence why she was drawn to pay £1,000 for the iron grey weanling. Caroline’s mother Doreen described the young Milton as “a funny-looking thing” and David Broome remembers it wasn’t all plain sailing for the future champion in the ring.

“He had a bit of a chequered career in those early days because he was so untidy in front,” he explains. “My assistant even saw him have 16 faults at one show.”

But Milton’s talent was clear to Caroline as she quietly produced him until she died suddenly of heart failure aged just 37 in the summer of 1983. Her parents originally offered John Whitaker the ride but he was en route to the Royal Highland Show and couldn’t commit to anything until his return two weeks later. Instead, they sent six year-old Milton with just £63 on his card to local rider Steve Hadley.

“By September he was jumping small grands prix and it was clear he was destined for great things,” Steve recalls. “It felt like he was on springs, he was beautifully balanced and he enjoyed it because he was good at it.

“At Park Farm’s Lancia Championships he jumped double clear in the £200 class each day and I said to my groom, ‘Look after that one because he’s the best you’ll ever see.’”

But misfortune struck ahead of his Olympia debut when Milton, whose one phobia was being clipped, lashed out.

“We don’t know if he hit the blade of the clippers or he struck himself, but he injured his tendon and had to have more than a year off, so he returned to the Bradleys,” says Steve.

An epic tale

John Whitaker and Milton in Aachen in 1991. (Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Paul Schockemöhle, who was instrumental in securing Next’s sponsorship of the Whitaker brothers and for whom Caroline rode several horses, wanted Milton for John as part of the deal.

“I was sad to lose Milton, but I’d decided to stop competing during that time anyway – he just arrived 10 years too late for me,” says Steve.

John takes up the epic tale: “I was at the World Cup Final in 1985 and Paul asked if I’d be interested in taking Milton on. I actually said, ‘I’m not really that bothered,’ but as a favour to Paul I said I’d try him.”

Even over their first cross-pole together, John knew he had “something very special”.

“He was light as a feather off the ground and I’d never experienced anything like it,” he says. “I rode up to the house, knocked on the window and said to [my wife] Clare, ‘Come and watch this horse jump!’”

John began eight-year-old Milton at some local shows then took him to Berlin, where he finished third in the small grand prix.

“A week later in Brussels he was second in the World Cup, then we went to Bordeaux and won the World Cup,” recalls John.

“It wasn’t all plain sailing. He had his own style coming off the ground in front at a fence – if you pushed him too deep or made him jump too quick he used to twist and he didn’t like it.

“He was nevertheless jumping a lot of clear rounds and we were picked for the Nations Cup at Hickstead in 1986, but Peter Robeson said in the collecting ring: ‘That horse needs a big ground line at the practice fence to help him get up in front.’ Once I figured out that was what he liked, we never looked back.”

The Bradleys gave John three stipulations: that Milton couldn’t do the Hickstead Derby; the Olympics, because of a previous dispute Caroline had with selectors; or the Suffolk Show, where she died, but the world soon took notice as the duo’s career went stratospheric.

The pair’s crowning achievement was winning double gold at the 1989 European Championships in Rotterdam, two years after securing individual silver and team gold.

“To win was a real milestone,” says John. “But to do it on Milton… He was a dream horse because he wanted to please you. After you’d jumped one fence he’d say, ‘All right, what’s next?’ He just loved the job and the more the crowd cheered, the higher he jumped.”

The following year, John and Milton scored their tremendous victory in the King George V Gold Cup at the Royal International – having been third in 1987 and second in 1988 and 1989 – before heading to the inaugural World Equestrian Games in Stockholm. Great Britain took bronze and John joined Eric Navet (Quito De Baussy), Hubert Bourdy (Morgat) and Greg Best riding the other famous grey, Gem Twist, for the horse-swap individual medal decider.

John, who finished with silver, remembers: “Gem Twist was a dream to ride, but he was the total opposite to Milton so when Greg rode Milton, it didn’t really work out and he had two fences down. But that woke Milton up, he wasn’t for knocking anything else down after that – and for about the next two months!”

Greg commented afterwards: “Getting to ride Milton was like finding out you’d got a date with the most beautiful girl in the world – you find yourself tripping over your feet.”

Among the other equine behemoths of the time were Pierre Durand’s Jappeloup and Ian Millar’s Big Ben, resulting in many thrilling showdowns with Milton, including during his astounding run of World Cup Finals. In 1989, Milton just missed out to Big Ben, but returned to take the title in 1990 and 1991 in Gothenburg, when the pair made the front page of the Swedish papers. They missed a potential hat-trick in 1992 when Milton was found to have pus in his foot, then the following year they finished runner-up to Ludger Beerbaum and Ratina Z.

“Milton was just as good indoors; he was a machine really,” says John affectionately.

The Bradleys’ Olympic stipulation had come to haunt John in 1988, possibly in Milton’s prime, when amid a media furore the pair couldn’t travel to Seoul. But Tom and Doreen had a change of heart in 1992, and John and a 15-year-old Milton joined the squad of Michael Whitaker, Tim Grubb and Nick Skelton in Barcelona, which would play out as one of the most heartbreaking conclusions to any medal-decider.

“He was maybe slightly past his best, but still very capable,” remembers John. “But I realised the really hard sand there was making his fetlocks sore when he jumped and he wasn’t enjoying it.”

Such was the horse’s class, however, they held the lead coming into the final round and expectations soared.

“He stumbled badly on landing in a massive combination so I pulled him out,” says John. “I was so disappointed because I had a fighting chance for a medal, but you can’t dwell on it.”

Greatest years

Milton and John Whitaker (Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Milton’s machine-like quality also made him the mainstay of Britain’s all-conquering Nations Cup teams, at one point jumping seven consecutive double clears for his country from their regular number four spot. According to chef d’equipe Ronnie Massarella, Milton gave him “my greatest years in the sport”.

“One of Milton’s greatest assets was that every single day you knew what you’d get from him,” says John. “He was never looking for a way out – you just pointed him at the jumps and he’d do it. His floaty style over the jumps made it feel as though you were up in the air for ages – like you’d never come down, in fact!”

At home, Milton was a tremendous character and loved to be the centre of attention, kicking the stable door if the lorry left without him and becoming an adored member of the Whitaker family for 14 years.

“I used to race the kids on their ponies – I’d stagger Robert on his Shetland and Louise on her pony, all greys, down the field and say ‘Go!’ Milton loved that,” recalls John. “He loved the Shetland so much that we put him under Milton’s neck in the lorry if the kids took their ponies to shows. One Nations Cup, I was warming up for a crucial second round when the kids flew past on their ponies and all Milton would do is whinny at Robert’s Shetland.”

Milton would receive sack-loads of fan mail and the Whitakers tried to accommodate his many visitors. But he will always be remembered for his Lipizzaner-esque party piece that brought the crowd to its feet.

“He did it by accident the first time but I soon realised I could make him jump up off all fours to command,” reveals John. “I would canter round on the lap of honour, stop in middle and up he’d go.”

Vast popularity

Milton and John Whitaker at Olympia in 1989 (Image credit: All Rights IPC Media)

Milton’s final competitions came in 1993, when John began to notice something niggling the 16-year-old. “I could have given him six months off to sort it, but I wanted such a brilliant horse to retire sound and healthy,” says John.

There was no way this megastar could slope quietly off to pasture though…

“Nearly every show in the world wanted me to do a retirement ceremony,” says John. “In Zurich, Tina Turner sang Simply The Best, then as the dry ice floated away, Milton and I were left standing in the ring with her. That was surreal. Of course, Milton lapped it all up.”

His vast popularity was evident in the many appearances he made in retirement. They joined Geoff Billington on a lecture demo tour; another time, John was joined by his brother Michael on another heroic grey, Desert Orchid.

“Milton loved showing off and it was good for him to have a purpose for another year or so,” says John.

After a couple of bouts of colic, Milton died in July 1999 at the age of 22 and is buried on John’s farm.

“I often give him a nod as I walk past,” John reveals. “Many people have asked, ‘Don’t you miss him, don’t you wish you still rode him?’ And I say, ‘Well at least I was lucky enough to have him.’”

Groom Penny Dalton on Milton

“Milton was 100% true character, and that made him the horse he was. He loved people, so if anyone didn’t pay him enough attention he would blow raspberries or grab your sleeve.

“But he could be the devil to look after. He didn’t like being rugged up – every morning he’d be standing with his rug over his head, or shredded on the floor, waiting to be rescued. He was a nightmare travelling, too – he was bored before you left Yorkshire and would paw constantly.

“People always wanted a bit of his mane and, before security was ramped up at shows, if I left my brushes out with white hair on them, they’d get taken.

“We were so upset when we lost him, but no other horse is remembered like Milton. Even people outside the sport knew him – being with Milton was like being with a pop star.

“At Modena, Pavarotti’s horse show, the great man himself wanted to meet Milton. Pavarotti was in tears just stroking Milton for ages, he was so in awe of this horse. It was a truly special moment.”

David Broome on Milton

“I first saw Milton at Newark Show. Caroline was riding him in the grade B&C class, and I asked how much she wanted for him.

“‘He’s not for sale,’ she replied. I said, ‘Never mind he’s not for sale, how much do you want for him?’

“She said no, she was keeping him, but eventually she promised that if she ever did sell him I’d have first chance, but then the poor girl died.

“Milton was very lucky to finish up with John because he brought out the best in him. I competed against Milton most of his life, but it was always nice to have him on our Nations Cups teams as last to go. Everyone who ever saw Milton jump was very privileged.”

Milton’s greatest achievements

First showjumper to win more than £1m
Winner of nearly 30 major grands prix, including the 1986 Du Maurier and 1990 King George
Six championship medals – three gold, two silver, one bronze
World Cup winner in 1990 and 1991
Britain’s highest-earning horse from 1986 to 1991

Milton’s breeding

Milton was a real mix, by a Dutch warmblood stallion out of an Irish Draught/thoroughbred mare, with trakehner bloodlines on his paternal side and Anglo-Arab on his dam’s. Both sire and dam were grade A showjumpers – his dam was four when producing Milton, going on to compete with Derek Ricketts before being sold to Belgium as a broodmare, while his grand-dam Pennywort was the 1970 Foxhunter champion. Marius’s sire, Marco Polo, was a foundation sire of the modern Dutch warmblood sport horse.

You might also enjoy reading…

(Image credit: LGCT and Wiesbaden)

Senior Whitaker brothers land a win apiece: ‘Something I’ll remember for ever’

(Image credit: LGCT and Wiesbaden)

‘I’m 68, but I can still do it’: John and Michael Whitaker discuss longevity, mistaken identity and sibling rivalry

(Image credit: LGCT and Wiesbaden)

The Horse & Hound Podcast 141: John & Michael Whitaker

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.

Senior Whitaker brothers land a win apiece: ‘Something I’ll remember for ever’

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 20 May 2024 10:16:16 +0000

With a combined age of 132, the Whitaker brothers John and Michael proved they were riding better than ever with a win apiece in this week’s international showjumping news round-up.

A stunning grey gelding racked up another top-level success in Madrid and Ronnie Jones with super mare Kaleche were also back in the winner’s enclosure, chased home by a stallion still going strong at the age of 18. Read on for this week’s round-up of international showjumping news and results.

International showjumping news: Whitaker is back to winning ways

It may have been two years since we last saw showjumping legend Michael Whitaker jumping at CSI4* level but he proved why he is still the maestro with a superb victory at the Longines Whitsun Tournament in Wiesbaden.

Reunited with 12-year-old mare Equine America Q Paravatti N, whom Michael’s son Jack Whitaker has also been riding, Michael triumphed in the 1.50m Lotto-Hessen Prize speed class by 0.4sec over local hero Daniel Deusser riding Ellabelle De Rie Z.

“Wiesbaden is a nice traditional tournament, I like it a lot,” said 64-year-old Michael, who first competed at the venue 40 years ago. “My horse felt very good here.”

Wiesbaden results

Not wanting to be outdone by his younger brother…

Michael’s older brother John Whitaker, 68, also earned his place in the winner’s enclosure this weekend, teaming up with Gilles Thomas (Ermitage Kalone) – 42 years John’s junior – to represent Valkenswaard United in the Global Champions League (GCL) of Madrid. This was the squad’s first win since Hamburg in 2022.

John was aboard the brilliant gelding Equine America Unick Du Francport.

“I’m really proud of Gilles today. He didn’t need any help from me, he rode class,” said John. “This win means a lot for the team and really puts us back in the championship race.”

Gilles paid his respects to his esteemed team-mate: “I couldn’t be happier to win, but to win with John is something I will remember for ever. Our team is made up of legends such as Marcus Ehning and Edwina Tops-Alexander, so it is a real privilege to be part of Valkenswaard United.”

GCL Madrid results

Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 win the Longines Global Champions Tour grand prix of Madrid. (Image credit: Longines Global Champions Tour)

“Just go full speed and keep galloping”

Also making showjumping news headlines this week, Germany’s Christian Kukuk risked it all to the final fence riding the brilliant stallion Checker 47 in a thrilling jump-off for the Longines Global Champions Tour of Madrid grand prix. The lightning quick duo won by nearly a second over Maikel van der Vleuten riding Beauville Z NOP, and Gilles Thomas was back on the podium with Ermitage Kalone in third after an eight-way jump-off.

“I came here with a good feeling, it is an unbelievable show with a beautiful arena, it truly is a pleasure to ride here,” said Christian, who picks up a ticket for the end-of-season Super Grand Prix with this win. “I knew the jump-off was going to be fast so I tried everything. I took all the risk to the last, I said to myself ‘Just go full speed’, and I kept galloping home.”

Maikel paid tribute to his rival’s winning performance: “I must say Christian did a great jump-off, he took all the risks; his horse is very quick over the ground, so is my horse Beauville Z NOP, but we just couldn’t catch him today, however, I must say, I am very pleased with my second place.”

LGCT grand prix of Madrid results

International showjumping news: victory for Ronnie Lee Jones and Kaleche

Continuing an impressive run of form, British showjumper Ronnie Lee Jones and the hugely versatile mare Kaleche landed the CSI2* gold tour grand prix sponsored by LeMieux at Wellington Riding, Hampshire. He gained nearly half a second advantage over Joe Clayton with 18-year-old stallion Gentlemen VH Veldhof; Jude Burgess finished third on Oilina.

You can read the full report from CSI2* Wellington in next week’s Horse & Hound magazine.

CSI2* Wellington results

Balmoral success for Derwin and accolades for Fernyhough

At the hugely popular CSI2* Balmoral Show in Northern Ireland, grand prix glory was earned by Francis Derwin riding his own Flexi K, an 11-year-old son of Flex A Bill, bred by the Knightfield Stud. The pair blitzed the time set by runner-up Clem McMahon on the eight-year-old Clonterm Obolensky. Completing a podium full of quality Irish sport horses, third place went to Jonathan Smyth with Mulvin Lui. Joe Fernyhough was best of the Brits in fourth with Calcourt Particle in the grand prix but won the show’s leading international athlete award, as well as being crowned the leading international speed athlete.

Balmoral Horse Show results

John Whitaker’s new horse goes viral, a teenager clears 1.85m and a warm-up fall doesn’t stop the world number one

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 18:06:33 +0000

Never has one rider’s new horse got people talking as much as John Whitaker’s potential Olympic hope Arqana De Riverland and the pair’s sublime clear round at CHI Al Shaqab in Doha at the weekend was shared all over social media as they continue to step up to the bigger classes.

Plus, we saw a 16-year-old rider clearing 1.85m to win her first CSI4* and a 24-year-old beating two Olympic legends in a World Cup qualifier, where the world number one rider bounced back from a warm-up fall to finish second. Read on for all this week’s showjumping news and results.

Showjumping news: “She’s going to be really competitive” says John Whitaker

A video of John Whitaker jumping clear on new ride Arqana De Riverland – touted as a prospect to take the 68-year-old to the Paris Olympics – was circulating far and wide on social media this week, such is the global love for our British showjumping legend. Their clear round at the CSI5* Al Shaqab in Doha was shared alongside hundreds of appreciation posts for John as they stepped up to 1.50m level at just their third show together, and he told H&H the mare was “jumping very well”.

“She’d been with her previous rider Juliette Faligot for seven years so she was a bit set in her ways, but she jumps brilliantly – just sometimes we don’t have that control yet and there’s been the odd misunderstanding, but I think we’re coming together more and more,” he said. “She’s really careful, she’s quick and I think she’s going to be really competitive.”

John also jumped into the placings with two masterful double clears on his Nations Cup hero Equine America Unick Du Francport at the show, including a fifth-placed finish behind winner Malin Baryard Johnsson (H&M Indiana) in the grand prix.

“He has had a rest and seems to have come back really well, we just did a couple of small shows in Belgium before we came out here and to get used to the mare too,” said John. “You walk the courses out here thinking ‘Oh this is big’, then everyone goes in and jumps clear. But he feels fantastic.”

Ireland’s Richard Howley was another rider making showjumping news by finishing in the ribbons, landing the 1.50m with nine-year-old multi-winner Zodiak Du Buisson Z.

“I am absolutely over the moon,” he said. “My horse is in great shape, he is really growing into this level so easily and week after week he is impressing me more. This gives me great belief for the future that my horse can win at grand prix level.”

Richard finished ahead of France’s Simon Delestre (Dexter Fontenis Z) and Mark McAuley in third on GRS Lady Amaro for Ireland.

The action continues at the same venue this coming week when the 2024 Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) season kicks off.

CSI5* Al Shaqab results

Teenager clears 1.85m to beat her older rivals

The youngest rider in the 12-strong field contesting Saturday’s six-bar on the Andalucia Sunshine Tour in Spain, British teenager Tabitha Kyle, smashed the opposition, throwing both hands in the air as she celebrated clearing 1.85m to win her first ever CSI4* class.

Tabitha, 16, was riding Su and Gordon Hall’s 16-year-old mare Desterly at her first international show after recovering from a neck fracture sustained in a car accident which meant she missed the last few months of 2023, her last year on ponies.

Andalucia Sunshine Tour results

Home-bred secures “unbelievable” World Cup glory for 24-year-old rider

Dutch showjumper Lars Kersten made showjumping news headlines as a surprise winner of the final leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup series of Western Europe in Gothenburg, Sweden, riding grey mare Hallilea. World number one Henrik von Eckermann bounced back from a collecting ring fall to claim the runner-up spot on King Edward, with fellow Swede Peder Fredricson third on 18-year-old Catch Me Not S after a seven-way jump-off.

The 24-year-old Dutchman, part of the Young Riders Academy, is trained by his father Pieter and was riding his father’s 12-year-old home-bred mare to beat two of the greatest Olympic riders in the world in a thrilling jump-off.

“That makes it even more special – I’ve been working with Hallilea all her life and she has been a big part of my career,” said Lars. “To grow together to this level and to win a World Cup in Gothenburg is unbelievable.

“The moment she turned five, I took her over and it’s special that we’ve done this journey together. We already had some nice placings, but almost nothing beats winning the World Cup here in Gothenburg – it feels a bit unreal!

“I’ve seen Henrik and Peder in so many jump-offs so I know they are capable of being faster than me,” he added. “To sit in front of these guys is not easy and most of the time I will be behind them, so today is a big, big day. But I think I was pretty fast and in the end it showed that it was not that easy to beat me, so I’m very, very pleased with my mare. She absolutely gave 100% today.”

Lars has also had training from his “idol growing up”, Marcus Ehning, and six-time Olympian Jos Lansink.

“I was told the Scandinavium Arena wasn’t an easy ring to ride in, but I found it quite comfortable,” he said.“Maybe it fits my riding, I’m maybe a bit of a light rider and I try to stay fluent throughout the turns, so actually maybe the [oval] shape of it suited me very well. And obviously the horse felt really great as well so it all came together.”

Henrik’s jump-off performance came only minutes after he slipped out of the saddle on landing over a warm-up fence on King Edward during the preceding rider’s round. Ever the professional, he put his unscheduled dismount behind him and his world championship-winning partner scorched round, but couldn’t quite catch the time set by the young winner.

“Maybe my horse jumped too well in the jump-off and he lost a bit of time,” Henrik said. “But this is a good way to lose.”

Peder Fredricson batted off questions about Paris this summer by saying, “Asking me about the Olympics in February is like asking how the weather will be in August! We are building up the horses but there is still a long way to go. It is for sure my main goal this year. I am giving all my horses in the stables a chance now and we will see in the next months how it is going.

“Lars is a great rider. It is nice to see the next generation doing so well.”

Among the top 18 riders who have qualified for the World Cup Final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in April are title-holder Henrik von Eckermann, who topped this year’s league, Steve Guerdat, Ireland’s Richard Howley and a quartet of British showjumpers; Robert Whitaker, Harry Charles, Scott Brash and Ben Maher.

Gothenburg Horse Show results

Showjumping news: “Dreams really do come true”

British showjumper Claudia Moore proclaimed that “dreams really do come true” when winning her first CSI3* 1.50m grand prix in the final week of the Moura Spring Tour in Valencia, Spain, riding Hardesther. The only other double clear came from another Brit, Chloe Aston, riding the Arko III nine-year-old Akito Von Rocherath Z.

“’Hardy’ is my horse of a lifetime, I trust her and didn’t overpush her as she’s naturally fast,” said Claudia, one of a strong contingent of British winners at this week’s show.

Moura Spring Tour results

Daniel Coyle wins the $100,000 grand prix on Farrel. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

There’s just no stopping Daniel Coyle, “I stared death in the face at the Liverpool”

Continuing a phenomenal winning streak, Irish rider Daniel Coyle made more showjumping news when he lifted the CSI3* $100,000 LeMieux grand prix at the World Equestrian Center, Ocala, Florida, this time riding Farrel, after a 15-way jump-off.

“On Farrel, you can turn on half a stride,” said Daniel of the 14-year-old KWPN gelding (Cardento 933 x Stakkato) owned by Ariel Grange.

“He’s an amazing horse to turn back to a vertical. He’s had a few years off but he’s very handy. Turning back so tight to the second-last jump, that’s all to do with the horse there. [Second-placed] Aaron Vale and I both took risks, but at the end it comes back to the horse and if you can nail it.

“I galloped to fence one and hoped everything came up good, I was really risky across the centre to the Liverpool – I couldn’t see the flags and I stared death in the face, but he pricked his ears and jumped it.

“The celebration in the end is the only part of the sport when we get to interact with the crowd,” added Daniel about his third win of this week; he also finished third behind Aaron Vale (Obi Wan) on another 14-year-old, Quintin. “It’s usually just the horse, the owners and the people, so when the audience comes out screaming and are having a great time, it makes it so special for us.”

Showjumping news: Vogel has the magic Touch again

Germany’s Richard Vogel, ranked 11 in the world, and United Touch S captured top spot in the $385,000 Lugano Diamonds CSI5* grand prix at Wellington International’s Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) after a four-way jump-off in which the quartet all produced double clears over Anthony D’Ambrosio’s tracks.

“I have been lucky enough to ride a lot of good horses in my life, but he’s outstanding,” said Richard. “When he leaves the ground, that power and scope is something very unique and I’m very happy to be in his saddle.”

Darragh Kenny had set the early standard on 17-year-old Holstein stallion VDL Cartello before the lead jumped first to US Olympic team gold medallist McLain Ward on 16-year-old Callas and Shane Sweetnam on James Kann Cruz, back from a break, settled for third.

“I was very lucky that I went behind all three of these guys, and I knew I had to risk it all,” said 26-year-old Richard, whose groom Felicia Wallin won the $500 grooms’ award presented by Double H Farm. “If I had a rail, I was fourth and if I was a slow clear, I was fourth so there was not so much to lose.”

WEF results

Ben Maher and Dallas Vegas Batilly are back in the winner’s enclosure. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Ben Maher is back at the top

And finally in this week’s international showjumping news round-up, world number two Ben Maher won the $116,000 Adequan WEF Challenge Cup round seven at WEF with Dallas Vegas Batilly, with less than a second separating the top three riders.

“I’m lucky with Tilly – she has a huge stride, so I was able to get going and make up some time,” said Ben, 41. “It was lucky for me that I stayed ahead today. It’s always difficult to win here, whether on Thursday or Saturday night. When you have riders like Kent Farrington and Richard Vogel coming behind you, it’s never over until it’s over.

“She’s been an incredible horse early in her career. She jumped great in the five-star a couple weeks ago and I felt she was on form, which is why we brought her back this week.

“My 18-month-old son Cooper can sit on her and she’s the sweetest horse ever. But when you’re on her, she has a lot of opinions. I have to be the passenger, not the pilot, and get her to do things by asking her, not telling her. We’ve come with a great relationship, and I want to bring out the best in her. We saw today that she’s a real fighter for me.”

Exciting new five-star ride for John Whitaker – with Paris Olympics ‘a possibility’

Lucy Elder — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 11:11:27 +0000

John Whitaker has a new top-drawer ride in his string with whom he will target five-star shows and could be a contender for Paris 2024.

Arqana De Riverland, owned and campaigned by French rider Juliette Faligot, will be ridden by John.

The Olympic medal-winning rider has a one percent share in the grey mare and she was declared for Britain ahead of the 15 January deadline – this was the date by which horses must be registered in the nation for which they compete at Paris 2024.

“Juliette wants to give the mare a chance at five-star level and possibly the Olympics,” John told H&H, adding that it is “in the sights” if she goes well.

“I like to let actions speak louder than words, so we shall see how we go. It’s a possibility.”

The 14-year-old mare, by Cornet Obolensky, has been produced from a young horse to top level by Juliette. The pair have scored CSI3* grands prix wins and numerous international placings across Europe.

Arqana is still with Juliette, with the aim for John to do his first shows with her towards the end of the month.

He said the mare has a “very good” attitude and seems very straightforward.

“I’ve ridden her a couple of times and it went well. I’m going to start off at Sentower, then Lier, and take it from there,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it – hopefully it’s going to be good!”

John, 68, is a legend of British showjumping and one of the sport’s most respected horsemen. He has competed at six Olympic Games, plus the 1980 alternative Olympics and many other senior championships, winning dozens of medals for Britain.

He has been competing at the top of the sport for nearly five decades. At his most recent international event, the five-star London International Horse Show in December, he won two major classes.

What’s your favourite John Whitaker memory? Send your thoughts to hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for a chance that your letter could appear in the magazine

Mary King on the horse she would have loved to have ridden: ‘I was absolutely bowled over’

Becky Murray — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 18:30:25 +0000

Suppose your Christmas stocking contained a ride on the horse of your dreams… We find out which superstars of yesteryear this top rider would love to have been in the saddle on

Mary King, a six-time Olympian who counts Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky wins on her record – along with a seriously impressive medal haul – admired a certain grey superstar who took the showjumping world by storm.

“A horse I would have always loved to have ridden was Milton. I remember seeing him in the flesh at a show in Leicester and I was absolutely bowled over as he walked past. He just looked so amazingly soft, supple and athletic – and that was just walking, let alone how incredible he looked jumping,” says Mary.

Milton and John Whitaker (Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Milton is best known for his iconic partnership with John Whitaker, who was given the ride in 1985. The pair were a match made in heaven, and Milton became the first horse outside racing to win more than £1m in prize money. Known for his carefulness and rarely touching a pole, he was loved by showjumping fans around the world.

“I first saw him around about the time I was riding King William. I’d been having some fences down at big three-day events, so it made me even more in awe of Milton,” says Mary King.

“He just had this aura about him, he was so incredible in his heyday. He was so quick off the ground and soft in the air. Although I never met him, I admired him from afar and used to think, gosh, what it must feel like to ride such an athlete.”

You might also be interested in:

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Horse & Hound’s 140th anniversary legends: Milton – John Whitaker’s wonder horse who won over £1m during his career

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Thought you knew everything about Milton? 8 insights to the equine legend that may surprise you

Milton’s groom Penny Dalton, who had perhaps the most coveted job in the world, shares with us some fantastic insights

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Mary King back in the saddle after breaking bones in her neck in a fall at home

King William and Mary King (Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

From the Badminton Horse Trials archives: watch when Mary King won her first title in 1992

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

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.

Joe Stockdale as Cinderella and other top riders as you’ve never seen them before – welcome to the London International Horse Show fancy dress relay

Gemma Redrup — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:30:23 +0000

The London International Horse Show fancy dress class was back in 2023 and certainly did not disappoint. Some of the world’s top showjumpers and eventers delighted the crowds at the ExCeL Arena on Sunday (17 December) with their fabulous costumes – which were pantomime-themed – and speedy rounds of jumping.

Following each pair’s round, a celebrity panel of Pippa Funnell, impressionist Rory Bremner and none other than Father Christmas gave marks out of 10 for the riders’ performances. The total marks were then deducted from the time, providing the final result.

Check out some of the truly iconic costumes worn by the competitors, and so gallantly carried by their respective mounts.

John Whitaker made a great Ugly Sister…

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

…His mount was elegantly turned out in silver tinsel too

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Robert Whitaker teamed up with his dad to complete the duo of the Ugly Sisters (with some interestingly placed embroidered hands on his costume!). They finished fifth after Robert stole the “10” scoring panel from the judges.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

There were cheers aplenty for a very game Joe Stockdale, who fully embraced his new persona as Cinderella

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Joe teamed up with Jodie Hall McAteer, who was Prince Charming, and together they finished sixth

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Representing the eventers, recent Maryland 5 Star winner, Austin O’Connor, quite literally flew around as Peter Pan (with some help from his wings, of course)

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Austin teamed up with Gemma Stevens, who fully embraced her role as Hook. Together they finished third

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tim Gredley replaced his magic carpet with a horse when dressing up as Aladdin

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

While Tim’s pairing was Lily Attwood, who was dressed as Azerbanana. Sadly they finished bottom of the London International Horse Show fancy dress leaderboard in seventh

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Laura Collett and Tom McEwen were brilliant (and quite convincing too) as Snow White and The Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tom’s “frontage” was a sight to behold, and undoubtedly contributed to their second place

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The winners of the London International Horse Show fancy dress were Harry Charles and Matt Sampson, who, disguised as Dick Whittington and The Cat, blazed around and gained strong marks from the judges

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

According to the commentators, although the concept of Mother Goose took some explaining to Portuguese rider Duarte Seabra, he embraced it and finished fourth with Shane Breen, who was the Goose

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

‘They could have put the jumps up even higher’: John Whitaker’s winning streak continues to London six-bar

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:44:46 +0000

A day after showing the “young speed merchants” how to win a jump-off and claim top honours in Sunday’s Santa Stakes at the London International Horse Show, the mighty John Whitaker posted a masterclass in gymnastic high jumping to claim Monday’s six-bar with the same horse, Sharid.

Once again, the 68-year-old Yorkshireman was cheered home by an enthusiastic crowd, thrilled to witness their home hero back in the winner’s enclosure for the second time in as many days.

In October, John and Sharid had won the six-bar at Horse of the Year Show, sharing top honours with Shane Breen, and the duo followed up in London, winning Monday afternoon’s class outright with a superb display of high jumping from both horse and rider. Only three of the 17 starters made it through to the fourth round, and it was in the fifth and final round, where the final vertical towered to 1.90m, when the Yorkshireman’s rivals Duarte Seabra of Portugal riding Fernhill Balou Beau and Swiss rider Adrian Schmid with Deva V Schloesslihof both faulted, crowning John and Sharid as the outright winners.

“He’s done a couple of really good six-bars,” reflected John. “The second round today wasn’t the best, we were a bit lucky there, but I felt like I went in too fast. So I concentrated a bit more on my approach to the line of fences and came quite slow into it and those last two rounds he was amazing. He could have gone again – they could have put the jumps up even more and he’d have jumped them. He was just enjoying it all and listening.

“He’s always fresh and after going fast in the jump-off yesterday, it wasn’t the ideal build up for a six-bar. But that made it an even better win. It’s great to have two wins here in London, especially the way he did it. Six-bars are great to watch but they can go a bit wrong if nobody jumps it in the last round, so the way it finished with Sharid jumping clear, was perfect.”

‘I’m hanging on in there!’ John Whitaker shows ‘young speed merchants’ how it’s done in London

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 20:42:48 +0000

The legendary John Whitaker showed the “young speed merchants” how it’s done to win the Santa Stakes – and said winning at the London International Horse Show never gets old.

John and HH Prince Torki bin Mohammed Al Saud’s Sharid were the only combination to jump off clear in the 1.50m class, beating Scott Brash and Hello Mr President’s turbo-powered but four-fault round into second place.

John and the versatile 14-year-old, with whom he won the six-bar at Horse of the Year Show this year, were third of six to jump off, and with no clears before him, John judged that aiming to leave all the fences up was his best bet. The strategy paid off, when none of those who followed – Matt Sampson on MGH Candy Girl, Kendra Claricia Brinkop on Ma Belle and Lorenzo de Luca with Violino Il Palazetto – could match his feat.

“It’s only his second class this week so he’s fresh,” said John of the 14-year-old Toulon gelding. “He’s not an easy ride but he can really jump and when everything works out, it’s good. It was a tough enough course but with the others not going clear I thought maybe don’t take all the risks. I knew my time was beatable but I was clear, and it put just the right amount of pressure on the others.”

The home crowd roared its appreciation of the 68-year-old showjumping legend to the rooftops, and John said such moments, followed by the gallop under the spotlights, never get old.

“In front of your own crowd, and such an enthusiastic audience; it’s a fantastic feeling,” he said. “It keeps me young!”

John had joked: “It feels good to beat these young speed merchants,” adding: “They’re just so good, these guys, but I’m hanging on in there! It’s so nice; I enjoyed that. The horses have jumped well all week but not had the best luck so to win a decent class like makes Christmas a bit better.”

John Whitaker returns to grassroots riding club to present awards again – 50 years on

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 17:28:23 +0000

Riders and organisers from Ilkley & District Riding Association (IDRA) were delighted to welcome John Whitaker to present their annual awards – 50 years after he last did so.

The showjumping legend, who handed out the trophies at the first IDRA presentation evening in 1973, returned last Saturday (2 December) in the club’s 50th anniversary year.

“He was amazing,” IDRA chair Carol Dawson told H&H. “The fact he came back was fantastic. We had the Duchess of Devonshire at our show in August, and this was the icing on the cake for our competitors.”

Ms Dawson said the club, which was formed to support amateur riders of all ages, has members from five to 75 years old.

Picture by Bobby Jo Imaging (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Ms Dawson competed against John in the 1970s, and remembers him jumping the legendary Ryan’s Son at one of his first shows.

“He came in on what we thought looked like a carthorse, won hands down and got 50p and a red rosette!” she said. “And that horse took him to the Olympics, and changed his life. He told me this weekend, he went to the Great Yorkshire Show on Ryan’s Son in about 1974 and felt really outclassed; he told his dad he didn’t think he would go back – but he did, and won the Cock o’the North.

“I said to John that these grassroots clubs are so important and he agreed, it’s where future stars are made.”

John said: “It was so nice to see so many enthusiastic horse people of all ages.”

‘It’s a privilege to ride with him’: HOYS roof raised as John Whitaker and Shane Breen win 1.85m six-bar

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 16:28:08 +0000

The roof of the NEC must have been tugging at its moorings this afternoon, as John Whitaker and Shane Breen both cleared 1.85m (6’1”) to win the Thistledown Investments HOYS six-bar.

After the field of 16 starters had been whittled down to Shane on Cato Boy and John on Sharid, the pair had the option to share first place or go again.

“I said ‘Why don’t we go again, for the craic?’” Shane said. “With a full house like that – the crowd loves it when you go in and have a go, and it’s lovely we both went in and jumped clear. Excellent sport.”

Both horses – HH Prince Torki bin Mohammed Al Saud’s 14-year-old who has jumped many a six-bar with John, and Nikki Rutter Giaponne’s nine-year-old who was making his debut in the class with Shane – made nothing of the huge verticals, popping down the line as if it was a grid at home.

Shane BREEN riding CATO BOY and John WHITAKER riding SHARID, winners of the Thistledown Investments Six Bar during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 4 -8 th October 2023 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

“He’s good at six-bars, and they do him good,” said John. “They get his focus because he can be a bit of a thug who likes to play around. As Shane said, as the fences get bigger, the distances between them get shorter, so the last two rounds I just went in slow and tried to hold him up in between, and he jumped very good.”

The cheers for both riders’ achievement were huge – but it was the response to the legendary John, who at 68 has been competing at HOYS for over half a century, that must have been heard miles away; the mighty cheer as he came in for his last round only surpassed by the explosion of applause when he cleared the final fence. The pair rode into the arena with their hands raised together, and took the trophy between them.

“He’s a superstar, a legend” said Shane. “It’s an honour to ride with him.”

John added that the atmosphere during the HOYS six-bar today was “fantastic”.

“I don’t think it’s because of what I do, I think it’s because I’ve been around so long,” he quipped.

“It’s an unbelievable reception when you go in. It can wind Sharid up a bit – but it was just enough today.”

‘I’m 68, but I can still do it’: John and Michael Whitaker discuss longevity, mistaken identity and sibling rivalry

Jennifer Donald — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 15:32:41 +0000

Brothers John and Michael Whitaker have spearheaded an incredible era for the sport of showjumping.

They’ve amassed 36 Olympic, world and European medals between them and enjoyed glittering careers that have spanned nearly 50 years – and they’re both still at the very top of their game.

So to celebrate these two legends of the sport, H&H invited the brothers to join us on episode 141 of The Horse & Hound Podcast. We started with a trip down memory lane and the brothers revealed how this incredible journey began and the influence of their parents, Enid and Donald Whitaker, on their riding careers.

Michael’s first pony was a brilliantly named Shetland called Hercules, who used to “run off at high speed if he didn’t want to do something” and the pair teamed up to do the milk round every morning.

“It was a proper old-fashioned milk float and Michael used to go out and catch the pony at 6am and by the time we got the harness on, got the milk which we’d loaded the night before and did the milk round, it was time for school,” recalls John.

They used to hack to shows in the early days – covering many miles to get there.

“We did gymkhanas, handy pony, we just used to do everything. We were both really good at it and we used to earn more money from that than anything else,” says John, who remembers being inspired after staying up late to watch the likes of Alan Oliver showjumping on TV.

“We’d have a plank of wood resting on some bricks, then we’d progress to jumping barrels.”

John and Michael Whitaker in conversation: ‘If I can’t win, I’m very happy if he wins’

So what’s it like competing against your brother?

“We just treat each other like any other competitor – if he’s winning, I’ll try to beat him and if I’m winning, he’ll try to beat me,” says Michael. “But if I can’t win, I’m very happy if he wins. Although at a big class at Olympia or somewhere, if I was winning and John beat me I’d be slightly sick!”

“I think it’s helped us both though,” says John. “If your brother’s in the lead, you think, ‘well, I can beat my brother’. But if one of us isn’t in the jump-off we’ll help with some advice. It’s like that throughout the family I think, even with my own kids. I would always try to beat them, just to show them!”

John and Michael Whitaker are joined by Nick Skelton and Geoff Billington on the British Olympic team (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“But like at the Los Angeles Olympics, working together with your brother on a team, that’s very rewarding,” says Michael.

The brothers are often mistaken for each other.

“I rarely go to a show when someone doesn’t call me John!” says Michael.

At one show, Michael was running late so John once took the reins on one of his brother’s young horses and was in with a chance of winning before someone objected that it might be the wrong Whitaker in the saddle.

“I jumped two rounds before anyone realised I wasn’t Michael!” says John.

‘It rubs off watching good young riders – winning is much tougher now’

On the subject of longevity, John says: “People ask me when I’m going to retire but as long as I’ve got a good horse and I’m capable of having a chance of winning, I’ll keep doing it. I’m 68 but I feel like I can do it, so I’m doing it.”

“It hasn’t been easy, we’ve worked hard for it,” says Michael.

“I’m working harder than ever,” says John. “Finding the next good horse has always been the challenge. Our father instilled in us never to give up and just keep trying. That’s what we’ve done.

“It rubs off watching good young riders. You have to change with the times. Winning is much tougher now, the sport is so professional, there are so many good horses and riders, everywhere you go.

“Another Olympics isn’t out of the question, but I just feel we’ve been there and done that and I’m not sure if I really want to put myself through that kind of pressure again. If I thought I had a really, really good chance of winning it, I would, but I’m not just sure I feel like that at the moment. I can’t see myself doing and Olympics after Paris, anyway – 2028. That might be a bit of a long shot!”

To hear John and Michael Whitaker talking more about the famous Whitaker family, top horses Milton and Monsanta, and riding at the Olympics, tune in to episode 141 of The Horse & Hound Podcast – listen here or search “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your favourite podcast app.

The Horse & Hound Podcast 141: John & Michael Whitaker

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 05:45:40 +0000

On the 141st episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast, we speak to legendary showjumping brothers John and Michael Whitaker. They talk about their childhood together, pretending to be each other and what keeps them going in showjumping. We hope you will enjoy listening.

Episode 141 of The Horse & Hound Podcast, our popular audio service, is now live.

Each episode is available for H&H fans to listen to via your favourite podcast app, as well as here on the website. Search for “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your preferred podcast app and click subscribe to be notified about each new episode.

View all episodes of The Horse & Hound Podcast

“We did a milk round together for four or five years with a boy and cart before school” – John Whitaker on growing up with Michael in the early days“I will always ask John for his thoughts if I get a new horse as it’s good to have his feedback” – Michael Whitaker on getting advice from his brother, John

We would love to hear your feedback on all our podcasts, so please do send your thoughts to pippa.roome@futurenet.com

Horse & Hound Podcast: episode 141

Catch up with more episodes of The Horse & Hound Podcast…

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The Horse & Hound Podcast 140: Caroline Powell on her 2010 Burghley win with Lenamore | Feeding a competition horse

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The Horse & Hound Podcast 139: Hickstead Derby winner David Simpson | Keeping horses hydrated

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The Horse & Hound Podcast 138: Dressage rider Dannie Morgan

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The Horse & Hound Podcast 137: Showing legend Jayne Ross | Expert feeding advice

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the Burghley action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

Cowboy saloons, Hawaii holidays, and historic wins: John Whitaker’s fondest memories of an outstanding show

Becky Murray — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 07:35:05 +0000

Visiting cowboy saloons, trading a trophy for a trip to Hawaii, and becoming a three-time Spruce Meadows grand prix winner – the top Canadian venue holds many fond memories for British showjumping legend John Whitaker.

H&H caught up with John, who turned 68 last month, on site in Calgary during his long-awaited return to the prestigious Masters tournament (6-10 September) for a trip down memory lane.

John first started competing at Spruce Meadows in 1980, and enjoyed success with his Olympic team silver medal-winning Ryan’s Son. But it was John’s 1986 Spruce Meadows’ appearance that remains a significant moment in showjumping history, when he won the grand prix for the first time, with the grey superstar Milton.

“It was brilliant to win. I’d been in previous years with Ryan’s Son and we’d done quite well, so to then come and win it was a special one. It always makes the flight home very nice,” says John.

John went on to win the grand prix twice more; in 1992 on Henderson Gammon and in 1994 with Everest Grannusch. To date only former Olympic champion Nick Skelton has bettered this record, winning four times; in 1985 with Everest St James, 1993 with Everest Dollar Girl, 1998 on Virtual Village Hopes Are High, and 2008 with Arko III.

Six-time Olympian John has also enjoyed much team success at Spruce Meadows, helping Britain to victory in the Nations Cup event on seven occasions – including four on the trot from 1989 to 1992 alongside his brother Michael, and Nick Skelton. But it was 1980 that perhaps delivered the best spoils, when some negotiating from the late British showjumping team manager Ronnie Massarella resulted in a spontaneous holiday for the team.

“We weren’t allowed to take the trophy home because it stays at Spruce Meadows,” explains John. “So when Britain won it for a third time in a row, Ronnie was trying to get something out of it because we couldn’t keep the trophy, so a holiday in Hawaii got suggested. When we won, Ron Southern [Spruce Meadows founder] stood by it and gave us the holiday. It was much better than the trophy!”

A “game-changer” for showjumping

Looking back, John believes Spruce Meadows was a “game-changer” for showjumping, owing to the generous prize money it put on the table. Today the CPKC International grand prix prize pot is one of the richest in the world at $3m (£1.762m).

“The other shows had to up their game prize money-wise, so it changed the sport. It was fantastic in those days to get prize money like that,” he explains, adding that the unique Calgary weather also added some surprises to the mix.

“A couple of times in the morning you’d be walking the course and there would be snow on the ground. One year I remember they cleared the ring with hand shovels, because they didn’t want to damage the ground with machines.”

John adds that Spruce Meadows hasn’t rested on its laurels and continues to develop its world-renowned facilities.

“The place is incredible,” he says. “They keep improving it and making it bigger and better, which seems impossible – but they keep doing it.

“Until this year, I hadn’t been for at least 10 years. And I missed it the years I didn’t come. It’s the way they do things here, the way they look after the crowds and get them in. It’s always a good atmosphere here.”

Recalling more Spruce Meadows history, John says in the early years much work went into promoting the event – and a special after-hours haunt, renowned for its line-dancing, remains a place for riders to visit for some downtime.

“The first time I went to Spruce Meadows they had all the teams dressed in their riding gear in wagons driving us around Calgary promoting the show. They also used to put free buses on from Calgary for spectators, so they really promoted it well and got people coming. And now it’s known throughout the world,” he says.

“It’s definitely one of the standout shows – the prize money, the atmosphere, the place, the organisation. They make it very easy for us to want to come here.

“We’ve had plenty of fun times. We used to always stop at Ranchman’s on the way home, it’s a real cowboy saloon. We haven’t been yet this trip, but I think we have to for old times’ sake. We used to call in nearly every night when we were younger. There was no line dancing for us though – just sampling the beer!”

“It’s good to be back”, says John Whitaker

This year marked John’s return to Spruce Meadows for the first time in more than 15 years – and the British team’s since 2016. The squad of Sameh El Dahan and WKD Toronto, Ben Maher and Exit Remo, Matt Sampson and Equine America Ivanhoe GPH, and John with Equine America Unick Du Francport, hoped to replicate Great Britain’s past success in the Nations Cup event. Another Brit in action at the Masters tournament was Rolex grand slam winner Scott Brash and his World Championships team bronze medal-winning ride and Paris 2024 hopeful Hello Jefferson.

“It’s good to be back, and with the team,” says John. “They’re all good [shows] to win, but this is especially a good one. It’s a good place for Matt, he does well here, Ben’s on flying form, Sameh’s been doing well, and I’ve been doing well.”

Although the Brits didn’t pull off the win, they could hold their heads high finishing fourth, in what was an action-packed and drama-filled Nations Cup competition at Spruce Meadows. The win ultimately went to Ireland, the country’s first Nations Cup victory here since 2001.

Did you enjoy reading this exclusive interview with John Whitaker? If you’d like to support our work, enabling us to invest in even more exclusive journalism like this – as well as enjoying unlimited access to our online breaking news service, expert opinion and event analysis, our extensive vet library, plus training advice, you can subscribe today from as little as £1 a week*. View offers.

*Annual subscription billed today as £52 for 1 year. Renews automatically after first year at standard price £87.99, and we will notify you of any price increases in advance. Cancel auto-renewal at any time.

Why ‘old school and simple’ works best for John Whitaker’s groom Kerry Finch

Jennifer Donald — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 07:29:24 +0000

Showjumping groom Kerry Finch has one of the most coveted jobs in showjumping as she has been John Whitaker’s travelling groom for the past five years.

She and John have recently returned from Calgary in Canada, where John was in action at the CSIO Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament, one of the most prestigious events in the showjumping calendar. Kerry was looking after John’s three top horses Equine America Unick Du Francport, Sharid and Green Grass.

“We flew over to Calgary after competing at the Brussels Stephex Masters in Belgium,” explains Kerry. “We stayed with Helena Stormanns in Eschweiler for five days after Stephex, before travelling on to Canada.

“My journey to the airport only took an hour which was great – I arrived there at 3am to check on the horses before they flew. After that, I travelled from Brussels to Paris to catch our flight to Calgary, and we arrived two-and-a-half hours before the horses landed to ensure that everything was OK.”

John Whitaker and Equine America Unick Du Francport help Great Britain win the Hickstead Nations Cup for the first time since 2010. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Kerry describes 15-year-old gelding Equine America Unick du Francport, a son of Zandor and with whom John Whitaker helped Great Britain secure Nations Cup victory at Hickstead this summer (pictured above), as “very special in his own way and very quiet”.

“You cannot be sharp around him, you have to remain quiet as he is quite a sensitive horse in that respect,” reveals Kerry. “At the same time, he knows what he wants, and does what he wants. If you are hand-grazing him and he sees a spot of grass that he wants, he will head there and will not go where you want him to until he gets his way. Otherwise he is a really easy horse to look after.”

“A gold medallist when it comes to sleeping”: says John Whitaker’s groom Kerry Finch

Frank’s travelling companion Sharid is “another lovely horse”, who is “a gold medallist when it comes to sleeping”.

“They know each other really well and have a habit of whinnying after each other, but they do not stress out if one has left the stable,” says Kerry. “You know that something is not right when Sharid does not go back to bed after breakfast to sleep!”

Kerry’s trick to settling the “sharp” Sharid when John gets on board is to have lots of treats at the ready.

“He has become so used to this routine that now he just stands there looking at me whilst expecting a treat,” says Kerry. “Horses learn very quickly.”

Meanwhile Lynne Barker’s Luidam son, Green Grass, who is usually ridden by Paul Barker but is often “borrowed” by John for the big shows, loves food and rolling.

“All the horses are lovely. They all have different personalities,” says Kerry. “They are spoilt really!”

Kerry previously worked for John’s brother Michael Whitaker for 13 years and Billy Twomey for six years. She originally joined John Whitaker’s team as a freelance groom for one month, but “never left”.

“It is really easy working for John; everything is really old school and simple,” she explains. “If you find a bridle that works for a horse, you do not change it. My horse has had the same bridle for the past three-and-a-half years – that is how it works. Things are simple, and if there is a problem we just deal with it. We are not into having horses treated every six weeks, but if they need treatment, they will receive it.”

“John Whitaker never stops – but he’ll always find time for an autograph”

Kerry says that 68-year-old John Whitaker never stops – even when he is back at home.

“He is up in the morning tacking up his own horses and riding them,” says Kerry. “Afterwards, he looks after the cows and the hay on the farm, or anything that needs mending or fixing on the farm. He is really humble; nothing goes to his head. If anyone approaches him for an autograph, he will always stop and talk to them for five minutes. It is never too much for him.”

She puts John’s longevity in the sport down to “not giving up – he just keeps going”.

“There is no determination to outprove anyone or anything – it is just the way he is,” says Kerry. “He is someone that gets on with it, and who continually keeps going. I think the day he stops will be the day that the world does not have a John Whitaker. Age does not define him!

“Five years ago, John bought Equine America Unick Du Francport who was quite the character,” she adds. “He was difficult and would stop and spin when things upset him. John did not have a grand prix horse at that time, Argento was at the end of his career, so we were not entering the big competitions.

“It was two years of grafting, doing all the tours and the county shows in order for Equine America Unick Du Francport to settle down. John was determined and kept going until the penny dropped. If you look at them now, they are unstoppable. In the past few years, they have formed quite the partnership.”

Kerry Finch with the “sensitive” Equine America Unick Du Francport (Image credit: World of Showjumping.com)

According to Kerry, the grooms and horses enjoy excellent facilities at major shows such as Spruce Meadows, which has spacious stables and paddocks that they can turn the horses out in, while everything is “incredibly clean and tidy”.

“There is no other show that can compare to the CSIO Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament in the world,” she says. “CHIO Aachen is an incredible show that is brilliant to attend, but Spruce Meadows enters a whole new level.

“They also provide shuttle services for the grooms which makes life easier. The organisers have provided areas where we can hand-walk the horses and we are not restricted to certain areas. The facilities are just top-class. There is no other show in the world that will go above and beyond what they do,” says Kerry, who also cites CHI Geneva as a “beautiful indoor show”.

Life as a groom: “a supportive community”

The Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament is always run in September, meaning visitors and organisers need to be prepared for all weathers.

“I have attended the show in the past when it has snowed and straight away they began shovelling the show by hand,” remembers Kerry. “In 2005 it rained for two weeks straight – I have never seen anything like it. They were proactive by pumping water off the main rings.

“The ground held up so well, so we were able to still jump on it. When you have a problem they sort it – it is truly one of my favourite shows! All of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors go above and beyond. They set up areas where the grooms can get coffee and other similar things as well, and if there is a problem they do everything they can to help solve it.”

According to Kerry, overall the grooms are a “supportive community” and in Spruce Meadows the grooms arranged together what time to get the shuttle to do the night checks.

“Some people only have one horse and they are always happy to help out those who have a few!” reveals Kerry, who has been working as a groom for 30 years.

“It is the simple things that are important. For example, I asked someone to help me during the Nations Cup parade. Everyone is really helpful, and this is very important in the grooming industry.

“A lot of people come into it for the money, but it is important to be passionate for the job and not look at the hours involved,” stresses Kerry. “It is as difficult as it sounds – you are there for the horses. It is a way of life and not just a job.”

Kerry emphasises that grooms need to put their heart and soul into the job “for it to be done properly”.

“It is not easy!” she says. “You cannot think that you are better than anybody else. The mantra should be that if you do not know, you should ask for help. A lot of younger grooms that come in today, do not want to take advice from the older grooms – but they should be like a sponge learning from everyone around them. I learnt from doing exactly this. The first time I flew to Spruce Meadows, I had never flown with horses before. I was only 20 and I learnt from all of the other grooms around me.”

Kerry is also quick to stress the importance of the whole team involved with John Whitaker.

“There is definitely a strong team aspect, as without everybody pulling together and doing their job, we would not be successful,” she explains. “It is vital for every team member to constantly coordinate with one another to ensure that everyone is kept in the loop. Everyone plays a crucial role in ensuring the health and wellbeing of these horses; it is not just the people who attend the shows, it’s also everyone that remains at home.”

With thanks to Rolex Grand Slam.

‘That was special’: emotions run high again as Robert Whitaker lifts King George trophy on father John’s home-bred

Jennifer Donald — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 17:04:11 +0000

What a week it’s been for the Whitaker family at this year’s Longines Royal International Horse Show. The party had barely died down after Friday’s jubilant British Nations Cup celebrations before Hickstead erupted with delight once again on Sunday afternoon (30 July). This time the object of their appreciation was Robert Whitaker, a very worthy winner of an attritional Longines King George V Gold Cup showjumping competition with the only double clear on a horse who was bred by his father John Whitaker.

It doesn’t get much better than that in this sport, and the tears that flowed in the aftermath revealed just what it meant for both father and son, and everyone at Hickstead.

“This is just amazing,” said an emotional Robert after lifting the solid gold trophy, which has his father John’s name etched on it three times and uncle Michael Whitaker four times, but Robert is the first Whitaker for more than a quarter of a century to add his name to the silverware.

Robert, who first jumped at Hickstead as a toddler in the under-10s, revealed just why it was such an emotional day for the family.

“My dad loves the sport so much – and everybody loves him,” he said, wiping away a tear.

King George V Gold Cup showjumping: ‘Unbelievable’

A field of nine came forward for the jump-off for Sunday’s King George V Gold Cup, with a top prize of over 50,000 euro, but faults flowed thick and fast in the rainy conditions until it became obvious that anyone who could jump a second clear would be in with the chance of some serious prize money.

Robert and Vermento, a 10-year-old son of Argento – John Whitaker’s top ride for many years – were quick out of the starting blocks and you could tell this was a man on a mission. Had his father John offered any good advice before he went in?

“When he’s in the jump-off with me he doesn’t speak to me at all!” said Robert. “But he told me the course was jumping tough today.

“Vermento is 10, so we’ve put a lot of work into him. But that was his first five-star grand prix. He was amazing. Before the first round I was actually really nervous because you never know what’s going to happen in that ring. But he’s jumped smaller classes in this ring so he’s well used to it.

“In the jump-off, I just wanted to get in a good rhythm and not go too slow but not overcook it either,” added Robert. “He felt really well today.”

An anxious wait for King George winner Robert Whitaker

Robert endured an anxious wait after crossing the line clear in 56.70sec as there were still three of the world’s fastest riders behind him and he and his father took refuge in the commentary box. But as soon as the planks fell for final rider Daniel Coyle and Gisbourne VDL, the celebrations erupted once again.

An emotional John Whitaker said: “I’m the breeder of the horse and the breeder of the rider! But this is just unbelievable. That was special, just amazing.”

Vermento has long been an exciting prospect and today he really came of age. This is a very special partnership.

Finishing second as the fastest four-faulter was Pedro Veniss of Brazil riding Nimrod De Muze Z, while Sweden’s Amanda Landeblad took third on the British-produced For Killy.

‘The best day’: an emotional John Whitaker helps Great Britain triumph in Hickstead Nations Cup

Jennifer Donald — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 18:38:03 +0000

For the first time since 2010, Great Britain has triumphed on home soil after a Hickstead Nations Cup thriller on Friday (28 July).

It was John Whitaker, competing in his 180th Nations Cup, who summed up victory in the Longines FEI Nations Cup at the Longines Royal International Horse Show by saying: “We had good vibes all week, we felt quietly confident,” said the 68-year-old, who was joined on the winning squad by Harry Charles, Tim Gredley and Ben Maher.

“I wasn’t quite here in 1929 [when the Nations Cup first ran],” he quipped.

“But I first came here in 1970 with a pony – that was daunting – but today, after all those years, this is probably the best day,” said John, welling up.

Hickstead Nations Cup: neck and neck after round one

Three of the eight countries in Friday’s two-round competition were neck and neck after round one, with Great Britain, Ireland and France tied for the lead on four faults.

However, faults started coming thick and fast in round two as a testing, stamina-zapping track set by Kelvin Bywater took its toll. Title-holders France’s chances slipped away, but just four faults from Olympic champion Ben Maher with 14-year-old Exit Remo (San Remo x Ferro), owned by Pamela Wright and Charlotte Rossetter, followed by a masterful clear from Tim Gredley on Medoc De Toxandria kept Great Britain firmly in the hunt.

As John Whitaker entered the ring for the second time with the 15-year-old Zandor gelding, Equine America Unick Du Francport, news filtered through that Irish rider Mark McAuley had been eliminated owing to the blood rule with GRS Lady Amaro. The 68-year-old legendary showjumper proceeded to post an exceptional clear, which couldn’t have come at a better time as it sealed a triumphant return for the British team at the home of British showjumping. The British celebrations continued all the way down the chute and well into the evening.

While Harry Charles, at 24 the youngest member of the team, was not required to jump again, there was the small matter of a double clear bonus at stake and he duly delivered with Casquo Blue, jumping double clear in the Hickstead Nations Cup for the second year running, sharing the bonus with Olivier Robert of France and Jack Ryan of Ireland.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

An ‘unbelievable’ result in the Hickstead Nations Cup

“It was unbelievable, I was awake through the night, then at 5am,” said chef d’equipe Di Lampard, who was leading her team to a home victory for the first time. “I so wanted this, for these riders, and the squad behind them. I did shed a tear and I’m not normally like that – I wanted this so badly. This legend [John Whitaker] clinched it for us.”

Tim Gredley, who is enjoying something of a renaissance, returning from a sabbatical to climb back to the top tier of the sport, described winning as a “surreal experience”.

“I used to come here to do the working hunters and one of the reasons I went in to showjumping was from watching John Whitaker, so this is a bit surreal,” he said. “I was feeling a bit of pressure, but I have a very good horse and I’m absolutely loving this.”

Harry’s father Peter Charles was part of the last Nations Cup-winning British team on home soil in 2010 and Harry described winning his first Nations Cup as “a special day”.

With €200,000 victory sealed for Great Britain, the fourth team riders were left battling out for podium honours and taking second was Ireland with France in third.

‘Bring it on’: from 68-year-old Olympic legend to 24-year-old sensation – meet the British team for today’s Hickstead Nations Cup

Jennifer Donald — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 07:02:21 +0000

Hooray, it’s Hickstead Nations Cup day! At 2.15pm today (Friday, 28 July), the British leg of the Longines FEI Nations Cup series takes place at the Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead and we can’t wait.

A total of eight different countries are lining up to battle it out for top honours and a €200,000 prize pot, as well as vital points in the overall series. France are the title-holders having won the Hickstead Nations Cup event in 2022 and this year they bring an in-form squad including their star rider Olivier Robert riding Iglesias DV.

Ireland have an excellent record at Hickstead and have been drawn first in the two-round competition. Flying the flag will be Hickstead-based Shane Breen (Cuick Star Kervec), Mark McAuley (GRS Lady Amaro), Jack Ryan (BBS McGregor) and US-based Daniel Coyle on the brilliant Legacy.

Among the other leading names representing their nations are Marcus Ehning for Germany on DPS Revere and Laura Kraut of USA riding Dorado 212.

Great Britain hasn’t won on home soil since 2010, but Di Lampard has selected a red hot quartet to fly the Union flag, so who are this year’s British showjumping Hickstead Nations Cup contenders?

Hickstead Nations Cup British team riders

BEN MAHER: The Hertfordshire rider is the reigning Olympic champion and a team gold medallist from London 2012 and will act as pathfinder for this contest on home soil. He rides 14-year-old Exit Remo (San Remo x Ferro), owned by Pamela Wright and Charlotte Rossetter. Ben, 40, has been a regular on Nations Cup teams this season, including as part of the second-placed squad in Aachen last month. Ben only started riding the gelding last year and this will be their first team appearance as a duo.

TIM GREDLEY: It has been 17 years since the Newmarket-based showjumper last contested a championship, but after a sabbatical from the sport, the 37-year-old has returned to the top tier this year and is arguably in the best form of his life. He rides his own Medoc De Toxandria, an 11-year-old by Der Senaat x Kelvin De Sainte Hermelle in the Hickstead Nations Cup.

“Medoc is unique! Now I’ve got to know him I find it easy, but he has a special way of doing things,” says Tim. “He’s got personality like I’ve never seen. After jumping one of the biggest grands prix in the world, he’ll come out like there’s no adrenaline in him whatsoever, he finds it so easy and he enjoys life.”

JOHN WHITAKER: The 68-year-old showjumping legend needs little introduction, having been a British team stalwart for the past four decades, representing his country in Olympics, World Cup Finals and world and European championships. The Yorkshireman rides his top horse Equine America Unick Du Francport, AKA Frank, a 15-year-old by Zandor with whom he competed in the Hickstead Nations Cup last year and the pair jumped a spectacular double clear in the Nations Cup of Rome recently.

“I was lucky enough to find Unick, who’s kept me going a bit longer,” John reflects. “He’s been so good for me and we just keep ticking along.”

HARRY CHARLES: At just 24, Hampshire-based Harry is the youngest member of the team representing Great Britain at Hickstead today, but he’s a veteran of an Olympic Games in Tokyo and won team bronze at last year’s world championships. His father Peter Charles won Olympic gold in London 2012 and was part of the last Nations Cup team to have won on home soil in 2010, while his two sisters Sienna and Scarlett also compete at the top of the sport. Harry has reigned as the highest ranked under-25 rider in the world for a considerable time. He has an enviable string of horses but has chosen to bring Stall Zet’s 13-year-old Casquo Blue (Chacco Blue x Carthago Z) and this classy duo will act as anchorman for the two-round Nations Cup on Friday afternoon. The pair jumped a phenomenal double clear in the recent Falsterbo Nations Cup, as well as last year’s competition here at Hickstead, where the team finished sixth.

“You can’t do better than a double clear in a Nations Cup, especially here at home,” expressed Harry – can he repeat the feat in 2023?

“Bring it on”

The team chef d’equipe Di Lampard is targeting her first Nations Cup win on home soil and says ahead of the event: “It’s really exciting and I’m really looking forward to it. We’ve got a strong team with experience, so bring it on.

“I couldn’t count how many Nations Cups John Whitaker has jumped at Hickstead, but he’s got the experience, he jumped very well for us a few weeks ago [in Rome] so we are hoping he can repeat that for us,” she adds. “Young Harry Charles was double clear a couple of weeks ago [in Falsterbo], the youngest member of the team being our anchor man this week and let’s hope it works out for us.

“I’m happy with being third in the draw, and I look at it as third time lucky – we were second in Aachen, and second again in Falsterbo two weeks ago, so let’s hope the third time we’re going to get a win. You feel so proud to be walking out in front of your own team in front of a home crowd at the Nations Cup at Hickstead, and the riders feel proud as well, they want to be successful,” she says.

Stay tuned, this year’s Hickstead Nations Cup looks set to be a thriller.

John Whitaker’s Hickstead Derby memories: ‘If ever there was a horse that was a certainty to win it, it was Welham’

Jennifer Donald — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 15:32:39 +0000

Ahead of the 61st running of the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby on Sunday (25 June), we’ve been chatting to some past winners to hear their stand-out memories.

Here is what John Whitaker, four-time winner of the Hickstead Derby in 1983 on Ryan’s Son, 1998 on Gammon, 2000 riding Welham and in 2004 on Buddy Bunn, had to say…

First Hickstead Derby memory

“Stroller and the famous Harvey Smith V-sign – it was so controversial,” says John. “Harvey was always so good in the Derby and in those days they always showed it on TV.”

First Hickstead Derby experience

“I’m sure I jumped Ryan’s Son in it when he was seven and he only had two down,” remembers John. “I don’t think we practised at home beforehand, we just went straight in! But one of the faults he had was at fence two, which ended up being a fateful fence for him [where he fell shortly before he died in 1987] – he just always put his back legs down in it for some reason.

“I can’t remember if we were placed that first year with eight faults, but I think in general horses get better every year and Ryan’s Son certainly improved every time. A bit later, I built a devil’s dyke and a bank at home and it definitely pays to practise – not such a steep bank necessarily, just something to give horses the idea of what they have to do. I think in general most people practise the fences now, it 100% helps.”

The times it all went right

“The four wins were all pretty special in their own way – and each had a story to them,” says John.

“Ryan’s Son was obviously a great one because it’s a real milestone in your career. I can’t remember how many times he did the Derby, but he was very consistent and placed nearly every time.

“Gammon was semi-retired and my daughter Louise had been doing young riders with him – she started riding him when he was about 17 and did very well in the Europeans and other good classes. That year [1998] I had a very good young horse, but it just wasn’t working out very well and I realised he had no chance in the Derby. My wife Claire said ‘Why don’t you take Gammon?’ It had never even crossed my mind to take him so I said ‘Is it fair on Gammon, is it fair on Louise?’ But Louise said ‘That’s fine, go for it!’

“So I practised a bit at home, then he had one or two fences down in the Derby trial because he was just too fresh – he certainly didn’t feel like a 21-year-old, he felt more like an eight-year-old! So I certainly wasn’t worried anymore about him coping with the Derby at his age and he went in and won it.

“Saying you could ‘enjoy’ riding the Derby on a horse like that probably isn’t the right word, but it is a good feeling. Because there is so much space between the fences, you have to stay focused – you can change your mind three times before you reach the next one! But when you’re on a roll on a good horse there, it also gives you time to tick off the fences and think, ‘I’ve done that one, I’m still clear.’”

Derby bonus

John continues: “Welham didn’t actually do the Derby till he was 17 or 18 because he had championship commitments, then won it when he was 20,” says John. “But if ever there was a horse that was nearly a certainty to win it I thought it was him, because he loved the big ring, big jumps, so he really deserved it.

“The year he won it [2000], there was a £50,000 bonus if you could win the Hickstead and Hamburg Derbies, so I did Hamburg first. Welham stopped at the small fence at the top of the bank and it was the year they had changed a stop from three faults to four faults. He jumped the rest of the course clear and finished on four faults and there were no clears that year. So if it had been the previous year, he’d have won outright with three faults. Instead, I had to jump-off with Franke Sloothaak, who went clear and really, really fast. I set off to try to beat him, and I was quicker flying to the last fence, but he just touched it and it came down in slow motion, so as I galloped through the finish I could see it falling.

“So I lost the class twice basically – and the bonus!

“Fortunately in 2004, I’d only started two horses at the Derby meeting – you’re only allowed three, so when William Funnell realised he was injured and couldn’t ride Buddy Bunn and asked me to ride him, I could do so.

“In the Derby the next day, my niece Ellen [Whitaker] was the only clear and I was last to go – I don’t know how I got such a good draw, riding Dougie’s horse! I jumped clear, then she had one down in the jump-off and I jumped clear again.

“You can’t hold back for anybody, even family, so I did feel sorry for Ellen when I jumped clear because the Derby is such a good one to win – I felt like I’d taken it off her a bit.”

John Whitaker clears 1.95m to win on ‘game’ horse ‘he borrows sometimes’

Becky Murray — Tue, 30 May 2023 17:10:03 +0000

Legendary showjumper John Whitaker was the joint winner of the six-bar challenge at the CSIO Rome Piazza di Siena, clearing 1.95m on a horse he “borrows sometimes”.

John and Paul Barker’s Green Grass, and Emilio Biocchi and Testa Carlo’s Flinton, were the only combinations to leave the fences up in the third round of Friday’s final class (26 May). The riders opted not to battle it out over a fourth round, which would have gone up to 2.05m, and instead agreed to share the win.

The class asked questions from the start, with the final fence standing at 1.60m in the first round, and the height increased in every round. Only one other rider of 10 made it to the last round, Switzerland’s Alzain Jufer and Kosimo MM, who took the final fence down.

The competition was 13-year-old stallion Green Grass’s first attempt at a six bar.

“He’s normally ridden by Paul, who bred him, I just borrow him sometimes!”, said John.

“He’s really brave, he just took it on. He’s never jumped anything near that height. Paul jumps him in national 1.45m or 1.50m classes and he’s competitive. I just jumped him for experience in the first two rounds and he felt so good the third time I thought I’d go again. He’s very game.”

John was cheered by the Italian crowd, gaining the title ‘Il grande John Whitaker’ – meaning ‘the great John Whitaker’ whenever he entered the Piazza di Siena ring.

“It’s actually very nice, I like it!” he said.

John was in Rome with Ben Maher, Jodie Hall McAteer, Matthew Sampson and Tim Gredley for the CSIO5* Nations Cup. The team had an unlucky day to finish eighth – team Ireland took the honours, made up of Mikey Pender, Jack Ryan, Michael G Duffy, and Denis Lynch.

Jodie and Kimosa Van Het Kritahof won the 1.50m feature class on the opening day of competition on Wednesday (24 May), and were also second in the 1.45m with Catoki, beaten by Pedro Veniss and Cadum De Champloue.

Matthew Sampson and his new ride MGH Candy Girl, formerly ridden by eventer Gemma Stevens, were second to Ireland’s Jessica Burke and Inpulss in the 1.45m speed class on Friday. Tim Gredley was fourth and the highest placed Brit in the grand prix on Saturday (27 May) with Medoc De Toxandria. The winners were reigning European champions, Germany’s Andre Thieme and DSP Chakaria.

‘Some laughed, some took me seriously – it was a journey’: a look back with ‘Rastafarian showjumper’ Oliver Skeete

Jennifer Donald — Sun, 21 May 2023 17:32:08 +0000

Many of you may remember the foray with fame enjoyed in the 1990s by dreadlocked Londoner Oliver Skeete, who earned countless television appearances and print space on the back of his novel bid to showjump at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

A former motor mechanic, bouncer and footballer, Oliver only began riding aged 36 after “getting bored” watching his daughters learning at Ealing Riding School and was immediately hooked. He sold the family car to buy a horse and within a year had started showjumping competitively.

“My two daughters were five and eight and I took them to Ealing Riding School one summer,” Oliver Skeete tells H&H. “I was watching, getting bored, so I decided to have a go myself. The first horse I sat on nearly chucked me off, but I fell in love with it. Because I couldn’t do it – I really was useless – that’s what did it for me, I wanted to get better.”

Oliver bought his daughters a pony each and learned everything from mucking out to grooming.

“I then bought a cob called Odd Job – he was definitely PC Plod!” says Barbados-born Oliver. “But I learnt on him and my daughters carried on riding until they were teenagers.”

Soon Oliver had had enough of plodding around and instead wanted a horse “that would go forward” so he bought a thoroughbred.

“I was new to horses and I just got ripped off,” says Oliver. “I had him for a year but he was just too forward going – although he could jump, just not very well, and that gave me the bug.

“I went to Barry Fox for lessons and he took me to Ireland and we bought a horse from Paul Darragh called Betsy. She was only small but she could really jump – I paid about £15,000 for her. Barry started teaching me and, all this is within a year, I started going to shows, doing discovery classes – and falling off a lot!

“But I wasn’t happy because I was jumping the small classes while the kids were jumping the big classes – I wanted to be doing that.”

So Oliver jumped in his car and “followed the Whitakers, all over the country”.

“I was just watching them and learning,” he reveals of seeing brothers John and Michael in action.

Oliver Skeete: ‘It just went wild’

Next, Oliver moved his horse to the yard of showjumper Nigel Goddard and began training with him.

“Next thing I knew I was jumping newcomers and then it just went wild – but it wasn’t just my riding that was taking off, it was this novelty thing,” he explains. “People were watching – some were laughing, but some were taking me seriously and it was a journey. It just evolved.”

Oliver reveals that is was international showjumper Lionel Dunning who taught him “how to ride properly” on his assortment of horses including youngsters and novices.

At Jersey Horse of the Year Show, where Oliver won a class, he unexpectedly ended up jumping his first puissance.

“I met these travellers who were taking the Mickey and trying to sell me this scrawny little horse,” he remembers. “They said ‘Try it in a class and if you like it, you can buy it’. So I asked which class I should enter it in and they said the puissance!

“Well I did it – I didn’t win, but I winged it on a horse I’d never ridden before. I think it was just a matter of not being scared.”

Oliver had set his sights on reaching the top of the sport, but by this time he “was running out of money”.

“So I phoned up The Sun newspaper and asked if they wanted to sponsor me – they said no, but they did want to do a story on me and that’s when it all kicked off,” he recalls.

Oliver appeared on prime time chat shows, news programmes, he even made a documentary, while also becoming a familiar face in the showjumping ring. He went on to write his autobiography, Jumping the Odds: Memoirs of a Rastafarian Showjumper.

‘I decided to get away from it all’

While he didn’t make it to the top of the sport, he succeeded in taking showjumping to a much wider audience.

“I was clearing out the loft the other day and found all the magazines and newspapers I was in – I kept everything and met so many people,” Oliver says.

“I eventually stopped riding about 12 years ago – I was running a stables and after a run-in with another con lady I decided to get away from it all.”

Since hanging up his boots, Oliver Skeete has done some acting, making an appearance in James Bond film Die Another Day, and now runs a removal company, occasionally riding a friend’s horses.

Looking back at his time in the ring, Oliver says: “Don’t get me wrong, I was never the best rider in the world, but I just had this thing that I wanted to be a showjumper and all these really good boys like the Whitakers and Tim Stockdale gave me the encouragement I needed to do it.

“So I’m not riding as such now – I still enjoy it though, that will never go.

“I took my daughter, who is now 37, riding in Barbados recently – she hadn’t ridden for ages and she loved it. Sometimes we sit and watch the old videos together, they loved it all. I think they’re very proud of their old man.”

John Whitaker ‘never gets used to winning’, Bosty takes a sideways approach and Scott Brash wins a cake

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 16:21:24 +0000

This week, we enjoyed five-star showjumping as far afield as Mexico City, where the Longines Global Champions Tour rolled into town, and there were sombreros galore. Meanwhile back on home soil, some of Great Britain’s top riders gathered to contest the CSI2* show at Chard, Somerset.

Flying Frenchman Roger Yves Bost performed his trademark acrobatics to win a grand prix on home soil and Scott Brash was last seen digging into a chocolate cake won in a five-star class. Here is your weekly round-up of all the international showjumping news highlights and results from across the world.

‘He’s going faster by the day’

Leading French showjumper Roger Yves Bost won the GL Events grand prix at the CSI4* Fontainebleau with the 13-year-old Cassius Clay VDV Z, who he describes as “13 years old but getting faster by the day!” “Bosty” topped the 1.55m 14-strong jump-off by well over a second, performing his trademark acrobatics in the saddle – appearing to almost ride sideways over the towering vertical (pictured top) – to slice the shortest route home in front of a thrilled home crowd. “Cassius has been in good form over the past few shows, but it is not often he goes so fast in a jump-off,” he said of their first win together.

Fontainebleau grand prix results

Win your cake and eat it

At the 5* Longines Global Champions Tour of Mexico, British rider Scott Brash won a competitive 1.50m two-phase on Lady Harris’ and Lady Kirkham’s 14-year-old Hello Mr President. As well as the €13,050 prize-money he picked up for his success, Scott was presented with a fabulous equine-themed cake back at the hotel.

Trofeo Mercedes Benz results

John Whitaker and Equine America Unick Du Francport winning in Fontainebleau, (Image credit: PSV – J.Morel)

‘You never get too used to winning’

British jumping legend John Whitaker, who turns 68 this year, won the Prix CWD 1.50m jump-off class at the CSI4* Fontainebleau on his great campaigner Equine America Unick Du Francport, who is back from a break. “Despite my age, you never get too used to winning, because in this sport, you lose more often than you win,” said John, who was first to go against the clock in a six-way jump-off. “Today’s course was tough – only six combinations finished clear out of 70 starters, which is not very many. It was a technical course, which also had to be completed in a short time, which means you have to take risks.

“It’s quite difficult to win from first position, so I had a plan in my mind but I was worried about [second-placed] Max Kuhner because he’s been in top form this year. But it was one of those rounds where everything went to plan; it was smooth, quick and controlled. It’s a nice feeling when it goes to plan!”

When asked if he’d made plans around next year’s Olympic Games in Paris, John said: “I don’t know yet. This year I’m 68 and if someone had told me 10 years ago that I still had the chance to go to the Olympics, I wouldn’t have believed it. So it’s not really in my mind. But if the horse is jumping like today, then anything is possible!”

Prix CWD results

Grand prix glory for Sienna Charles

At the CSI2* grand prix at Chard, Somerset, Sienna Charles topped a mammoth 23-strong jump-off with the 14-year-old gelding Valkiry De Zance. You can read the full report from the show in next week’s magazine, in the shops Thursday 4 May.

Chard grand prix results

The Mexico City LGCT grand prix podium featuring David Will, Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Laura Kraut (Image credit: creditUnknown)

First LGCT grand prix for David Will

German showjumper David Will landed his first Longines Global Champions Tour grand prix in Mexico City aboard My Prins Van Dorperheide. Malin Baryard-Johnsson and H&M Indiana cannoned home for second place, just ahead of US rider Laura Kraut on Baloutinue.

“My horse made it easy for me today, he jumped unbelievable in front of this incredible crowd,” said David, who picked up the series’ third golden ticket for the Super Grand Prix in November. “The horse already deserved to win last week in Miami, but I made a mistake to the last fence in the jump-off so I am thrilled I made up for it today.”

Laura Kraut said her Olympic silver medal-winning partner Baloutinue “is a winner to me.”

“I am very happy there were two women on the podium, that’s important to me for people to realise the women are just as strong as the men,” she said.

Malin now leads the LGCT championship on 99 points, with Maikel van der Vleuten holding onto second with 94 points and Abdel Saïd catapaulting up the rankings to third on 79 points.

LGCT of Mexico City grand prix results

Howley soars to grand prix victory

And finally in this week’s showjumping news, Irish rider Richard Howley landed the Spring MET IV 2023 concluding CSI3* grand prix aboard rising star Consulent De Prelet Z.

“He’s a naturally quick horse, he is very careful so you can really trust him at the jumps,” said Richard, who also won a two-phase this week with the eight-year-old stallion Kolwa . “Consulent was in super shape and it felt like he could give a good result, so we had a go and the jump-off went our way.

“He is a very good horse and I plan to do some big things with him this year.”

William Funnell continued his good form at the show, finishing fifth on Equine America Billy Diamo, having earlier won a speed class with the 10-year-old Equine America Billy Marmite.

MET grand prix results

John Whitaker: ‘I’m giving barefoot a go – that it’s cheaper appeals as a Yorkshireman’

John Whitaker — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 09:32:39 +0000

British showjumping legend John Whitaker is “experimenting” with taking the shoes off some of his horses

Shoes or no shoes? That is the question everyone’s asking at the moment. Several top riders are now competing their horses without shoes, including the world number one Henrik von Eckermann, winner of the World Cup Final at the weekend, and Olympic medallist Peder Fredricson.

The CSI5* grand prix in Basel, Switzerland, was won by Max Kühner on EIC Cooley Jump The Q, whose shoes he’d only recently taken off, which says a lot, while Henrik of course won last year’s world championships with a barefoot King Edward. Julien Epaillard, who was one of the first to jump at the top level without shoes, is another who has been hugely successful.

Peder and Henrik even missed Aachen last year – one of the best shows in the world – because they didn’t want to put shoes on. These top riders now swear by it.

Taking your horse’s shoes off is not always that straightforward though – it needs careful management. On the upside it’s cheaper, some horses jump better, and a lot of the arenas nowadays are sand, which makes it possible to jump barefoot.

On the downside, you obviously can’t put in studs, which means you can’t jump on grass, and if you decide to take your horse’s shoes off, it can take six to eight weeks or even longer for their feet to harden up.

We do a lot of roadwork with our horses, which is also largely out of the question without shoes. Even horses who are walking around shows where it’s stony or concrete, or those that paw on the truck, will need some kind of additional protection such as strap-on hoof boots.

We don’t shoe our young horses till they’re six or seven years old, mainly because they don’t jump on grass so much these days and when you’ve lots of young horses like we do, it works out a lot cheaper. We get their feet trimmed regularly and really they’re fine.

So I’ve been experimenting with taking the shoes off a couple of my eight-year-olds and, although it took a while for the feet to harden up and you have to take extra care of them, when they do harden up, it seems to work and the horses appear very happy.

It’s not just me, either – many riders are enquiring about it and asking the likes of Peder and Henrik for advice. German showjumper Christian Kukuk is another convert, winning a class in Doha with Mumbai, who had only recently had his shoes taken off.

I wouldn’t say that taking off shoes will suit every horse, but for some it definitely seems to work. I don’t know if they feel more comfortable, but they do seem to be more careful and more attentive, so it’s certainly something that I’m thinking about.

It doesn’t totally fit with our system and I’m not sure that I want to do it with my best horses yet, but I’m experimenting with a couple of the horses to see how they cope with it.

It’s certainly making people think – a few years ago we wouldn’t even have dreamt of it. But anyway, the fact that it’s cheaper definitely appeals to this Yorkshireman!

A sad farewell

Very sadly Mick Saywell passed away early this month. He was a real character and I enjoyed his company very much. He was a top rider – very competitive and he had many good horses. In the 1970s and 1980s, when he was riding for Trevor Banks, they were a formidable team.

He went on to run his own yard, dealing and trading successfully. The last few years I enjoyed having a chat and a drink with him at the shows where he’d support his children, Andrew and Louise, as well as his grandkids. There are many good stories about him, memories I will always treasure.

● Have you successfully switched to competing your horse without shoes? Let us know about it at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county to have your comments considered for publication in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 13 April

‘I’m not retiring yet!’ John Whitaker honoured with lifetime achievement award

Lucy Elder — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 07:02:34 +0000

*Please be patient for the video below to load*

Showjumping legend John Whitaker confirmed he has no plans to retire as he collected the British Equestrian Writers’ Association (BEWA) lifetime achievement award in front of a home crowd at the London International Horse Show.

The 67-year-old, who has been competing at the top of the sport for nearly five decades, was presented with the award as a surprise in the main arena at the ExCeL on Saturday (17 December).

John, who has won more than 20 Olympic, World and European medals during his lengthy career, received the accolade from incoming BEWA chairman Rupert Bell.

He said he was “a bit taken aback” to have been surprised with the award.

“I got tricked, nobody told me!” said John, who was joined in the ring by family and friends including including Stanny Van Paesschen, Marcus Ehning, Nick Skelton, Di Lampard, his son Robert Whitaker, and two of his granddaughters.

“It was very nice, it’s nice to be appreciated – as long as you don’t think I’m going to start thinking about retiring yet! I’m not retiring.

“We love coming to this show, it’s an unbelievable atmosphere just before Christmas.”

On being as competitive as ever, he added: “I can still beat them on my day, and I’m making all the young ones work for it. It’s a nice feeling. I don’t really have anything to prove, but I still want to go in there and be competitive.”

As well as the legendary Milton – the first horse to win £1m prize money in showjumping and with whom John was crowned European champion in 1989 – Whitaker’s stable stars have included greats such as Ryan’s Son, Gammon, Argento, Peppermill, Hopscotch, Welham, Grannusch and Calvaro Z to name a few.

His CV also boasts victory at two World Cup finals, the King George V Gold Cup in 1986, 1990 and 1997, and the Hickstead Derby on four occasions, as well as countless other major classes and grands prix.

Britain’s reigning eventing and dressage world champions, Yasmin Ingham and Lottie Fry, were also honoured for their achievements with BEWA awards, facilitated by show organisers rEvolution and HPower.

At a drinks reception on Friday (16 December), Yasmin, 25, who won gold in Pratoni with Sue Davies and Janette Chinn’s 11-year-old gelding Banzai Du Loir, was presented with the BEWA personality of the year trophy by Rupert, and BEWA treasurer Lynne Reed.

Lottie, 26, was the winner of the moment of the year for her gold medal-winning freestyle performance with the Van Olst Horses’ 11-year-old stallion Glamourdale at the World Dressage Championships in Herning. Lottie’s father, Simon Fry, collected the award on his daughter’s behalf. Hours later, Lottie and Glamourdale set a new personal best of 90.99% in the World Cup freestyle at the show.

‘I have to break the news to Geoff Billington’: John Whitaker teams up with Marcus Ehning for fancy dress at London International Horse Show

Jennifer Donald — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 13:02:01 +0000

Anticipation is sky high for the long-awaited return of the fancy dress relay competition at this year’s London International Horse Show.

A superb field of competitors are set to line up the class on Sunday evening (18 December) including William and Pippa Funnell, Joe Stockdale and Jack Whitaker, and possibly the dream team of John Whitaker and Marcus Ehning.

William Funnell, who is on the show committee, has been helping organise the competition and says all the riders’ measurements have been taken and their fancy dress costumes ordered. Each pair will jump a course of fences in a relay race and a celebrity judging panel – with a little help from the audience – will be voting for the best dressed pair, best dressed rider and best dressed horse.

It’s not just showjumpers taking part this year either, as some elite names from the world of eventing are also joining in the fun for what is sure to be an action packed and thoroughly entertaining evening.

“I think it’s a great idea to resurrect it,” says William, who reveals that he and his wife Pippa will be dressed as Mary Poppins and Bert for the competition. “It’s not going to be quite as much of a show as it was in the past – it got a bit risque sometimes and times have changed – but I’m hoping to get a bit more artistic leeway moving forward.

“But we have a plan, we have the riders – and it’s a great line-up, the young ones are keen to do it and I did think Marcus and John would make quite a good dream team. Hopefully it’s going to be a good evening for everyone to enjoy.”

William has fond memories of teaming up with James Fisher to win on a couple of occasions before the London Horse Show fancy dress was removed from the schedule around the turn of the century.

“We once we came in on emus that were dressed up as turkeys and had a turkey race, then another time we copied the police display and cantered up the centre line and took our saddles off,” he recalls. “I was showing off a bit and when I took the saddle off, my horse ran off and I fell off the back! I finished by throwing myself through the hoop – I bounced a lot more easily then than I do now. Health and safety would have had a field day.”

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

London Horse Show fancy dress: John Whitaker makes a welcome return

John Whitaker, one of the most frequent and popular participants in the annual event during its time at Olympia, initially took some persuading to raid his fancy dress cupboard once again.

“I think I’m too old but Willy Funnell talked me into it,” says John. “I wasn’t sure if Marcus would be up for it either, but he seems keen.

“The only problem is that Geoff Billington said I wasn’t allowed to do another fancy dress without him! So I have to break the news to him. He’ll be devastated, it was Geoff’s thing.”

With John short of a horse for the class, William has promised to lend both him and Marcus one.

“So I’ve no idea what our horses are going to be like yet – although I expect we’ll both be riding a horse called Billy!” says John.

“We did so many good ones over the years,” says John of the days when the fancy class used to be a real highlight of Olympia. “One year Geoff Billington, Nick Skelton, my brother Michael and I dressed up as Take That – that was a good one! We also did Tina Turner’s Steamy Windows and a Dolly Parton one.

“I paired up with Nick in the early days, then Geoff took over the whole thing and the four of us would do it together for a while. But Geoff made us all go to rehearsals every night and eventually Nick and Michael decided they didn’t want to rehearse anymore so it ended up being just Geoff and me! But we had a lot of fun.”

The full list of teams is as follows:

Guy Williams and Trevor Breen
Holly Smith and Manuel Fernandez Saro
Joe Stockdale and Jack Whitaker
Harry Charles and Matt Sampson
Pippa Funnell and William Funnell
John Whitaker and Marcus Ehning
Laura Collett and Gemma Stevens
Tom McEwen and Yasmin Ingham

The London Horse Show fancy dress relay takes place during the evening performance on Sunday 18 December.

Keep up to date with all of the action from London International, including breaking news and behind the scenes insight from each day of the show, with no limit on how much you can read, from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Join now

King Edward rules again and a teenager enjoys an ‘I beat John Whitaker’ moment

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 16:06:32 +0000

The reigning world champions Henrik von Eckermann and his equine superstar King Edward made a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure this week after the 12-year-old gelding “struggled to return to good form” after a post-World Championships break. Meanwhile a Liechtenstein teenager enjoyed an “incredible” five-star win, beating the legendary John Whitaker no less. Great Britain’s James Smith and Irish showjumper Bertram Allen are also among this week’s grand prix winners while Israeli rider Daniel Bluman ends up risking it all in the heat of a World Cup jump-off, and his gamble produces handsome rewards.

Here is H&H’s weekly round up of the past week’s international action from the world of showjumping, plus showjumping results.

King Edward reigns once again: ‘He’s a genius’

Swedish rider Henrik von Eckermann and the brilliantly talented 12-year-old gelding King Edward triumphed in the Longines FEI World Cup qualifier presented by Scuderia 1918 in Verona, Italy, in a seven-strong jump-off. Taking second with the only other double clear was last-drawn Gerfried Puck of Austria riding the relatively inexperienced nine-year-old Equitron Naxcel V. Great Britain’s Harry Charles took third with his Olympic partner Romeo 88, having clocked the fastest time but with the final fence falling for four faults.

“We gave King Edward a bit of a break [after the world championships] and we struggled to get back to the good form we had,” said Henrik, the double gold medallist there and current world number one. “Verona was normally not in my plan but I felt he needed one more show because he did just four classes in three months and I have two big shows coming up. So I thought I’d take him here to get him going a little bit more and today he was fantastic again!

“King is a genius horse – he proves it again and again.”

Gerfried Puck said: “I’m really proud to be second to a horse and rider combination like King Edward and Henrik, and I hope my horse in the next years will be just as famous – he has all the potential for the future.”

Third-placed Harry Charles added: “When you get into the jump-off and come so close it’s a bit gutting but that’s how it goes. I’ve got some points on the board and I’ll try to build on that.”

Talking about leading the under-25 world rankings, 23-year-old Harry added: “That’s not as cool as Henrik being world number one, but maybe one day my turn will come!”

Showjumping results from the Longines FEI World Cup qualifier in Verona

Grand prix victory for James Smith, deputising for injured Laura Renwick

British rider James Smith landed the CSI3* grand prix to conclude week four of the Vilamoura Champions Tour in Portugal. Riding the injured rider Laura Renwick’s home-bred Arkuga, he won the €25,000 top prize after a competitive 15-way jump-off. US showjumper Cathleen Driscoll claimed second on the 12-year-old Arome, while Joe Whitaker took third on Hulahupe JR. James’s success sealed a profitable week for British riders with Izac Ketteridge (Chapon VD Heffinck Z and Z7 Canya Dance), Helen Rees and Henry Squibb (Alothain De Blondel) among the CSI3* winners, while Ireland’s Trevor Breen triumphed in Saturday’s 1.45m jump-off class on Home Farm Equestrian’s ex-eventer Gonzalo.

Showjumping results from the Villamoura Champions Tour

Billy Mexico daughter lands two-star grand prix

Over in Peelbergen, the Netherlands, the CSI2* grand prix was won by Ireland’s Bertram Allen who said he was “delighted” with the 10-year-old Billy Mexico daughter Emmylou. The pair only teamed up at the start of the year and have recently posted some eye-catching five-star results.

Showjumping results from the CSI2* Peelbergen grand prix

Showjumping results: Denis Lynch rides the winning round in Verona

Ireland’s Denis Lynch also claimed a five-star win in Verona, Italy, riding the 16-year-old GC Chopin’s Bushi to victory in the Selleria Equipe winning round.

“In the deciding round I had a good starting spot and the performance of Bushi, who is a particularly experienced horse, was really brilliant,” said Denis, who topped a field of 46 competitors over Uliano Vezzani’s clever tracks.

In second was Harrie Smolders (Uricas VD Kattevennen) with Steve Guerdat third on the nine-year-old stallion Double Jeu D’Honvault.

Showjumping results from Jumping Verona

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Liechtenstein teenager enjoys an ‘I beat John Whitaker’ moment

At the CSI5* Jumping Verona in Italy, 19-year-old Liechtenstein rider Jennifer Hochstadter earned the runner-up spot in Friday’s opening class, then went one better on the final morning to win the Volkswagen accumulator with her 10-year-old Tinka’s Boy gelding CSIO Bel (pictured above). She was almost a second quicker than her nearest rival, who just happened to be British legend John Whitaker on Sharid.

“It’s really incredible,” she said. “John is a legend of the sport. I knew he scored the time to beat and I’m so happy to have succeeded.

“Bel is a very special horse for me, because he gives me everything every time. I managed to win the second competition I rode him in, in September 2020 in Saint Tropez. Before that, he was ridden by Simon Delestre, whose father Marcel is my coach, and Simon is very valuable for my growth.”

Showjumping results from Jumping Verona

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup NAL, Lexington Horse Park, KY (USA)Daniel Bluman (ISR) and Ladriano Z, on final fence in jump off in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2022/2023 North American League - Lexington, KY USA (Image credit: SHANNON BRINKMAN)

‘My plan was not to take a big risk, but I just did!’

Israel’s Daniel Bluman headed the Longines FEI World Cup qualifier in Lexington, USA, having claimed he did not wish to take a big risk to the third fence in the jump-off, a spooky wall, but his competitive spirit took over and handed him victory with long-term partner, the 14-year-old Ladriano Z (pictured above) over his six rivals.

“Jump number three was a very, very difficult fence in the jump-off, because my horse looks at the wall,” he said. “My plan was not to take a big risk, but then I just did!

“You see the people in the crowd – the kids having fun and cheering. Many years ago, we were those kids watching the National Horse Show and cheering for the riders we liked. It’s always cool when people show up and the class turns out to be an exciting one, like it was tonight.”

The win was especially poignant as the horse missed a year of competition due to injury.

“We weren’t really sure what was going to happen with his career,” said Daniel. “Last year, this was the first grand prix [back] that he jumped, and he finished third, and since then he’s had a pretty good run. He doesn’t show that often. He’s been second multiple times and third, but tonight he won. I’m really happy that he gets to put his name [in the history books] at a prestigious horse show.”

Showjumping results from the National Horse Show, Lexington

Home-bred soars to victory in Maastricht

At the CSI4* Maastricht grand prix, Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten triumphed with his home-bred 10-year-old mare Elwikke, a winner in London earlier this year. Best of the British riders in the grand prix was William Funnell riding Equine America Billy Picador, who just picked up four faults in the jump-off.

Showjumping results from the CSI4* Maastricht

Stardust teams up with a new member of the Charles family

In the 1.50m CSI3* grand prix on the Autumn MET Tour in Spain, the winner was France’s Alexa Ferrer riding Arka de La Hart Z, with Great Britain’s Sienna Charles claiming the runner-up spot with the former top ride of her brother Harry, Stardust. The pair only teamed up a matter of weeks ago and have produced some exceptional performances already.

Showjumping results from the Autumn MET Tour

‘They won’t knock me off my perch yet!’ John leads gathering of nine Whitakers at a successful HOYS

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 14:12:21 +0000

It’s not clear what the collective noun would be for a group of Whitakers – but whatever it is, there was one at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) last week.

Nine members of the family were competing, in everything from national classes to the grand prix, and most of them gathered for a picture in the Andrews Bowen International Arena on 8 October.

The gathering in itself was no mean feat – “The biggest job was rounding us up, I thought we were going to miss our class!” William Whitaker said. “There’s plenty of us here; we thought we’d do it by numbers!”

But, William added: “This shows how much HOYS means to use as a family. We all want to follow in the footsteps of what John and Michael have done in the sport, so to be here competing, with John and the rest of the family, makes me very proud. And I’m sure it makes my dad and uncles proud too.”

John has been competing at HOYS for over half a century, which William said is “fantastic”.

“The word ‘legend’ doesn’t do him justice,” he said. “We all really look up to him, and learn from him every day. It would be one thing if he had millions behind him and was going out to buy the best horses, but he’s not. He’s still producing young horses to the top level – and beating us. I’m used to that, he’s been doing it all my life! But I’m sure he’s as delighted when one of us wins as when he does.”

It was successful Whitaker week; as well as William’s victory in the Grandstand Challenge Cup ranking class on Jalellah OL, and John’s close second in the grand prix on Equine America Unick Du Francport, Robert won the six-bar on Vermento.

John on Sharid was joint second with Shane Breen on Vistogrand, and Robert said afterwards: “I have told him to retire a few times but he seems to just come back and win more!

“He never has a doubt, I think that’s his best asset. He’s so positive, he thinks he can win any class on any horse – and a lot of the time, he does. He still helps me every day – we help each other – and I think he’s still going to win a lot more.”

John himself joked that his family had “taken over a bit” at HOYS this year.

“But they’re all good,” he said. “They’re all keen, good workers, nice guys and they’re good. It’s great to watch.

“I think it’s in the blood, for sure, it has to be. They probably tried other things but thought showjumping is probably going to be it, which is great to see.

“I find it amazing they’re all interested. I’ve lost count but I think there’s only two out of the family who don’t ride, Jack’s younger sisters, but the rest do, and they’re all good, and I’m extremely proud.”

John added that his long and hugely successful career may “give them something to aim for”.

“But I’m not going to give it to them easily, they won’t knock me off my perch!” he said. “I’m still going to be here; I don’t know for how many years, but a few more yet.”

What do you think should be the collective noun for a group of Whitakers? Send your thoughts to hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, and nearest town and county

‘The best feeling in the world’: John Whitaker on his half-century competing at HOYS

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 18:59:20 +0000

It is just over half a century since the legend that is John Whitaker first rode at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), having watched from home as a child and dreamed of competing here.

In 1971, aged 16, he jumped in what is now the pony showjumper of the year class, on a skewbald pony called Crazy Horse.

“It didn’t go that well!” he said. “But I’ve been coming ever since.”

At that time, the pony Foxhunter final was held at Hickstead rather than HOYS, and John also jumped in that.

“We qualified in Sheffield and my father got the map out and said ‘That’s a long way, we’d better set off in good time’,” John said. “So we left three days before, to arrive in good time, ride the pony – we got there an hour before the class.

“It took us three days to get there – the lorry broke down, everything went wrong – went into the big ting, with the lake and the fountain, and the pony took one look, spun round and wanted to go home. I got round, I think with seven faults, and we put the pony back on the truck and went home.”

John remembers watching HOYS, held at Wembley as it was then, on the BBC.

“I remember it was on prime-time TV, at 9pm, and next morning we’d get our ponies out, put a plank up on bricks and keep putting more bricks on,” he said.

“I loved watching it and not in a million years did I think I’d get anywhere near what I’ve done; I would not have believed it.”

Asked what it is about HOYS that keeps John coming back, such as this year soon after the Global Champions Tour leg in New York, where he took a superb five-star win, he said: “It’s where it all started for me.

“It’s still a great show. It’s good to support shows like this in your own country but it’s great to be here and jumping. Two weeks ago I was in New York – and it takes you a bit longer to get home from there!

“I don’t think there’s one in particular but I’ve got so many good memories from here. It’s great to go in that ring and get a cheer, and if you’re lucky enough to win a class, that’s the best feeling in the world.”

John reflected on the changes in the sport from 51 years ago, when Harvey Smith and David Broome were among his idols.

“I used to watch them all, and try to pick up bits from them,” he said. “I still do that now. I watch the young ones and try to pick things up from them.

“But even 20 years ago, you could win on not such a good horse; Harvey and others used to win on average horses, but you can’t do that these days

John added that showjumping, both in the ring and all the work at home, is still a challenge for him.

“One thing about this sport is that you lose more than you win, so you’ve got to get used to losing and get over it,” he said. “I’m still competitive, I still enjoy it and I can still do it. It’s not just going in the ring, it’s finding a new horse, finding young horses and bringing them on; it’s a challenge, and when it comes off, it’s worth all the hard work.

“I walk around like I’m a bit old, and I probably look it but I think my body has designed itself to get on a horse and feel all right – when I get on a horse, I feel perfect.”

You might also be interested in…

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

A flying John Whitaker, a red Ferrari and young horse world champions – the tales behind this week’s showjumping results

Don’t miss a second of the action from HOYS on HorseandHound.co.uk with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Join now. Plus enjoy our full 22-page HOYS magazine report, including in-depth analysis of all the showing and showjumping, plus exclusive comments, on sale Thursday 13 October.

Latest from Horse & Hound in John-whitaker

‘To lift a trophy 51 years after your first is an achievement you can’t replicate in any other sport’, says Chris Smith

“Only as good as the entry list”

A framework for progression

‘I didn’t want to make it too easy for the younger guys!’ John Whitaker pips nephew to win seventh Cock O’ the North

A Who’s Who of Whitakers: how well do you know the famous family of showjumpers?

The Whitaker family Who’s Who

Family of John Whitaker, married to Clare Whitaker

Family of Steven Whitaker, married to Carole Whitaker

Family of Michael Whitaker, married to Melissa Whitaker

Family of Ian Whitaker, married to Alison Whitaker

You may also enjoy reading:

He’s back! John Whitaker makes winning return after two months on the sidelines

John Whitaker shows his rivals how it should be done

You may also be interested in:

A 50-year age range in the jump-off: young Irishman wins London grand prix and John Whitaker fourth

London Horse Show grand prix: how it was won

You may also be interested in:

‘It’s still a win!’ John Whitaker shares London spoils with Seb Hughes and his 18.2hh star – in unusual fashion

You may also be interested in:

Arise ‘Sir John’! Whitaker surprises fans during 70th birthday celebrations

John Whitaker: knight in shining armour

“Sir John” canters off into the sunset – avoiding the showjumps

You may also be interested in:

Legendary showjumper John Whitaker reveals his idols and what he wished he’d known while growing up, as he turns 70

John Whitaker on the confidence of youth

John Whitaker’s top tip – don’t forget the horses!

The horse John would love to have right now

You may also be interested in:

‘A very great friend and a true legend’: top riders lead the tributes to John Whitaker on his 70th birthday

Geoff Billington on John Whitaker: “He’s a man of few words, but when he says something, listen”

Ludger Beerbaum: “An inspiration, both in what he stands for and what he’s demonstrated”

Michael Whitaker: “Still leading the Whitaker family by example”

Scott Brash on John Whitaker: “A privilege to grow up around him”

Donald Whitaker: “John made all my dreams become reality”

Nick Skelton on John Whitaker: “A very great friend and a true legend of the sport”

Peder Fredricson: “I watched John and Milton in awe”

Graham Fletcher: “No one can emulate his brilliance”

William Whitaker: “Proving that good horsemanship is the foundation of it all”

Di Lampard on John Whitaker: “A massive inspiration”

Tim Gredley: “I wanted to become a showjumper after I asked for his autograph at Hickstead”

Lizzie Bunn and the Bunn family: “Still showing everyone he’s as good as ever”

Robert Whitaker: “The grandfather we all look up to”

Harry Charles on John Whitaker: “A trailblazer with an incredible mindset”

Geir Gulliksen: “A gentleman on and off the horse”

Jennifer Donald: “A true ambassador for his beloved sport”

Steven Wilde: “Crowds cheer the roof off at the mere mention of his name”

You may also be interested in:

‘She means so much to me’: joy as 20-year-old Olympic horse is coming home, thanks to £116,000 bid

You may also be interested in:

A legendary horse and rider with a combined age of 86 and a red ribbon for The King’s carriage horse – what you might have missed at Royal Windsor Horse Show

Red ribbons for The King at Royal Windsor Horse Show as Cleveland Bay carriage horse triumphs

The world is not enough for mighty stallion Bond Jamesbond De Hay

Vet swaps scrubs for a tweed suit – and wins

A historic Royal Windsor Horse Show double

“He won’t give me tips!”

“Geezer” cob secures second championship and a bonus prize

You may also be interested in:

‘He won’t give me tips!’: Jack beats uncle John in Whitaker one-two at Royal Windsor Horse Show

‘Normally when he is like that, he is hard to beat’

‘The LA Olympics are only three years away!’ John Whitaker switches to eventing as he turns 70

You may also be interested in:

‘I’m pinching the ride!’: 12-year-old borrows his dad’s horse (who’s won with John Whitaker) to win national title

Charlie Barker on Green Grass: “I’m pinching the ride now!”

You may also be interested in:

Two generations of Whitakers – with a 58-year age gap – win on same day

John Whitaker delivers a showjumping masterclass

You may also be interested in:

‘Everyone loves her:’ meet John Whitaker’s donkey who hob-nobs with grand prix horses and teaches the youngsters to jump

You may also be interested in:

The greatest grandfather, a fearless teenager and 100mph ponies: what happened at this year’s London Horse Show?

The world’s greatest grandfather

The comeback of all comebacks at the London Horse Show

The fearless teenager everyone is talking about

Power cuts and a horse called Chicken George

A mare of many talents makes London Horse Show history

Grand prix hero makes winning return aged 21

The fastest jump-off round we’ve ever seen

Darragh Kenny is the King of London Horse Show

Olympic eventer goes sky-high