Olympic team gold medallist and five-star campaigner Mr Medicott has died in retirement aged 24.

The Cruising son was campaigned by five riders to represent two nations during his international career, which boasted two Olympics and a World Equestrian Games.

Mr Medicott scored placings at CCI5* with Frank Ostholt, Karen O’Connor and Phillip Dutton. He was also part of the German gold medal-winning team at Beijing 2008 with Frank and finished ninth at London 2012 with Karen.

“He was certainly a character,” said Philip. “He enjoyed life and was one of those ones that pinned his ears and tried to bite you as you were doing up the girth, but he liked the attention and liked to be hugged.

“He was pretty prepared to express himself, it didn’t matter whether it was good or bad. He was very confident in himself. He was certainly one of those horses who truly loved what he did.”

The Irish Sport Horse gelding was bred by Donal Geany in Ireland and was produced by Francis Connors, before Herman Horst acquired him as a six-year-old for Frank. The pair were fifth at the seven-year-old World Championships and two years later would finish third at Pau CCI5* and help Germany to top the podium at the 2008 Olympics.

They finished 21st at the World Equestrian Games in 2010, and the horse would return to the US the following spring – this time under new ownership.

He was bought by the Mr Medicott Syndicate, which included Sarah Broussard, Jacqueline Mars and Suzanne Lacy, as a prospective London 2012 Olympic ride for Karen. The pair were fourth at Kentucky in 2012 before finishing ninth and the highest-placed US combination at the London Games.

After London, Mark Hart and the Event Owners Task Force joined the Mr Medicott Syndicate to secure the ride for Philip.

“Unfortunately for me, I got him towards the end of his career, but it was still a great experience to have a horse of that quality,” said Philip. “He had three very good phases. He wasn’t a dead-quiet horse at the show; you had to work him down to get a good test out of him, but he had a very good dressage and was a brilliant cross-country horse, and then a phenomenal show jumper as well.”

Their achievements included fourth place at both Pau and Kentucky. In 2017, Phillip passed the reins to his daughter, Olivia, with Mr Medicott enjoying a schoolmaster role in his senior years.

He was formally retired in a ceremony at Rebecca Farm in 2018 and lived out his days at Mrs Mars’ Stonehall Farm in Virginia.

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Olympic team gold medallist retires from competition after stellar career

The horse competed at the top level with three different riders and was successful all over the world, including at

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Mr Medicott, who evented at the top level with three different riders, has been retired from competition.

The 19-year-old was honoured with an official ceremony at the event at Rebecca Farm, Montana, last Sunday (22 July), a fitting finish as hosts the Broussards were his original owners in the US and are part of his current ownership syndicate.

Mr Medicott, known as Cave, has spent his final years in competition enjoying lower level eventing with Phillip Dutton’s daughter Olivia, 16, and the pair won a young rider team gold medal over the weekend.

The chestnut is by Cruising, out of a mare by Edmund Burke, best known as the sire of double Badminton winner Supreme Rock.

The Irish sport horse started his international career in Germany with Frank Ostholt. The pair won Saumur CCI3* in 2010 and their other strong results included second in the CCI3* at Boekelo in 2007, third in the crack CIC3* at Aachen in 2008 and third at Pau CCI4* in 2008. They represented the US twice at championships, the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2010 World Equestrian Games, winning team gold at the Olympics.

Mr Medicott was sold to the US as a potential horse for the 2012 London Olympics with Karen O’Connor and after a fourth-place finish at Kentucky CCI4* that spring and a win at Bromont CIC3*, he was selected for the Games. The pair finished ninth and best of the US team. 

Karen suffered a career-ending injury in a fall from another horse that autumn and after a couple of runs with Marilyn Little, Mr Medicott went to Phillip Dutton. The pair were fourth at Pau 2013, before injury interrupted Mr Medicott’s career — he was third after cross-country at Kentucky in 2014, but had to be withdrawn as he had aggravated an old tendon injury. After just one international event in 2015 and none in 2016, Mr Medicott came back to claim fourth at Kentucky 2017.

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Olivia took over the ride last summer. The pair tackled national events in 2017 and finished third in the Fair Hill CIC* in April this year and completed Jersey Fresh CIC2* in May.

In all, Mr Medicott started 50 international competitions, finishing in the top 10 at 31 of them. He ran at four-star nine times under three different riders, completing in the top 25 on every occasion except when he was injured at Kentucky in 2014.

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US Olympic rider Karen O’Connor is now coaching the Mexican eventing team.

Karen will be training the riders for major upcoming events, including the Pan American Games, which are held in Toronto this summer, and next year’s Rio Olympics.

Karen, who represented the US at five Olympics and four World Equestrian Games in her career as an eventer, said she accepted the role with “great pleasure”.

“There is tremendous support in Mexico for the implementation of a solid programme going forward to develop Mexico into a true competitive nation on the world stage,” she said.

“Wonderful sites in Mexico have been developed and are currently scheduled for CCI2* in February, and tentatively CCI3* in September. There is plenty of talent in Mexico. I look forward to working with all of the riders, and I am very confident in developing their National Programme so they can very soon become a competitive nation on the world stage.”

She added that the appointment comes “at a very good time” for her.

“I finally feel recovered from my back injury [which she broke in 2012] to take on this position. Since David’s [her husband’s] appointment as US chef d’equipe two years ago, I have had to stand down from all involvement to the USA’s High Performance committees to prevent any perceived conflicts of interest. I had served on all of the standing committees for over 25 years. Letting go of this, has been very frustrating for me. I have been forced therefore to consider other options including other nations.”

She also paid credit to other coaches that are training in different countries.

“Sue Ockenden has done tremendous work in developing eventing in Central and South America. Other American and Canadian riders are coaching teams from the Americas and Mark Todd is now coaching Brazil,” she added.

Karen also rode for the US at two Pan American Games and numerous four-star events around the world and in 1993 was the world’s number one lady rider.

She won team silver at the Atlanta Olympics, riding Biko, and team bronze in Sydney with Prince Panache. Karen was the highest placed American eventer at the 2012 London Olympics, riding Mr.Medicott (pictured). She was also the oldest female Olympian of all athletes and the oldest U.S. athlete, male or female, in London

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Karen O’Connor’s 1996 Olympic team silver medallist Biko died on Wednesday, aged 30.

The giant 17.3hh bay with a big white blaze is one of the all-time greats of American eventing. His best placings include third at Badminton in 1995 and fifth at Kentucky CCI4* in 1998.

Biko was retired after an injury at Burghley in 1999 and named US Eventing Association horse of the century.

Owned by Dick and Vita Thompson during his competitive career, Biko was by the thoroughbred Beau Charmeur.

He was originally found in Ireland by William Micklem,

who also produced Zara Phillips’ London 2012 silver medallist High Kingdom and Custom Made, 2000 Olympic champion with Karen’s husband David. On his website, William names Biko as 1 of the 4 best horses he has sourced.

“My brother John spotted Biko in Jack Deacon’s yard in Co Wexford as a 3-year-old,” says William’s website. “I bought him in partnership with Ronnie Duke, father of my student Sonya Duke, before selling him on to Karen O’Connor… He was a giant of a horse but Karen O’Connor showed her versatility by developing a wonderful partnership with him.

“As she said, ‘He had the grace of a ballerina and the strength of a giant, along with the eye of an eagle, the greatest heart and elegance. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do; he was a hero, and everything I always dreamed of in a horse.’

“I score all these young horses with a mark based on brains, brawn and beauty and he scored the highest of all these top 10 horses in the brawn department but he took a long time to learn to accept and trust his riders. Luckily Karen O’Connor gave him this time…

“Everyone loved Biko with his big white blaze and huge charisma and he brought a new audience to horse trials…”

Earlier this week, Karen told American website eventingnation.com: “He was the only horse I ever rode that needed extra pages in his passport because of all the places I took him internationally. He was part of my life for 26 years. He was an incredible horse.”

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One of America’s best-known event riders, Karen O’Connor, has given up the ride on her top string, as she recovers from a rotational fall.

Karen, 55, broke her back in an advanced class in the US last October.

Last week it was announced that her London 2012 partner, Mr Medicott, would be ridden by Phillip Dutton. The 14-year-old gelding was an Olympic team gold medallist in 2008 with Germany’s Frank Ostholt.

The Event Owners Task Force helped arrange for new syndicate members to join existing owners to secure the horse’s future in the US.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (27 June 2013)

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The US eventing team for the London Olympics has been named:

• Will Coleman and Twizzel
• Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister
• Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper
• Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere
• Karen O’Connor and Mr Medicott

The American final trial was at the St James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials on the weekend, where Tiana finished best of the 12 short-listed combinations in fifth.

The US team are trained by H&H columnist Mark Phillips, a former Olympic team gold medallist and father of British team member Zara.

Ten reserves have been listed.

Full report from Barbury in H&H this week (5 July).

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The American Olympic eventing team has suffered a blow with the news today that Heidi White has had to withdraw Northern Spy for “veterinary reasons”.

Heidi had competed Northern Spy in Britain several times, including finishing 10th at Badminton in 2005 and 15th at Barbury CIC*** in the same year (pictured).

The United States Equestrian Federation has named Karen O’Connor to replace Heidi, riding Mandiba. This will be Karen’s fourth Olympic Games. Her husband David won the individual gold medal at the Olympics in Sydney in 2000.

Karen and Mandiba are in Britain — they were due to run in the British open at Gatcombe this weekend — and will fly out to Hong Kong tomorrow. The British team horses also depart tomorrow.

Karen joins Phillip Dutton (Connaught), Becky Holder (Courageous Comet), Gina Miles (McKinlaigh) and Amy Tryon (Poggio) on the American team.

Stay up to date with all the Olympic news on www.horseandhound.co.uk and don’t forget to buy H&H next Thursday (7 August) for our full Olympic preview including form guides, predictions, full timetable and TV listings.

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Popular eventing pony Theodore O’Connor (pictured, photo by Shannon Brinkman) has been put down after being injured in an accident at rider Karen O’Connor’s barn.

The injury occurred after the pony was spooked while walking to the arena for a morning workout.

“Teddy got frightened and bolted. He slipped running back to the barn and suffered a severe laceration to his hind leg, severing the tendons and ligaments,” said the O’Connors in a statement.

“Dr. A Kent Allen was on the scene immediately, and it was determined after examination that the injuries were catastrophic. Everyone who knew Teddy is devastated.”

The 14.1hh eventer won himself a huge fan club on both sides of the Atlantic when he defied his tiny size to finish third at Rolex Kentucky in 2007 and sixth this year.

The 13-year-old also won team and individual gold medals at the Pan American games last year and was on the short-list for the American team at this year’s Olympics in Hong Kong.

“Seeing was believing with ‘Teddy’ as it seemed impossible to imagine that a pony of his size could do his job with such tremendous ease,” said the United Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) Joanie Morris in a press release.

“Thoughts and prayers are with Karen and David [O’Connor], Teddy’s groom Max Corcoran, all of his owners in the Theodore O’Connor syndicate and everyone associated with this remarkable pony.”

To send thoughts to Teddy’s connections please email Teddy@usef.org and USEF will pass on messages.

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Watch videos of Teddy

Size doesn’t matter for 14.1hh pony Theodore O’Connor (Teddy), who at the age of 11 has won double gold at the Pan-Am Games.

Teddy is just one of a band of small sport horses who are successfully taking on bigger horses and beating them.

His rider, regular US eventing team member Karen O’Connor says: “Teddy doesn’t know he’s small, he thinks anything is possible.”

In an exclusive H&H feature, journalist Jo Prestwich points out that under British Eventing rules, Teddy would not be able to compete at intermediate level and above.

But, if all goes well, Teddy could be booking his place on the US team for the Hong Kong Olympics.

It’s a slot that would suit Teddy’s growing army of fans well — he is about to be immortalized as a model Breyer horse.

“Teddy’s unusual, talented and shows the public a lot of personality,” adds Karen.

Teddy joins British event horse Little Tiger (15hh); National Hunt horse Katchit (15hh); dressage horse Forrest Fire (15.2hh) and show jumper Chianti Classico (15.3hh) — the mini heroes taking on much bigger rivals.

Watch videos of Teddy

For more information about Teddy visit: www.oconnoreventteam.com

Read H&H’s exclusive feature on the rise of these mini heroes Horse & Hound (9 August 2007)

British-based Australian Clayton Fredericks won the Rolex Kentucky four-star at his first attempt riding Ben Along Time.

Clayton started in equal third after the dressage, stood alone in third place following the cross-country and jumped clear on the final day for a final score of 54 penalties.

Phillip Dutton, who became a US citizen last year, was second on Connaught and won the championship title for the highest-placed American on 59.1.

The diminutive 14.1hh Theodore O’Connor “Teddy”, ridden by Karen O’Connor, rose from equal 15th after dressage to third, finishing on 60.1 penalties.

The event was not without its dramatic moments. The leaders after cross-country, Kristin Bachman and Gryffindor, were eliminated when they took the wrong course in the show jumping; and America’s Amy Tryon was disqualified by officials and has been referred to the FEI for “alleged abuse” after failing to pull up her horse when he went lame some 100m or so before the last fence.

www.rk3de.org

Read this report in full with further commentary and analysis, including details of how the British riders got on, in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (3 May, ’07)

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The first pony to compete in the Rolex Kentucky four-star three-day event was lying seventh after the first day of dressage yesterday.

Karen O’Connor’s ride Theodore O’Connor stands just 14.1hh and combines Thoroughbred and Arab blood — and an eighth Shetland pony.

“This sport pony, measuring in at 14.1hh, knows no size limitation to what he can do,” says Karen in her diary on the Rolex Kentucky site. “It is really amazing to have this horse be a part of my life.”

Karen and “Teddy” scored 52 to lie seventh overnight, with fellow American Missy Ransehousen holding the lead on Critical Decision, who had a mark of 47.8.

As this was posted on H&H Online, America’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) bronze medallist Amy Tryon had just taken the lead on Le Samurai, after scoring 47. The first British competitors, 2003 Kentucky runners-up Polly Stockton and Tangleman, lay second on 47.2, with Australia’s WEG double medallists Clayton Fredericks and Ben Along Time third on 47.4.

Rolex Kentucky links

• Live scoreboard
• Times (Kentucky is five hours behind Britain)
• Karen O’Connor’s build-up diaries

For full report and stunning pictures from Rolex Kentucky, see next week’s Horse & Hound (3 May)

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