US Olympic rider Margie Engle – and McLain Ward’s top former ride Sapphire – have been inducted into the US Showjumping Hall of Fame.
Induction into the hall of fame takes place annually based on individuals whose contributions to the sport have “set them apart and whose influence has had a significant impact” on the sport and the equestrian community.
“It is because of their talents, efforts, accomplishments, and what they have brought to the sport, that the election committee – comprising some of the nation’s top riders, trainers and officials – selected Engle and Sapphire as the class of 2020,” said a spokesman for the hall of fame.
Margie’s many achievements including competing in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and being on the silver medal-winning team at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen. She is also a three-time Pan American Games medallist, has ridden in 17 World Cup finals and has won more than 200 grands prixs. Margie was awarded the American Grandprix Association’s (AGA) rider of the year award 10 times and is the only rider to have won it more than four times.
“In 2004, Engle had 11 grand prix wins despite a broken hip bone that sidelined her for two months. She added another 11 wins in 2005 and seven more in 2006 when she won the AGA award for the 10th time,” added the spokesman.
Also inducted for 2020 is McLain Ward’s Olympic medal-winning mare Sapphire. The pair were on the gold medal-winning teams at the 20004 Athens and 2008 Hong Kong Games. They were also part of the silver medal-winning team at the 2006 WEG and took seventh individually at the 2010 WEG in Lexington.
Sapphire retired to McLain’s farm in spring 2012 and died in 2014 aged 19.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
McLain said he was “very proud” to have been in Sapphire’s life.
“Her greatness never fades,” he said. “My congratulations to Margie as well, the strongest competitor I know. Two great ladies”.
Margie and Sapphire join a stellar list of the sport’s legends including top horses, former Olympic medallists, farriers, officials and owners. The hall of fame is located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, where plaques are on display in honour of the inductees.
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
