The death of a much-loved Olympic medallist, plus other things the horse world is talking about

Cortes C at the Rio Olympics with Beezie Madden — RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 14: Elizabeth Madden of United States riding Cortes'c' competes during the Jumping Individual and Team Qualifier on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Equestrian Centre on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

1. A much-loved jumping sensation

A horse described as “the friendliest you’ll ever meet”, who won world and Olympic medals and top grands prix has died aged 21. Cortes C, who helped the US to team silver at the 2016 Olympics with Beezie Madden died peacefully on 13 July after a happy retirement. Tiny’s signature cross-legged pose over a fence had helped win him “legions” of fans, and he was immortalised as a Breyer model horse in 2016.

Wilhelm “Willy” Büsing, the Olympic medal-winning eventer, who was also a vet and breeder, died on 25 June, aged 102. Born in Jade, Germany, in 1921, Dr Büsing became one of the most successful event riders in the country during the 1950s. He was the son of a horse dealer, and became involved in horses from a young age. Following the second world war he initially had success with horses he had bred and produced, then in 1952 the German Olympic committee for equestrianism asked him to ride the Hanoverian gelding Hubertus. That year Dr Büsing and Hubertus won team silver and individual bronze at the Helsinki Olympics.

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Sarah has worked at an equestrian journalist and editor since 2004 and has held the position of Horse & Hound Editor-in-Chief since 2014. She has reported for Horse & Hound from major championships including Europeans and World Equestrian Games. She has co-written books on horses and horse sport including The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horses & Ponies. She has owned and ridden horses since 1993, and worked for and trained with Olympic gold medallist event rider Leslie Law prior to going to university. While studying for a BSc at London School of Economics Sarah also worked for top British dressage rider Louise Spate.

The death of a much-loved Olympic medallist, plus other things the horse world is talking about

1. A much-loved jumping sensation

2. Olympic medallist dies aged 102

3. A stunning, state-of-the-art equestrian home

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1. A much-loved jumping sensation

2. Olympic medallist dies aged 102

3. A stunning, state-of-the-art equestrian home

You might also be interested in:

End of the road for ‘final four’ WEG showjumping finale

‘We needed to win enough prize money to get home to USA — no pressure!’

Long-term charity resident tests positive for strangles in ‘unusual case’

‘He inspires me every day’: eight-year-old diagnosed with bone cancer to ride at national championships

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