‘The greatest honour’: hall of fame induction for legendary partnership

Top Canadian showjumper Eric Lamaze, pictured here riding one of his most famous horses, Hickstead, at WEG 2010, shares his views on loose jumping young horses — Eric Lamaze riding Hickstead

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Eric Lamaze and his “one of a kind” Olympic gold medal-winning partner Hickstead have been granted “the greatest honour you can achieve from your country”.

The showjumper and the KWPN stallion were inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in a virtual ceremony on 3 October, in the teams category.

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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.

‘The greatest honour’: hall of fame induction for legendary partnership

Eric and Hickstead had a host of stellar achievements. As well as winning individual gold, and team silver, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, they won individual bronze at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, in which Hickstead was also awarded the “best horse” title.

“I believe this is the greatest honour you can receive from your country,” said Eric. “Hickstead was incredible, simply one of a kind. Together, we were proud to represent Canada on the world stage. It is well deserved on his part; I just went along for the ride.”

As well as the hall of fame induction, Eric has been given the Order of Sport, Canada’s top sporting honour. This was presented to him last month while he was competing at Spruce Meadows, at which a life-size bronze of Hickstead stands.

The Hamlet stallion, whom Eric bought as an eight-year-old in 2004, owing him with John Fleischhakcer’s Ashland Stables, won over £3m with Eric until his death in 2011.

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