The treble Hickstead Derby winner only began his partnership with Michael Whitaker as a teenager. Jennifer Donald charts the stocky gelding’s illustrious achievements and will to win
An all-star cast of horses has taken centre stage for Michael Whitaker during his four decades in the saddle, but one stands out for his longevity, consistency and magnificent conquests around the globe – Monsanta.
The stocky, Irish-bred “Monty” had a distinctive air about him with his trademark sheepskin noseband and unusually high head carriage. He could be sharp, but appreciated Michael’s quiet approach in the saddle and, driven by the Yorkshireman’s steely will to win, he tried his heart out at every obstacle.
The 13-year-old gelding was already a young rider European gold medallist and Queen’s Cup winner when Michael took over the reins, but the remarkable pair went on to land the Hickstead Derby three times in succession, plus four championship medals and some of the richest grands prix in the world. All this and he never suffered a day’s lameness in his life.
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"}
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Geoff Billington is one of Britain’s most successful showjumpers. Here he takes us on an entertaining trip down memory lane
Credit: Lucy Merrell
H&H’s showjumping columnist supports a bursary for show centres to upgrade facilities