Olympic showjumper Wonderboy dies
Olympic showjumper Wonderboy III (pictured right with Ben Maher) has died suddenly while being ridden at home in Surrey.
Less than four months after the 14-year-old grey gelding’s former rider and producer Georgie Crumley bought back “Basil”, he collapsed on the gallops with Georgie in the saddle on Monday (7 January).
“No words can describe how much he meant to me or how much I miss him,” said Georgie. “Everyone who was ever lucky enough to meet him will understand what an amazing special horse he was.
“The pain I am feeling now is unbearable, but I also feel truly blessed to have had such an amazing horse in my life — thank you to all the people that have made that possible — he was my horse of a lifetime and I loved every second I spent with him. ”
The Flamenco De Semilly gelding was originally produced by Adam Cove before Georgie (then Strutton) took over with great success in young riders.
In 2008, the then nine-year-old Wonderboy was sold to Ben Maher and Quainton Stud. Ben rode Wonderboy to many great successes, including the Rolex grand prix in Zurich and the Christmas Masters at Olympia.
In 2010, Syrian teenager Ahmad Saber Hamcho took the ride and together they competed at the 2012 London Olympics, going out in the second round. Ireland’s Denis Lynch bought the gelding in August in a part-exchange deal before Georgie and her husband Ryan snapped him up in September and returned Basil to their yard in Surrey, some four years after he’d left.
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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.