Jump start the New Year!

© John Whitaker Facebook Page

By Equestrian Life

2023 is here and to jump-start the year, we thought we would share with you some sensational jumping stars, which have all made their mark in equestrian history, throughout Australia and the around the world.

Enjoy!

Milton and John Whitaker

Milton and John Whitaker captured the hearts of millions of equestrian fans throughout the world. The magnificent grey gelding became the first horse to win one million in prize money on the jumping circuit, as he won over 20 events during the peak of his career, between the 1980’s and the 1990’s.

Whitaker and Milton won the Team gold for Britain, as well as individual silver in the FEI European Championships in both 1987 and 1989.

Whitaker said, “He was a once in a lifetime horse”, after his death in 1999.

John Whitaker GBR and Milton 1990 World Cup

© Stable Express YouTube

Stroller and Marion Coakes

Marion Coakes first stumbled across Stroller in 1960, when she was 13. Coakes and the 14.2hh Thoroughbred cross Connemara pony represented Britain at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, where the pair won a Silver medal.

The incredible combination also won the Hickstead Derby in 1967, as well as the Queen Elizebeth II cup in both 1965 and 1971.

Stroller passed away at the age of 36 in 1986, with more than 15 years of retirement prior.

Marion Coakes – Stroller and Andrew Fielder – Vibart from 1968

© WarWickRex YouTube

Big Ben and Ian Millar

Big Ben and Ian Millar are considered to be one of the most successful partnerships in show jumping history. Ian Millar rode the 17.3hh, chestnut Belgian Warmblood to more than 40 Grand Prix titles, including six Spruce Meadows Derbys. Miller and Big Ben also won the du Maurier International twice, in 1987 and 1991, the world’s richest grand prix event at that time.

in 1992 Big Ben survived two bouts of colic, and survived a car accident. The head-on collision caused Big Ben’s float to become overturned, which resulted in the death of the other two horses he was traveling. Big Ben continued on to win a Grand Prix just two months after.

After 11 successful years of competition, Big Ben retired to Millar Brooke Farm in 1994. The show jumping sensation was euthanised at the age of 23, after suffering from a third bout of colic.

Big Ben in the 1986 Hamburg Derby

Edwina Tops-Alexander and Lintea Tequila

This combination have together won 5* Grand Prix classes in Valkenswaard, Doha and Miami and have placed second and third on multiple occasions, in some of the biggest and most challenging classes around the world.

The combination also placed 9th individually at the Rio Olympics, in 2016.

Lintea Tequila retired in 2019 at the age of 16. The talented mare is currently enjoying her retirement at Stal Tops, in the Netherlands.