Each younger and older horse riders alike might be taught a lot from the equestrians who made it to the highest – and keep there – nicely into their 60s.
Even because the world turns into an increasing number of progressive, there are nonetheless few actually mixed-sex aggressive sports activities. The truth that all genders compete on equal phrases is simply one of many many particular qualities of horse sport.
One other factor that units equestrian disciplines aside is the dearth of an higher age restrict. Whereas many footballers grasp up their boots earlier than their thirty fifth birthday, in horse sport you’re actually solely as outdated as you are feeling. Throughout the disciplines and ranges, from native exhibits to the very high, older horse riders compete in opposition to those that are a few years their junior.
In actual fact, advancing years may be an elite equestrian’s secret weapon. The extra horses you journey, hours of coaching you place in and high competitions you full, the extra expertise you acquire – supplying you with the sting on the highest degree. If a rider manages to keep away from damage, they’ll stay efficient within the saddle over many many years and proceed to scoop medals, titles and worldwide appearances nicely after pensionable age.
Older horse riders nonetheless on the high of their recreation
Whether or not it’s performing a near-perfect grand prix freestyle or crusing round a five-star observe, we’ve picked out a few of the world-class older horse riders defying conference and exhibiting no signal of slowing down of their 60s.
1. Juan Antonio Jiménez Cobo, 65
The dressage rider turned the nation’s oldest ever Olympian on the Paris 2024 Video games. He piloted placing gray Lusitano stallion Euclides MOR.
Born in Castro del Rio, Córdoba, in 1959, Juan Antonio is predicated in Madrid. His first Olympic look for Spain was in 2000 on the Sydney Video games, the place the dressage staff got here fifth general. He represented Spain once more in Athens 2004, the place they earned the silver staff medal.
Recent off the again of his 2024 Olympic look for Spain, Juan Antonio headed to South Africa in early September to compete within the CDI3* at Ermelo with vivid bay stallion Quartar. He completed sixth within the grand prix freestyle.
2. Phillip Dutton, 60
Born in 1963 in New South Wales, Australia, Phillip Dutton’s illustrious eventing profession has included representing two nations throughout seven Olympic Video games.
He appeared at three Video games for Australia, the place he helped the eventing staff high the rostrum on two consecutive events, in 1996 in Atlanta and within the 2000 residence Video games.
Phillip turned a US citizen in 2006 and earned his first particular person bronze medal at Rio 2016 on board Mighty Good.
Phillip has loved success on the US eventing circuit and has positioned within the high 10 at each Burghley and Badminton. He has received as soon as on the high degree, taking the 2008 Kentucky Three-Day Occasion crown with Irish Sports activities Horse gelding Connaught.
This 12 months, Phillip had two rides at Kentucky. He completed fifteenth on second journey Azure, whereas his first journey Quasi Cool fell on the closing fence on cross-country day. Phillip later launched an replace to say the gelding was “resting comfortably in his stall”.
3. Michael Whitaker, 64
Born in 1960 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Michael Whitaker is likely one of the founding members of the enormously profitable Whitaker showjumping dynasty.
He has represented Nice Britain in 5 Olympic Video games. He first appeared on the LA Video games in 1984, the place he helped the showjumping staff clinch the silver medal.
Michael’s quite a few successes over the many years are too many to call, however embody staff gold and particular person silver medals on the 1989 European Championships in Rotterdam with horse of a lifetime Monsanta. He additionally got here third within the Netherlands World Cup closing in 1994 atop Everest Midnight Insanity.
In Might 2024, Michael piloted Equine America Q Paravatti N – a journey he shares together with his son Jack – to victory within the Longines Whitsun Event in Wiesbaden, a CSI4* competitors.
4. Jill Irving, 61
The Ontarian was set to make her Olympic debut for Canada with high dressage mount Delacroix 11 this 12 months, however she ended up travelling to Paris because the alternate with chestnut KWPN stallion Genesis.
Born in 1963, Jill started her profession on Canada’s hunter jumper circuit earlier than switching to dressage. She made her FEI debut in 2013, aged 50. She helped Canada high the rostrum on the Pan American Video games in Lima in 2019 on Degas 12, a 12 months after her first World Equestrian Video games look.
In July this 12 months, she competed at Hartpury CDI3* and completed eighth within the grand prix particular with Genesis.
5. Rolf Göran-Bengsston, 62
The showjumper was the oldest within the self-discipline at Paris 2024. Competing for Sweden with 12-year-old stallion Zuccero HV, he helped earn a qualification for the staff closing. Sweden went on to complete sixth within the staff leaping.
Paris marked Rolf-Göran Bengsston’s sixth Olympic look. He has earned a brace of Olympic silvers in his profession: one staff medal at Athens 2004 and one particular person in Hong Kong on the Beijing 2008 Video games.
Notable achievements embody a spate of top-three placings within the Longines World Champions Tour (LGCT) in 2014 and 2015 with Caretino stallion Casall ASK, together with wins in Doha, Chantilly, London and Rome. He was the LGCT Champion of Champions bronze medallist in 2015.
6. Andrew Hoy, 65
A stalwart of the worldwide eventing scene, Aussie rider Andrew Hoy has clocked up a formidable eight Olympic appearances for his nation – probably the most ever for a member of staff Australia. His six Olympic medals embody three staff golds received at back-to-back Video games from Barcelona 1992 to Sydney 2000.
In 2006, Andrew got here inside touching distance of touchdown the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. He completed in pole place at Kentucky on Grasp Monarch and repeated this feat at Badminton atop Moonfleet. At Burghley in the identical 12 months, leaders Andrew and Moonfleet might afford to knock one fence within the closing part. Sadly, the mix rolled two poles and so the 2006 title went to fellow Australian Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia.
Andrew missed out on his ninth Olympic look at Paris this 12 months, nevertheless it doesn’t mark the top of an period for this older horse rider, who stated: “This chapter of ‘Paris 2024’ could also be closing, however the e-book isn’t completed. We’re excited to see what the long run holds for us!”
7. John Whitaker, 69
This dwelling legend wants no introduction. 5 years older than his brother Michael, John Whitaker has represented Nice Britain at six Olympic Video games. He has received too many accolades to call, however has earned 24 Olympic, World and European Championship medals so far.
Synonymous with John is his world-famous and beloved mount Milton. The legendary gray gelding was the primary showjumper to earn £1m in prize cash and had a fan base to rival modern movie stars within the Eighties and early 90s. The pair’s crowning achievement was double gold on the 1989 Europeans in Rotterdam.
Latest success for John consists of a win within the World Champions League of Madrid in Might this 12 months. Together with teammate Gilles Thomas and representing Valkenswaard United, John completed high with gelding Equine America Unick de Francport. Whereas John lately stated “holding my very own in opposition to good younger riders” was one among his proudest achievements, everybody is aware of this older horse rider is to not be beneath estimated in any kind of leaping competitors.
8. Mary Hanna, 69
This dressage rider is ready to have a good time her seventieth birthday in December this 12 months. The Australian has represented her nation at 5 WEGs and 6 Olympics, debuting at Atlanta 1996.
Mary took a break from competitors in 2019 to be together with her daughter whereas she recovered from a critical fall. The next 12 months, she turned the primary Australian rider ever to attain above 80% in a grand prix freestyle competitors.
She travelled to Paris 2024 with stallion Ivanhoe as staff Australia’s dressage alternate. After the competitors, she took to Instagram to say: “I believed afterwards I may be saying my retirement from the game. Nonetheless it’s fairly the alternative. I really feel so impressed and motivated by the excellent efficiency of everybody concerned, that I plan to proceed to comply with my desires.”
- Have we missed any older horse riders price of inclusion on this article? Tell us about your favorite older equestrian athlete by electronic mail at hhletters@futurenet.com together with your title, nearest city and county for the possibility to have your ideas printed in a future version of Horse & Hound journal
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