In the sport
of show jumping there is one horse that stands head and shoulders
above the rest of the competitors -literally. At 17.3 hands,
BIG BEN is the largest successful Grand Prix horse in the World.
BIG BEN and his
partner Ian Millar, would have an unprecedented career together.
Ben's unique combination of size, charisma and athletic ability
incited both rider and spectator. Their historic partnership
began in the fall of 1983 when Ian discovered BIG BEN in the
Belgian countryside just outside Brussels. BEN was already seven
years old and his size and disposition seemed to have kept any
interested buyers at bay. But from Ian's first ride on the 1450
pound giant, he knew he liked the way BIG BEN moved, his technique,
his instinct to jump and his power. Ian purchased Ben for $45,000.
Jumping was never
BIG BEN's problem. Allowing his rider to participate was. Training
him was a difficult task, since Ben was not only Big, he was
stubborn. He did however, have a number of natural abilities…he
loved to jump. Once he learned something, as tough as that lesson
may have been, he never forgot it.
After 11 distinguished
seasons on the international circuit, BIG BEN retired from competition.
His phenomenal career includes winning more than 40 grand prix,
Anchoring 30 national cup teams and participating in 3 Olympic
Games. Big Ben is the only horse to win the Du Maurier International
twice, and he is one of only three horses to win back to back
World cups. His total winnings exceed 1.5 million dollars, and
he was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. There,
he joined the ranks of the legendary Northern Dancer as one of
only two non-humans to be inducted as members.
At 6am Dec 11-1999
Big Ben succumbed to Colic-The Equestrian world and horse lovers
worldwide mourned his passing, and BIG BEN's standing would now
ascend to true Legendary status.
