Apr 05, 2018

2018 USEA's Eventing Hall of Fame: Captain Mark Phillips

By Leslie Mintz - USEA Staff
Mark Phillips. Donna Dixon Woodall Photo.

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is very pleased to announce the new inductees that will join the 40 other members of the USEA's Eventing Hall of Fame in 2018. This year, we will honor six inductees whose accomplishments and contributions have truly made a difference in the sport of eventing. The inductees will be formally inducted during the Hall of Fame Gala at the 2018 USEA Annual Meeting and Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana this December. We will be releasing the names of the six inductees over the coming month.

Captain Mark Phillips was born on September 22, 1948, in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England. Phillips attended Sandhurst Royal Military Academy and after graduation he entered the military, joining The Royal Dragoon Guards. While rising in the ranks from Lieutenant to Captain, Phillips was named a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, in recognition of his service to the monarch of the British Royal Family, and a Personal Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, which allowed him to represent the ruling monarch and her viceroys.

Phillips began his eventing career in the Beaufort Hunt Pony Club, riding alongside Mike Tucker and under the Olympic gold medalist, Colonel Frank Weldon. He went on to win a team gold medal for Great Britain at the Munich Olympics in 1972 and was on the gold medal-winning British teams for the World Championships in 1970 and European Championships in 1971. Phillips won the Badminton Horse Trials four times, in 1971, 1972, 1974, and 1981. He also won Burghley in 1973 and represented Great Britain on two winning Nations Cup show jumping teams. Phillips retired from competing in 1988 after earning a team silver medal at the Seoul Olympic Games.

Mark Phillips riding Maid Marion at Ledyard in 1973. Rick Foltz Photo.

Following his retirement from competition, Phillips focused on his cross-country course design career. He designed the Burghley CCI4* course from 1989-1996, 1998-2000, and 2005-present, and also designed the Luhmuhlen CCI4* course for 12 years. In the U.S. he designed the USEA American Eventing Championships for several years and is currently the designer for several events including those held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center and the 2018 World Equestrian Games.

In 1994 Phillips took on the role of Chef d’equipe for the U.S. team and held that position for nearly 20 years. Under his guidance the U.S. won individual silver at the 1994 World Equestrian Games; individual gold and team silver at the 1995 Pan American Games; individual bronze and team silver at the 1996 Olympic Games; team bronze at the 1998 World Championships; individual silver and bronze and team gold at the 1999 Pan American Games; individual gold and team bronze at the 2000 Olympic Games; team gold at the 2002 World Equestrian Games; individual gold, silver, and bronze and team gold at the 2003 Pan American Games; individual silver and team bronze at the 2004 Olympic Games; individual bronze at the 2006 World Equestrian Games; individual gold, silver, and bronze and team gold at the 2007 Pan American Games; individual silver at the 2008 Olympic Games; and individual silver and bronze and team gold at the 2011 Pan American Games.

Phillips met his first wife, Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, while competing on the eventing circuit and the two married in 1973. They had two children, Peter and Zara. Zara would go on to become a top eventing competitor herself, winning individual gold at the 2006 World Equestrian Games and team silver at the 2012 Olympic Games. Phillips remarried to top dressage rider, Sandy Pfleuger, in 1997 and the two had a daughter, Stephanie.

Out and About, Nina and Tim Gardner, and Karen O'Connor have been announced as 2018 USEA's Hall of Fame inductees. Stay tuned for the announcements of the remaining inductees!

Jul 01, 2024 Competitions

Alliston’s Busy Weekend, Braitling’s Reuniting with Five-Star Mount, & Kalkman’s Advanced Victory Highlight Twin Rivers Summer H.T.

As he was finishing tacking up his horse in preparation to navigate the cross-country course at the 2024 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials, James Alliston expressed concern about navigating the 101 Freeway. That’s because as soon as he crossed the finish line aboard Intermediate level winner Addyson (Ampere x Nickerbocker) at 10:38 a.m. on Saturday—his fifth cross-country round of the morning with three at Preliminary and two at Intermediate—the West Coast-based five-star rider had to drive 185 miles on the 101 Freeway from Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, to San Francisco International Airport to catch a 4:35 p.m. flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

Jul 01, 2024 Education

USEA Podcast #364: All Your Grooming Questions Answered

There is so much more to proper grooming than keeping your horse picture-perfect for the horse inspection. Good grooming practices are critical to proper horse management, no matter if you are planning for your next FEI appearance or your Starter level debut. To help you maximize your knowledge of grooming practices, we opened up the opportunity for USEA members to submit any questions they might have on our Instagram and Facebook stories. In this week's episode, Host Nicole Brown sits down with three of the highest-regarded grooms in this industry, Max Corcoran, Emma Ford, and Stephanie Simpson, and asks them all of your questions and more to help you perfect the art of grooming.

Jun 29, 2024 Education

The Event Rider’s Top 3 Organization Tips for Horse Trials Day

Despite our best plans and organizational efforts, life with horses can very often mean we are cycling through Plans B through Z when we start the day with Plan A in mind. If your summer schedule includes your first horse trials or your hundredth, it’s always helpful to check-in with your own organization methods to stay prepared and ensure competition day runs as smoothly as possible.

Jun 28, 2024 Eventing News

Equestrian Team Apparel to be Bronze Sponsor for 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships

The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is pleased to announce Equestrian Team Apparel as a “Bronze Level Sponsor for the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC)” taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, Aug. 27- Sept. 1.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shockwave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA