United States Eventing Association

In Memoriam: Antigua (1989-2021)

Will Faudree shared the news yesterday that his legendary event horse, Antigua, passed away at the age of 32. In a Facebook post he said:

“I always thought I would have something profound to write. A eulogy that would encapsulate the impact you had on my life. And maybe those words will come. You taught me what a work ethic is, how to think in slow motion and how to just keep going. You laid the foundation for a career I dreamed of as a kid. Thank you will never be enough. I will miss you every day- rest easy my friend.”

Antigua was a Thoroughbred bred in Australia by Match Winner and out of Great Mistake. He was found in Australia by Phillip Dutton who Will Faudree worked for as a young rider and “Brad” was imported and began a partnership with Faudree. Together with Faudree he earned 957 lifetime points and currently sits in 13^th on the all-time USEA historical leaderboard. In their many years of partnership, their cross-country record was spotless and had over 25 top-five places.

Highlights of Faudree and Antigua’s career include a fourth place at the 2002 Fair Hill CCI3* (now CCI4*-L), 12^th place at the 2003 Kentucky Three-Day Event, 10^th at the 2004 Kentucky Three-Day Event (Modified), 22^nd at the 2005 Badminton Horse Trials, second at the 2005 Fair Hill CCI3* (now CCI4*-L), and 21^st at the 2007 Burghley Horse Trials.

They represented the U.S. at both the Pan American Games in 2003 where they finished individually in sixth place and were members of the gold-medal-winning U.S. Team and at the 2006 World Equestrian Games where they earned a top-20 spot.

“I got Brad in my last year as a young rider; he took me to my first three-star, my first four-star, my first team, my first Worlds, and my first European trip,” said Faudree in an article in 2009. “Brad is that horse that made me. His work ethic, his passion for his career, is incomparable to any horse I’ve sat on since. I’ll have horses in my career who are better than him in some ways, but Antigua can never be replaced.”

Antigua officially retired at the age of 20 during a ceremony at the 2009 Southern Pines Horse Trials.

The USEA sends its sincerest condolences to Faudree and all of Antigua’s connections.