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Apr 03, 2024
Olympic Gold Medalist Custom Made to Be Inducted into the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions
Legendary eventing horse and Olympic gold medalist Custom Made will be posthumously inducted into the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions. The 17.1-hand Irish Sport Horse known to many as “Tailor” will be buried in the Memorial Walk of Champions, the final resting place for some of the most famous equine athletes.
“The sport of eventing is an integral part of the Kentucky Horse Park story, and this should be recognized in our Hall of Champions,” said President Lee Carter. “Custom Made is arguably the most decorated horse to compete at the Park, having won the Kentucky Three-Day Event [1995], Badminton Horse Trials [1997] and Olympic gold [2000]. While Custom Made is no longer with us, we are thankful to David O’Connor for allowing future generations the chance to learn the history of this amazing horse.”
Tailor (Bassompierre x Purple Heather) was foaled in Ireland in 1985. In 1998 he was imported to the United States by owner Joseph Zada of Xandarius, LCC to be a mount for O’Connor. The two captured the hearts of Americans in their first year of partnership by winning the 1995 Kentucky Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The following year, Tailor and O’Connor finished third in the Badminton Horse Trials (England) and placed fifth individually in the Atlanta Olympic Games. They returned to Badminton in 1997 to secure the win, making Tailor the second American horse ever to win the prestigious competition.
The remarkable duo achieved their crowning moment at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, winning the eventing individual gold medal. This was the first eventing gold medal for the U.S. in 25 years. They continued a successful career together including the win of the gelding's final competition at the 2002 Fair Hill International Three-Day CCI4*-L (Elkton, Maryland). He was formally retired at the 2004 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and was inducted into the United States Eventing Association Hall of Fame in 2009.
Tailor lived out the rest of his life at Jacqueline Mars’ Stonehall Farm in The Plains, Virginia. He died in October 2019 at the age of 34 with O’Connor by his side, ending a celebrated chapter in U.S. eventing history. “Tailor was the horse of a lifetime,” said O’Connor. “The most powerful horse I have ever sat on and a true gentleman of every sort. He was a great combination of athlete, legend, and friend.”
A public ceremony will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park on April 23 at 5:30 p.m.
Jul 02, 2024
Educational Activities
USEA Educational Activity Highlight: Sherwood Forest Hunter Pace | Sherwood Oregon | July 13, 2024
What’s a Hunter Pace? The Sherwood Forest Equestrian Center's Hunter Pace is a cross-country-style course around Sherwood Forest over various natural obstacles/terrain. The course ends with a final treat for riders to take in stunning views of Mt. Hood with a loop through the old Far Hill Farms field. The beginning of the course will first start with a warm-up loop around show jumping obstacles in the outdoor ring at Sherwood Forest and then riders will continue directly onto the course. Sign up as a solo rider, pair, or team.
Jul 02, 2024
Profile
No Longer Dreaming: Claire Allen's Goal of Qualifying for USEF Eventing Young Rider Championship is Now Reality
Claire Allen remembers when she was 11 years old, having just made the switch from the hunter/jumper ring to three-day eventing. She told her new eventing trainer that her goal was to one day compete in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Young Rider Championships.
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.
