Big Star back in the ring — with John Whitaker on board

Nearly three years to the day that Big Star and Nick Skelton clinched that momentous Olympic gold medal in Rio, the now 16-year-old stallion was back in the ring — with another legendary rider in the saddle, John Whitaker.

The pair were taking part in the stallion showcase at the Equitop Bolesworth Young Horse Championships on Sunday (18 August) alongside the likes of Je T’Aime Flamenco, Noble Warrior, SFS Aristio and Argento. And with the fences already set up in the main arena for the following class, the seven-year-old championship, John admitted he was almost tempted to give the double Olympic gold medal-winning stallion a pop over a jump or two.

“I thought I could show them all how it’s done!” John told H&H. “I said when Nick retired that it was him that was knackered – the horse was fine! And he felt really good in there. I was very tempted to have a jump on him.”

On entering the Bolesworth arena, Big Star announced his arrival with his trademark neigh and looked as though he was keen to go full pelt over the coloured fences again as John trotted him round in front of the spectators.

“When you have 10 stallions in an arena, you have to keep your wits about you,” said John, whose daughter Louise took the reins on his top ride Argento for the event. “Stallions are often very lazy at home but the complete opposite at a show, but they were all really well behaved.”

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John had ridden Big Star once before at the British Breeding Stallion Event in 2018, while his nephew Jack Whitaker took the reins on the Widdowsons’ champion son of Quick Star at the Stallion AI Services open day last year.

“The stallion parade was a great thing to have at a young horse show where you also had the elite foal auction and everyone was looking at the breeding — it was very fitting to show off these top stallions,” added John.

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Jennifer Donald

H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.