John Whitaker
John Whitaker is one of the most admired showjumping riders worldwide and is still going strong at the age of 63. He has competed in dozens of major international championships collecting 24 medals at Olympic, World and European championships during his long and successful career to date.
John was selected to represent Britain at the Rio Olympics with the talented, yet inexperienced, mare Ornellaia. The daughter of For Pleasure had been on great form ahead of selection. He ruled out his top ride Argento, despite the stallion winning at grand prix level this season, saying: “Argento is a great horse, he’s a real fighter but he has his limits and I don’t want to push him beyond them.”
John Whitaker has also won numerous major classes such as the Hickstead Derby. One of his most famous horses, Milton, was the first showjumping horse to win more than £1 million in prize money.
John is married to Claire and they have three children, Joanne, Louise and Robert.
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Lightning quick pair win and John Whitaker jumps alongside his granddaughter in London: ‘Forget the Olympics, this is serious pressure’
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Legendary showjumper John Whitaker on his idols and what he wished he had known while growing up
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‘On a horse, I feel like a young man’ Whitakers’ guard of honour as John given top HOYS award
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You’re never too old! Meet the top riders still smashing it in their 60s
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‘My proudest achievement? Holding my own against good young riders’ says John Whitaker, 69, in new TV programme
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‘Nothing beats this’: spectacular British hat-trick launches day one of London LGCT show
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Horse & Hound’s 140th anniversary legends: Milton – John Whitaker’s wonder horse who won over £1m during his career
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Senior Whitaker brothers land a win apiece: ‘Something I’ll remember for ever’
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John Whitaker’s new horse goes viral, a teenager clears 1.85m and a warm-up fall doesn’t stop the world number one
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Exciting new five-star ride for John Whitaker – with Paris Olympics ‘a possibility’
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Mary King on the horse she would have loved to have ridden: ‘I was absolutely bowled over’
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Joe Stockdale as Cinderella and other top riders as you’ve never seen them before – welcome to the London International Horse Show fancy dress relay
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‘They could have put the jumps up even higher’: John Whitaker’s winning streak continues to London six-bar
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‘I’m hanging on in there!’ John Whitaker shows ‘young speed merchants’ how it’s done in London
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John Whitaker returns to grassroots riding club to present awards again – 50 years on
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‘It’s a privilege to ride with him’: HOYS roof raised as John Whitaker and Shane Breen win 1.85m six-bar
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‘I’m 68, but I can still do it’: John and Michael Whitaker discuss longevity, mistaken identity and sibling rivalry
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The Horse & Hound Podcast 141: John & Michael Whitaker
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Cowboy saloons, Hawaii holidays, and historic wins: John Whitaker’s fondest memories of an outstanding show
