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.
Milton’s groom Penny Dalton, who had perhaps the most coveted job in the world, shares with us some fantastic insights into life with the great showjumper. Here are eight things that may surprise you...
This week on The Horse & Hound Podcast, our dressage editor Polly Bryan chats to the effervescent Louise Bell about how she went from champion show rider to international grand prix rider
We dip into the archives to remember some of the legendary partnerships to have won multiple World Cup crowns in the competition’s 41-year history
‘They say that horses find you, something I never truly understood until I met Arko’ — meet the next generation of Argento’s offspring
To celebrate this awesome stallion, we pick out just 12 of the many reasons Archie has captured our hearts following the announcement of his retirement
I‘ thought I could show them all how it’s done!’
‘I’m just trying to take it easy for a bit, but the doctor said it would be four weeks before I can ride again’
‘I didn't even think it was a bad fall for me,’ John told Horse & Hound
Fans will see top riders battle it out for a place in the grand prix on New Year’s Eve
Top British showjumpers will be set to do battle with some the world’s best in front of the Olympia crowds
The brothers scored a one-two in a CSI5* class at the Monaco leg of the Global Champions Tour
Among the numerous great horses John Whitaker has saddled over the years, he credits this trio for being pivotal in his phenomenal career
The top British rider tells H&H about his most exciting horses for the 2018 season
There’s nothing like a home win — or two — in front of an enthusiastic Olympia crowd, says Horse & Hound's guest showjumping columnist
We take a look back through the H&H archives to bring you some of our favourite fancy dress moments
John is back in the saddle after a short break following his dramatic fall at the London leg of the Global Champions Tour
The legendary showjumper said he is ‘stiff but in all the wrong places!’
The 62-year-old, who was celebrating his birthday today, had a nasty fall in the grand prix
