Horse of the Week

Cornishman V the eventer who won two olympic gold medals and became a filmstar

 
17hh Cornishman V was born in 1959 by the Thoroughbred Golden Surprise out of an unregistered mare named Polly. He was purchased as a four year old by Mary Gordon-Watson's father for £500 at a Cornish farm sale and was hunted and ran in point-to-points.

Mary Gordon-Watson started riding Cornishman when she needed a horse to take her Pony Club A test on, she was encouraged to event him by Major Paddy Burke. The Olympic selection comittee were interested in the pair for the 1968 Mexico Olympics but unfortunately Mary took a fall from Cornishman in a working hunter class and broke her leg.

Cornishman V was lent to the British team and ridden by Richard Meade in the Mexico Olympics where they achieved a team gold.

The following year back with Mary Gordon Watson Cornishman V won the individual gold at the Haras Du Pin European Championships. Over the following years they went on to win both the individual and team gold at the Punchestown World Championships, they were placed several times at Badminton and placed 4th at the Burghley Euopeans while achieving team gold. In 1972 Cornishman V went on to win his second Olympic gold medal at the Munich Olympics where he finished overall fourth but won team gold.

Cornishman V was retired from eventing in 1973 but Mary continued to hunt him and his second career as a filmstar began. In 1974 Cornishman appeared in the film based on a Dick Francis thriller Dead Cert, and in 1978 he was in International Velvet.

Cornishman V died in 1986.

Eclipse - 1728-1789 "Eclipse first the rest nowhere"

 

Born during a total eclipse of the son in 1728 by Marske, a grandson of the Darley Arabian, out of a grandaughter of the Godolphin Arabian called Spilleta, Eclispe could well be called one of the founding fathers of the Thoroughbred, it is believed that over 80% (some say 95%) of modern Thoroughbred racehorses have Eclipse in their bloodlines.

Eclipse was bred by HRH Duke of Cumberland at the Cranbourne Lodge Stud, a chesnut with a white stocking he was said to be somewhat bad tempered and difficult to handle. After the death of the Duke Eclipse was sold at auction for 75 guineas to William Wildman who first raced him as a five year old, he was later purchased by Col. Dennis O'Kelly who first used the expression - "Eclipse first the rest nowhere".

Eclipse went on to win all 18 of his races, always ridden by the same jockey, John Oakley, who was the only one who could ride him. Eclipse had an unusual way of running with his head down. It's said that Eclipse was best friends with a parrot who recited psalms and sang popular songs.

 

Eventually Eclipse was retired to stud due to the fact that no-one would let their horses race against him knowing that they would be beaten. Eclipse proved very successful at stud siring many winners, he died in 1789 of colic.

 Due to the success of Eclipse both as a racehorse and as a sire his body was dissected and it was eventually decided that his phenomenal speed was because of an abnormaly large heart. Eclipse's skeleton is owned by the Royal Veterinary College although his hooves were removed to make inkstands one of which was presented to the Jockey Club in 1837 by King William IV.

Fascination with Eclipse's speed has continued into the 21st century and Scientists of The Royal Veterninary Clinic and Cambridge University have been doing genetic research on Eclipse.  

Dr Alan Wilson, who led the study, said: "All the factors for speed were perfectly matched. A key ability for a fast horse is to be able to bring its legs forward quickly, which is difficult for large animals with long limbs. Eclipse was smaller than modern racehorses. Rather than being some freak of nature with incredible properties, he was actually just right in absolutely every way."

 

Blue Hors Matine

 

The grey Danish warmblood ridden by Andreas Helgstrand became known as the "Dancing Mare" after her sensational Grand Prix Freestyle silver medal win at the age of 9 at the 2006 World Equestrian Games. That year Blue Hors Matine was the Danish dressage champion, posted the highest score in teamcompetion at WEG in Aachen, Germany and also won bronze in the Grand Prix Special.

Sadly, Blue Hors Matine slipped on the tarmac during unloading for the World Cup in Las Vegas 2007 and sustained a tendon injury. Eventually she was retired to the Blue Hors Stud with the intention of using her as a brood mare.

In 2010 tragedy struck when Blue Hors Matine broke her leg whilst turned out with her usual companion Blue Hors Cavan and the decision was made to have her put down.

 

Andreas Helgstrand and Blue Hors Matine WEG 2006 Grand Prix final

"The mare is just absolutely dancing"

Stroller

 

Stroller and Marion Mould (nee Coakes) were one of the most famous and well loved show jumping partnerships in the 1960s.

Irish bred Stoller was born in 1950 by a thoroughbred stallion out of a native Connermara mare, he stood at about 14.1hh, pony height with the conformation of a horse. He was bought as an 8 year old by Marion's father, Ralph Coakes and competed at junior level.

"When I came out of juniors at 16, Dad wanted to sell Stroller. It seemed the natural thing to graduate to horses," "Anne Moore tried him and I pleaded with Dad not to sell him, but to let me start open jumping with him."

Stroller went on to be the only pony to compete at international level amongst horses and was the only pony to ever jump at the Olympic games where he won a silver medal in 1968. He helped Great Britain win the Nations Cup, The Presidents Cup and the show jumping World Championship.

As well as an individual silver medal Marion and Stroller also won the Royal International Horse Show's Queen Elizabeth Cup (1965 and 1971), the Hickstead Derby (1967), Germany's Hamburg Derby (1970), the Womens Show Jumping World Championship (1965) and was placed second in the Womens Show Jumping World Championship (1970).

Stroller was retired in 1970 after winning the Hamburg Derby at the grand age of 20. He went on to enjoy his retirement for some 16 years  before dying of a heart attack in 1986 at the age of 36.