"I knew that if I didn't screw up, I had a good chance of winning," Skelton started. "Big Star rarely touched a rail. The first day I had a fault in the triple jump but that fault was completely my own fault. He also hadn't jumped a course of that calibre since winning the Grand Prix in Aachen in 2013. The first day of the Olympics was his eleventh course that year. With another horse I would probably not have been able/dared to do that. In general he didn't need much competition rhythm, it was enough to keep him in work at home. I realise that this was a risk and with another horse I would never have succeeded". 

Big Star and Skelton had been a team for many years: "I got him under saddle as a young horse and immediately felt he was special," says Skelton. "When you can work with a horse for such a long time, you have plenty of time to get to know each other. The Olympic title was really the highlight of our collaboration". 

Video: Skelton and Big Star in a class for 6-year-old horses 

"I only realized that I had won when Eric Lamaze had ridden," Skelton laughs. "Eric had so many victories to his name with Fine Lady 5 at that point. I didn't really see her as the 'Olympic horse' but he is a great rider. He got everything out of her and his horse really did her best for him. I think everything went as it should and my time had finally come". 

While the other riders jumped, Nick stayed on Big Star. "Normally I get off, go look, but by the time I got out the next one was already in, so I figured there was no point. What was I supposed to do about it? I might as well stay put and listen to the crowd". 


Video: Skelton and Big Star's 'winning round' at the 2016 Rio Olympics


Source: The Horse Magazine