The legendary stallion Hickstead died exactly ten years ago today. Time therefore to look back at the exceptional career of Eric Lamaze's top horse.
Whether you are a jumping rider, dressage rider or eventing rider... Hickstead is a household name and a name like clockwork throughout the equestrian community. His tragic death during a competition in Verona is burned into the minds of many and has stayed with us to this day. But let's reflect once again on his impressive career under Canadian Eric Lamaze.
To begin with, Hickstead was not a horse like any other. Eric Lamaze was one of the only riders who could handle the horse and his own character. The dynamic duo established a wonderful connection that resulted in tremendous success at the very highest level.
One of the examples is the $1 Million CN International at Spruce Meadows that Hickstead and Lamaze won in 2007 and 2011. Later that year (2007) the duo also jumped to team silver and individual bronze at the Pan Am Games, but it didn't stop there. A year later, the stallion reached one of his sporting highlights when winning individual gold and team silver at the Bejing Olympics. And talk about a sporting high....In 2010, Hickstead also added winning the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen to his record.
Apart from that, the stallion was recognized for his exceptional performance and was named 'Best Horse in the World' at the FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games.
It goes without saying that Hickstead produced one of the most impressive results ever. It is therefore with pain in the heart that equestrian sport said goodbye to an icon on 6 November 2011.
`Photo: Stephex Stables
Whether you are a jumping rider, dressage rider or eventing rider... Hickstead is a household name and a name like clockwork throughout the equestrian community. His tragic death during a competition in Verona is burned into the minds of many and has stayed with us to this day. But let's reflect once again on his impressive career under Canadian Eric Lamaze.
To begin with, Hickstead was not a horse like any other. Eric Lamaze was one of the only riders who could handle the horse and his own character. The dynamic duo established a wonderful connection that resulted in tremendous success at the very highest level.
One of the examples is the $1 Million CN International at Spruce Meadows that Hickstead and Lamaze won in 2007 and 2011. Later that year (2007) the duo also jumped to team silver and individual bronze at the Pan Am Games, but it didn't stop there. A year later, the stallion reached one of his sporting highlights when winning individual gold and team silver at the Bejing Olympics. And talk about a sporting high....In 2010, Hickstead also added winning the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen to his record.
Apart from that, the stallion was recognized for his exceptional performance and was named 'Best Horse in the World' at the FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games.
It goes without saying that Hickstead produced one of the most impressive results ever. It is therefore with pain in the heart that equestrian sport said goodbye to an icon on 6 November 2011.
`Photo: Stephex Stables