Olympic medalist Norman Dello Joio; Hunter Harrison, a devoted sponsor, owner and supporter of U.S. show jumping; 3-time Olympic medalist Authentic; and puissance record-holder Sympatico were officially inducted in the Show Jumping Hall of Fameduring the Hall of Fame's annual induction ceremony at the Devon Horse Show on Thursday, May 31.
Induction into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame is an honor bestowed annually upon select individuals whose contributions to the sport have set them apart and whose influence has had a significant impact on the sport of show jumping and the equestrian community. It is because of their talents, efforts, accomplishments, and what they have brought to the sport, that the Election Committee, comprising some of the nation's top riders, trainers and officials, voted Dello Joio, Harrison, Authentic, and Sympatico as the Hall of Fame's newest inductees.
Peter Doubleday, Chairman of the Board of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., formally inducted the four new members into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame. Each Hall of Famer was presented with a beautiful, specially inscribed Tiffany crystal bowl to commemorate the occasion. Dello Joio was on-hand to accept his award. His son, Nick, was warming up in the schooling area as he was riding second in the grand prix. Accepting the award on behalf of the late Hunter Harrison was his wife, Jeannie; and his daughter, Cayce. Quentin Judge, Cayce's husband, was warming up in the schooling area as he was riding first in the grand prix. Attending the ceremony on behalf of "Authentic" was John Madden as Beezie Madden was warming up in the schooling area, getting ready to ride fifth in the grand prix. Beezie Madden rode Authentic to his great success and originally purchased the great horse. Accepting the award on behalf of "Sympatico" was Sally Edelman Slater, Sympatico's original rider, and her brother, Sam Edelman, who with Sally, owned the horse.
Norman Dello Joio achieved great success at home and abroad over his three-decade riding career. Winner of virtually every major Grand Prix in the U.S., he is best known for two international titles-the 1983 FEI World Cup Final in Vienna, Austria, which he won aboard the French stallion I Love You; and the Olympic individual Bronze Medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games which he won riding Irish.
Nicknamed "Stormin' Norman" for his aggressive riding style, Dello Joio started winning on the U.S. Grand Prix circuit in the 1970s. His record included such wins as the Grand Prix of Devon (two years in succession), the President's Cup, USGPL Invitational, and the American Invitational which he first won on Allegro in 1978. (He added a second Invitational win in 2004 on Glasgow.) He established an American
Grandprix Association (AGA) record when he rode Johnny's Pocket to five wins in 1981.
In 2000, Dello Joio rode Glasgow to three victories in his first four starts at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington and then placed second in the International Grand Prix at the Spruce Meadows Masters before winning the President's Cup for a second time.
Dello Joio's record in international competition is equally impressive. In 1979, he finished third in the first FEI World Cup Final ever held and rode Allegro as part of the United States' Gold Medal team at the Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 1980, he was named to the U.S. Olympic Team, although the U.S. boycott denied him the chance to compete. When he finished second in the 1984 World Cup Final, it marked his third top-three finish in the Final's first six years.
Riding into his third decade, Dello Joio and Glasgow won the King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead, England in 2001, the same year he placed third in the Kerrygold Classic at CSIO Dublin in Ireland. The following year he won the World Cup Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows and Oslo, Norway. Dello Joio has also served as chef d'equipe for U.S. Nations' Cup teams and for the Mexican teams at the 2008 Olympics and 2010 World Equestrian Games.
Dello Joio and his wife, Jeannie, have a daughter, Daniela, and a son, Nicholas, who has followed in his father's footsteps as a successful Grand Prix rider.
Hunter Harrison was a prominent and influential figure in the world of international show jumping. He was extraordinarily dedicated to the sport as a sponsor, owner, business advisor and avid supporter for many years. Harrison supported some of the sport's top riders and his Double H Farm has owned and produced some of the best horses in the sport.
One of the most highly regarded executives in railway history, Harrison brought support of companies he led to the sport as some of show jumping's most important sponsors. Under his leadership, railway giants CN and CP have provided support to major events like the Spruce Meadows Masters, National Horse Show, World Cup Finals, North American Junior and Young Riders Champion-ships, Winter Equestrian Festival and Palm Beach Masters. Harrison also provided personal support and gave of his time to help lead many events including the National Horse Show (which he served as Chairman of the Board), Spruce Meadows Masters, American Gold Cup, Global Champions Tour and Winter Equestrian Festival.
Harrison also played a major role as a horse owner and supporter of top riders. In addition to his daughter Cayce, who won the individual Gold medal at the North American Junior and Young Riders Championships in 2002, he supported McLain Ward, who won Olympic gold and silver medals and the 2017 FEI World Cup™ Finals with HH horses; international stars Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil and Daniel Duesser of Germany; and Cayce's husband, Quentin Judge, who has also achieved international success for the U.S.
Some of Double H's top horses include the chestnut mare Sapphire who won Olympic team Gold medals with McLain Ward in the saddle at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Hong Kong Olympics Games, and HH Azur, with whom Ward won team Silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics as well as topping the 2017 FEI World Cup™ Final in Omaha. Other top Double H horses shown successfully by Ward include HH Carlos Z, HH Callas, HH Ashley and HH Gigi's Girl.
HH horses also carried Pessoa to success including HH Rebozo, which he rode in the 2012 Olympics and 2010 World Equestrian Games, and HH Rufus, which he rode in the 2008 Olympics and 2007 Pan American Games where he won team Gold and individual Silver medals. Judge's HH horses have included HH Dark de la Hart, who helped the US win the Nations Cup in Bratislava, Slovakia in 2013, HH Copin van de Broy, HH Conrad, HH Early, HH Quatour, HH Venice Beach, and HH Whiskey Royale.