Big Star and Nick Skelton won this summer the individual gold on the Olympic Games in Rio. They also won gold in London 2012 for the British team. In 2009 Big Star also won the 6 year-old championships with Nick Skelton.
A reaction from Skelton: "I have always felt that the age-class system is the correct way to produce a horse with long term performance in mind. When Big Star won in 2009 I knew that he was incredibly special and that we had a potential medal winner in him. We have always taken our time to produce him slowly and to see it paid off in the way that it has been with a back-to-back gold still makes me emotional when I think about it. I am delighted that Big Star is being recognised in this way and I hope that it inspires others to take the same route and produce young horses through what I believe to be the correct path."
A reaction from Gary Widdowson, owner of Big Star: "We are extremely pleased to have Big Star acknowledged in this way. The National 6 year-olds is a championships we have won twice. Once in 2008 with Carlo, whom Nick also produced to the highest level, and then in the following year with Big Star whom we felt was the right horse for us to keep with London and Rio in mind. To have Big Star’s name bestowed over a championships that we have always felt a pivotal one in our horses development is an honour and we are delighted."