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Wayne Gretzky, Jack Nicklaus, Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth… Big Ben. All sports develop their own heroes through the ages, and show jumping is no different. Big Ben’s contribution to the sport through his partnership with Ian Millar is unparalleled: back to back World Cup Champion, Nations Cup victories, Pan American double gold medallist, du Maurier International Champion, and over 50 major Grand Prix titles.
The story of Big Ben, like many heroes, had a modest beginning. Often overlooked as a horse that was simply too big to win, Ian’s foresight and belief in Ben made this legendary partnership come to fruition. Ian came upon Ben by chance while visiting his now long-time friend Emile Hendrix in Holland.
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Mr. Hendrix had heard of the horse, a then seven year old Belgian bred warmblood. He said to Ian, “You know there’s a horse... I don’t know whether you would like him or not… It might be a total waste of time. But there’s a chance you might find it interesting too.” For some reason Ian knew almost immediately that this was a horse that he had to have.
Ben arrived in North America shortly thereafter and proved that he was a very special horse. Ian partnered with Ben at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games just 10 months after they began what would become a legendary partnership.
Big Ben’s career spanned nearly a decade, winning many prestigious events in varied conditions and circumstances. Ben won everything - World Cup finals indoors, derbies in big fields outdoors, on grass, sand, mud, in wind, sunshine, rain, hail, against all odds, and when he was the clear favourite. Big Ben did not disappoint.
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Through his life Big Ben battled adversity, like so many heroes, and always managed to come out stronger and more focused. Two colic surgeries and even a highway tractor trailer accident didn’t manage to hold Ben down for long.
His ability to overcome such obstacles, both on course and off, endeared him to so many people across the globe, and his fan base grew with every class he won. When competing in Europe the Canadian duo of Ian Millar and Big Ben would often draw more fans and spectators to an event than any
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other horse or rider. And Ben would always return the favour. Spending countless hours with his groom Sandi Patterson, Ben would greet fans and admirers from his stall at horse shows, even offering a hoof print autograph from time to time.
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There is no doubt that Big Ben has influenced the sport of show jumping, and garnered attention from fans and fellow horsemen alike:
Legendary British show jumper John Whitaker said of Big Ben, “I know of no other horse with as much ability, and for such a big horse, he’s so agile… He just knows a big occasion and he rises to it. That goes with all the top horses. A normal horse will fall apart at the big event; the good horse comes through and gets better… Ian looks like he was born on Big Ben’s back. It’s a perfect partnership.”
Randy Roy, a top horseman and colleague of Ian, spoke highly of Ben as well. “Big Ben is so scopey, and yet it’s so easy for him. What other horses fight to jump, he steps over.”
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George Morris, chef d’equipe of the United States Equestrian Team, and mentor to Ian in the earlier years said, “Big Ben will go down in history. He is a wonderful horse.”
Big Ben is a legend. He is a hero to many. He has touched so many lives and meant so much to so many people. He will forever be remembered as a cornerstone of show jumping.
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Check out the NEW Big Ben Memorial Trail Website by clicking on the image below:
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