Hickstead’s showjumping legacy lives on

Three years after his untimely death, the legacy of the great showjumping stallion Hickstead lives on through his progeny.

Scopey and smart

One of Hickstead’s offspring won the $25,000 ESP Year End Grand Prix in Wellington, Florida at the weekend.

New Zealand’s Sharn Wordley rodeHickstead’s Axel to post the only double clear and take the title.

According to Sharn, the chestnut gelding is “scopey, careful and smart” – obviously he follows in his famous father’s footsteps in that respect.

Grand Prix

The nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood Hickstead’s Axel (Hickstead x Numero Uno) is owned Sharn’s in-laws, who are the proprietors of Ashland Stables in Florida.

“My wife’s family bought him as a young horse because they also owned Hickstead,” explained Sharn. “He is one of Hickstead’s oldest [babies] that I know of, so he is one of the first doing the Grands Prix.

Life cut short

Hickstead was ridden by Eric Lamaze, and together they became one of the most successful showjumping combinations of all time – winning Olympic gold in Beijing, indidividual bronze at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, and the 2010 Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen, among many other major classes.

The stallion’slife was cut short in 2011 when he collapsed and died after completing the fourth round of the FEI World Cup leg in Verona.

Aside from his talented progeny, Hickstead’s name continues to live on in the sport. There is a statue of him at Spruce Meadows, while the Grand Prix class at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto is named in his honour.