Big Ben (horse)

Infobox last modified on: November 27, 2011.

Big Ben ( born April 20, 1976 in Kalmthout, Belgium, as Winston; † 11 December 1999 Perth ( Ontario ), Canada ) was a Canadian show jumper Ian Millar of the horse.

Early years

When Winston Big Ben was born in Kalmthout 1976. In 1983, he was sold for $ 2000 to a farm in the Netherlands and renamed Big Ben. Shortly afterwards, the Canadian show jumper Ian Miller bought it for $ 45,000. Although Millar were made in the course of Big Ben's career some lucrative offers, he refused each one.

Career

In 1984 he started for the first time at horse shows. Ridden by Millar Big Ben won more than 40 Grand Prix, including six Spruce Meadows Derbys. Moreover, the two two World Cup competitions won in a row (1988 and 1989 in Gothenburg in Tampa ). 1989 won both the Grand Prix of Bordeaux and Stuttgart. Millar was out in the world rankings at No. 1. In the years 1987 and 1991 the couple the du Maurier International Grand Prix won in Spruce Meadows, then the most lucrative check of the world.

1992 Big Ben survived two colic and an accident in which two horses died and a third was unreitbar result of his injuries. Only two months later, he again won a Grand Prix.

Pension and death

In 1994, after 11 years in international sport, he was sent into retirement. On 11 December 1999, he was put to sleep after a further colic. He is buried on a hill overlooking the courtyard by Ian Miller.

Honors and memorials

Success as a jumping horse

• Member of 7 Nations Cup victories
• More than 40 victories in Grand Prix
• 3 × participants at the Olympic Games (1984, 1988, 1992 )
• 1987 double gold at the Pan American Games
• 2 x winner of the du Maurier International Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows (1987, 1991)
• 6 × Winner of the Spruce Meadows Derby (1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993-8 starts)
• First horse winner of two consecutive World Cups (1988, 1989)