AP McCoy jumps Olympic gold medal winner Huge Star

Have a look again within the H&H archives to see how the legendary jockey bought on when taking to the saddle on Nick Skelton’s Olympic showjumping champion

In direction of the tip of 2016 Horse & Hound requested the 20-time champion jockey AP McCoy if he may come out of retirement to strive his hand at showjumping. And to tempt him, we lined up a really particular horse for him to trip — Nick Skelton’s Olympic gold medal-winning associate, Huge Star.

“He’s a really cool beast. I’m buzzing!” mentioned AP afterwards.

“Get your self a jacket and a pair of shoes, there’s a brand new job for you in showjumping,” mentioned Nick Skelton, who was on-hand to place this new partnership by means of their paces.

The concept for the characteristic got here from an Injured Jockeys Fund charity night the place host Clare Balding instructed, barely tongue in cheek, that AP McCoy would benefit from the sport of showjumping as a brand new enterprise, now that he’s hung up his racing boots. Horse & Hound’s Showjumping Editor Jennifer Donald determined to place the wheels in movement.

“I assumed it was a superb suggestion from Clare and, though AP didn’t appear too eager on the concept on the evening, I suspected he wouldn’t have the ability to withstand the chance to do it on a extremely high class horse — which is why Huge Star instantly sprung to thoughts,” mentioned Jennifer.

Nick wanted little or no persuading to let AP ‘have a go’ on his multi-million pound horse — Nick has an enormous quantity of respect for AP as a horseman and Huge Star’s homeowners have been comfortable to go together with it, too, and for that we’re very grateful.

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H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her position as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her world wide reporting from exhibits and interviewing riders, connections and people concerned behind the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on each topic throughout the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to secure administration — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand expertise of working within the equestrian business as a using teacher and yard supervisor.