Nick Skelton and Big Star.

© Eric Knoll

One of the highlights of the KWPN Stallion Show, which runs between the 31st January - 3rd February in The Netherlands, is the awarding of the prestigious title Stallion of the Year.

This year, the title goes to a jumping stallion and one that makes hearts beat faster; Big Star. In 2017, the stallion by Quick Star x Nimmerdor said goodbye to the sport after his extremely successful jumping career and the KWPN will be paying tribute to this powerhouse of a horse.

The 15 year-old bay stallion owned by Gary and Beverley Widdowson was the horse power behind the phenomenally talented duo of Nick Skelton and Big Star. An incredibly charismatic horse, it is impossible to not feel immense affection towards his infectious personality and way of going. Big Star, with his exuberance and lion-hearted way neighing at the fences as he enters the arena through to the way he attacks each fence on the course made him a personality in his own right. After his tremendous Team Gold performance at London 2012, this was very quickly recognised and captured by one of the leading national newspapers when they illustrated him as the Usain Bolt of equestrianism. Big Star helped to secure Nick's ultimate dream at Rio 2016 when they won an Olympic Individual Gold Medal.

On the 1st February, Big Star will enter the ring once more to be honoured as the KWPN Stallion of the Year 2017.

Source: British Showjumping website
 

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