Nick Skelton and Big Star in Rio.

© Eric Knoll

By Equestrian Life

With the Rio Olympics over, we look back at one of the most outstanding equestrian partnerships of the Games - individual showjumping gold medallists Nick Skelton and Big Star.

Describing Big Star as the best horse he has ever ridden, Skelton has achieved much success with the bay stallion.

Big Star began his career at the highest level in 2010 as a seven year old, winning several Grand Prix competitions in Wellington the following year. The combination then won the Hamburg Grand Prix in May 2012, before forming part of the gold medal winning British team at the London Olympics. The youngest horse in the competition, Big Star and Skelton finished fifth individually.

In 2013, the pair took out the team event at the Nations Cup in Dublin, the Grand Prix in Rome and the CSIO5* at Aachen.

Nick Skelton and Big Star on their way to gold.

© Eric Knoll

The road to Rio certainly wasn't a smooth one for the pair. Skelton broke his neck back in 2000; miraculously, he returned to competition in 2002. In recent times, Big Star has also dealt with injury. Shortly after picking up his last win at the 2013 Grand Prix of Aachen, the horse pulled a suspensory in his near foreleg. It has been a long road back, and the recovery process has involved a lot of time and effort - making his win in Rio all the more impressive.

In response to questions regarding his own retirement, 58 year old Skelton simply said:

“I’m not going to stop now. I only really ride Big Star and have ridden him for the last few years… When he stops then I’ll stop, that’s a definite.”

Nick Skelton and Big Star were in form at RIo 2016.

© Eric Knoll

It's celebration time for Nick Skelton and Eric Lamaze as Big Star looks on.

© Eric Knoll

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