McLain Ward Injured on Course

By January 15, 2012
McLain Ward rides the black mare Oh d'Eole

Ward and Oh d'Eole at the Fidelity Jumper Classic in 2010.

Two-time Olympic team gold show jumper McLain Ward broke his leg during a fall on course at the $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix in Wellington, Fla. on Jan. 14.

Ward was riding Oh d’Eole, who veered coming out of a combination, tumbling to the ground and unseating the rider.

The mare was unhurt. Ward was transported to the Wellington Regional Medical Center where he underwent surgery for a fractured knee. His stable manager Erica McKeever reported that the surgery went well.

Just two days earlier Ward rode the 10-year-old mare to victory in the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup. Ward, who owns the horse, has been riding her since 2009, when she was coming-on seven. The pair won numerous classes together, including at past WEFs, Spruce Meadows and the Hamptons Classic.

The Brewster, N.Y.-based rider, 35, was part of the golden 2004 and 2008 U.S. show jumping teams riding the mare Sapphire. In October, he was part of the U.S. team that took gold at the Pan American Games, riding Antares F.  In 2010 Ward and Sapphire won the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix – the richest show jumping prize in the U.S.

Ward currently sits at No. 3 in the world on the FEI/Rolex show jumping rider rankings. His sights have been set on the 2012 Olympic trials, taking place in Wellington March 21-24, with Sapphire, herself just coming back from an injury, with Antares as his backup.

Ward is a beloved figure in the world of equestrian sport, and legions of fans sent well wishes his way on social media forums Saturday night, pulling for a rapid and full recovery.

In 2005 he broke his collarbone riding in competition at Hickstead, England, and went on to jump two clear rounds on Sapphire at WEF four weeks later.

Ward is known as something of a show-jumping prodigy who began riding before he could walk. At 14 he became the youngest rider to win the United States Equestrian Team Equitation Finals (now called the Talent Search). In 1991 he won the Washington International Horse Show Equitation Finals. In 1999, 24-year-old Ward became the youngest rider to top $1 million in grand prix earnings.

To visit Ward’s home page at Castle Hill Farm, click here.

Short URL: https://theequestriannews.com/?p=7058