Big Ben: Legendary Show Jumping Horse

Big Ben was originally named "Winston" after Winston Churchill, who had died 13 years previously but had been one of the most important and influential political leaders of the twentieth century.

He was born on April 20, 1976 as an unusually tall colt. His dam was only 15 hands high and his sire was 16 hands.

Full grown, Big Ben reached 17.3 Hands High. This Liver Chestnut started competing in show jumping events in 1984, which would soon be his long and successful career. With his rider, Ian Millar, Big Ben won more than 40 Grand Prix titles including six Spruce Meadows Derbys, as well as taking the world cup show jumping championship two years in a row. His first World Cup Final came at Gothenburg, Sweden in 1988 followed by another the next year in Tampra, Floriday. As well, in 1989 he won the Grand Prix of Bordeaux, France and the Grand Prix of Stuggart, Germany, earning the number one ranking in the world of Millar.

Big Ben also won the du Maurier International twice which at the time was the world's richest grand prix event. After 11 years of competing around the world, in 1994 Big Ben retired to the farm in Perth, Ontario at the age of 18. He was inducted in the Ontario Sports Legends Hall of Fame and joined the great thoroughbred racing horse, Northern Dancer as the only other horse to ever be inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. In 1999, Canada Post honored the horse with his image placed on a stamp. His story was told in the book titled "Big Ben" by author, Lawrence Scanlan.

In year 1992, there was a terrible trailer accident, leaving 2 horses dead, one injured so bad it was forever unrideable, and another would never enter a trailer again. Big Ben survived the accident along with two colic attacks. Big Ben won a Grand Prix only 2 months later.

A national icon, Big Ben was 23 years old when he was euthanized at Millar Brooke Farm on December 11, 1999 after two veterinarians said nothing could be done to ease the suffering caused by a third case of colic. He was buried on a knoll overlooking the farm. In 2000, Big Ben's personal groom, Sandi Patterson, wrote a touching tribute to Big Ben in the book titled "An Apple a Day: A Heartwarming Collection of True Horse Stories" edited by Kimberly Gatto.


Big Ben's grave site at Millar Brooke FarmIn 2005, the Perth and District Chamber of Commerce erected an arresting bronze statue of Big Ben with Ian Millar riding in a picturesque park setting along the banks of the Tay River in beautiful downtown Perth, Ontario not far from Big Ben's final resting place.

Big Ben is admired by many. Ian Miller admired him the most; he knew what Ben was capable of and knew he could make it over any jump. Fans sent him valentines and when he was sick or injured they sent him get well soon cards. Fans of all ages sent him homemade bran muffins. A lot of junior riders looked up to Big Ben and Ian Miller and wished they had a horse like Big Ben. After Big Ben died, they painted a picture of him in his favorite field with Ian in the back watching him. Breyer also made a model of him.