Ben Alongside Time – good-bye to five-star winner and Olympic medallist

US-based Australian match rider Clayton Fredericks stated good-bye to 29-year-old five-star winner and Olympic medallist Ben Alongside Time on 16 August.

“There aren’t any phrases to explain what he supposed to me and the individuals who have been fortunate sufficient to be a part of his existence,” stated Clayton.

“Even if hard in nature, he was once a real buddy and spouse. Ben was once a strong-willed horse with a definite self-opinion, which fuelled his outstanding occupation. Each time I used to be requested what made him so particular, it was once his talent to accomplish at his perfect on the largest competitions. He perceived to know when it mattered and I may at all times depend on him.

“He was once the pony that made me consider as a rider I may fit it with the most efficient on the earth.”

Bred in Eire, Cavalier Royale son Ben got here to Clayton when he was once founded in Wiltshire, as a part of a gaggle of horses from Donal Barnwell. The rider frequently named his horses after puts in Australia; Ben’s identify is a variation on Bennelong Level, the place the Sydney Opera Space stands, and a tie-in with any other of Clayton’s five-star horses, the chestnut Sure Alongside, who was once two years older.

Ben and Clayton’s first large win was once within the International Cup Ultimate at Malmö in 2005. He went directly to win 4 extra instances at three-star (now four-star) stage – the International Cup Ultimate in Deauville in 2008, Chatsworth in 2006 (additionally a International Cup leg) and 2008 and Saumur CCI3* (now CCI4*-L) in 2006.

He additionally received at five-star stage at Kentucky 3-Day Tournament in 2007 and was once a person silver medallist on the 2006 International Equestrian Video games in Aachen, the place he led the Australians to crew bronze, and a crew silver medallist on the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, the place he was once 7th in my view.

In all, Ben was once positioned within the best 10 the world over 24 instances all the way through his lengthy occupation.

“Upon retiring from eventing, Ben returned to Beas River in Hong Kong to be spoilt by means of his homeowners, Edwin and Peta McAuley, and had a good time doing a little dressage and hacking. When it was once time to step down once more, Edwin and Peta amazingly despatched him to me in Florida to retire and I’m eternally thankful that he in a position to reside out his years in Ocala playing his retirement,” stated Clayton.

The rider paid tribute to the necessary folks in Ben’s existence, together with Edwin and Peta, “probably the most wonderful homeowners for his or her reinforce and love for Ben at all times”, the grooms and dealing scholars who sorted him “and a different thank you Rachel, Jack and Larry our neighbors in Ocala, who beloved and cared for Ben and supplied probably the most stunning box for Ben to reside out his years together with his perfect buddy, Money”.

Clayton concluded: “Ben Alongside Time shall be remembered now not just for his spectacular achievements and resilience, but additionally as a beloved buddy. His legacy within the equestrian group and in our hearts will bear, as we proceed to be impressed by means of his spirit and the profound affect he made.”

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H&H mag editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand enjoy of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and global CCI2*-L stage, and has labored within the business on a best match backyard. Pippa enjoys not anything greater than immersing herself within the recreation on the best stage, reporting from the five-stars and global championships, together with the Olympics.