AP McCoy jumps Olympic gold medal winner Large Celebrity

Have a look again within the H&H archives to look how the mythical jockey were given on when taking to the saddle on Nick Skelton’s Olympic showjumping champion

In opposition to the top of 2016 Horse & Hound requested the 20-time champion jockey AP McCoy if he would possibly pop out of retirement to check out his hand at showjumping. And to tempt him, we covered up an excessively particular horse for him to trip — Nick Skelton’s Olympic gold medal-winning spouse, Large Celebrity.

“He’s an excessively cool beast. I’m humming!” stated AP afterwards.

“Get your self a jacket and a couple of shoes, there’s a brand new task for you in showjumping,” stated Nick Skelton, who used to be on-hand to place this new partnership via their paces.

The theory for the function got here from an Injured Jockeys Fund charity night time the place host Clare Balding instructed, quite tongue in cheek, that AP McCoy would benefit from the recreation of showjumping as a brand new undertaking, now that he’s hung up his racing boots. Horse & Hound’s Showjumping Editor Jennifer Donald made up our minds to place the wheels in movement.

“I assumed it used to be a super recommendation from Clare and, even if AP didn’t appear too prepared at the concept at the evening, I suspected he wouldn’t be ready to withstand the chance to do it on a in point of fact most sensible magnificence horse — which is why Large Celebrity instantly sprung to thoughts,” stated Jennifer.

Nick wanted little or no persuading to let AP ‘have a pass’ on his multi-million pound horse — Nick has an enormous quantity of admire for AP as a horseman and Large Celebrity’s house owners have been satisfied to move at the side of it, too, and for that we’re very thankful.

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H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her function as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the globe reporting from displays and interviewing riders, connections and the ones concerned in the back of the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Recreation in 2005, she has written on each topic around the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to strong control — and has interviewed gold medallists, international champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand enjoy of operating within the equestrian business as a driving teacher and backyard supervisor.