SINCE his medal-laden plane full of British athletes touched down from Tokyo, Ben Maher’s feet have barely hit the ground. He eschewed a welcome-home party – “that’s not really my thing” – but was celebrated along with his heroic partner Explosion W in a parade in London. He’s replied to each of the hundreds of congratulatory messages he received – and politely turned down an offer to appear on Mastermind. Then there was his beautiful wedding to long-term partner Sophie Gracida at their Hertfordshire home.
Has he even had a chance to revel in the glory that being crowned Olympic champion rightfully deserves?
“It didn’t feel real at the time but I woke up at 4am the next day and it hit me,” says Ben, who was doubling up on the gold he won as part of Great Britain’s showjumping team in London 2012. “The dream to win an individual gold medal really was the most important thing to me and we’ve come close at recent championships, winning silver twice.
“That did start to play on my mind – especially at the last one [in 2019] where I felt I didn’t finish the job. You only get so many chances at the Olympics with the right horse at the right time.”
Ben certainly found the right horse and has been the envy of the equestrian world since 2018 when he took the reins full-time on the astonishingly talented Explosion W, whom he describes as a “natural born winner” and “the best I’ll ever ride”.
Grand prix titles fell into his hands with such ease that from the outside, it seemed all but a foregone conclusion that the Olympic crown could be added to the pair’s list of global accomplishments.
Denne historien er fra September 02, 2021-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra September 02, 2021-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
'Sorry, but I wasn't feeling it'
Fresh from the opening meet, Tessa Waugh hasn't quite yet been bitten by the hunting bug. Without the crisp autumnal air and cheek-pinching cold she hoped for, it's a sluggish start
New pair pull off a win
A former European Championships pony is on form with his new rider, while elsewhere former showjumpers and eventers take ribbons
Lording it over the rest
Horses who have returned from injury, a second generation homebred and a long format specialist score on the final weekend of the British season
Smith hits flying form
A \"her way or no way\" mare helps Zoe Smith to an impressive ribbon haul and a rider beats his own boss to the top spot
Jankorado hits the jackpot
Paul Sims is triumphant despite his interrupted jump-off preparation and a borrowed horse comes up trumps
Peanut
From \"dangerous, scary\" to hedge-hopping brilliance, hunting has been the making of this unstable but very lovable equine character
She's a corker
Communication, says long-standing and highly respected Belvoir master Lady Sarah McCorquodale, is the key to all, as Catherine Austen discovers
Access all areas Cavalier Centre
The Cavalier Centre is a fully accessible, state-of-the-art equestrian centre designed to improve lives through horse-based activities. Ellie May Forrester pays a visit
'Use it or lose it'
Not everyone wants to reach for the pipe and slippers at a certain age. Becky Murray speaks to some veteran horse-and-rider combos for their secrets of human and equine longevity
A new way forward
Worm control in horses is vital, but established methods will not remain effective for much longer. Tim Mair FRCVS explains why and how we need to change
