Ben O’Meara one of the most celebrated figures in the sport of show jumping
Ben O’Meara is beyond a doubt one of the most celebrated figures in the sport of show jumping. His achievements are an inspiration for many in this field, which couples with the fact that O’Meara was a self-taught rider. He started in Brooklyn from the basics as a groom and blacksmith of horses in this world. He was a progressive figure who invented a number of riding techniques still used today.
He was first noticed in the horse-riding (and racing) world in 1961 at the National Horse Show, with top performance in the show ring. Later in 1962, he was the top performer at the PHA Championship which led to his tying for the National Horse Show Jumper Championship, where he participated with Kathy Kusner and Unusual, a notably efficient horse in the game of show jumping. After Kathy Kusner teamed with Untouchable, a previously ex-race horse as well as children’s hunter, to achieve great international success in the 1960s, O’Meara purchased Unusual in the fall of 1962 from Kusner in Midwest, in his buying trip.
O’Meara first used Untouchable, an 11-year old Green Jumper, for the first time in 1963 in Florida circuit. The combination achieved success in the Green Jumper Championship and gained great popularity in the world of show jumping. After that, O’Meara handed Untouchable to Kathy Kusner for a while in 1963 to participate in the Open Jumper Championship.
Throughout his career, Ben O’Meara remained associated with United States Equestrian Team foundation (USET) and helped it cope up with its various ups and downs. He made many efforts to establish strong relations between professionals in the horse riding world (both riders and trainers) and the USET, and was successful in his attempts. He invented many effective riding techniques, and used them in training through the USET.
Ben O’Meara loaned his horse Untouchable to the USET in 1964 to be used by Kathy Kusner. The combination met with great success, in Europe at Grand Prix in Dublin that year as well as against other Olympic competitors. Later they won at various competitions of the Nations’ Cup for the USET. This way, O’Meara’s horse combined with Kusner brought about good repute to the USET. O’Meara later sold Untouchable to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Butler. His other horses also competed for the USET team after he sold or loaned them. One such example is of Jacks O Better, who won at the Grand Prix and Untouchable, who continued to be a champion at various competitions with Kathy Kusner.
The efforts and achievements of Ben O’Meara are not limited to his self-training and competitions only. He also used his skills and riding techniques to produce many winners and trained many horses and riders. Many examples can be quoted here. One such example is Silver Lining horse. His horse, The Hood brought him success in a number of show ring competitions as well as at the Jumper Championship held at the National Horse Show.
His well-trained horses like Grey Lady and Gone Flying brought him wins in various championships, coupled with his effective riding techniques. His combination with Gone Flying resulted in wins in the 1966 Florida season.
O’Meara had a tragic and early end to his life (and career) at the age of 30 as a result of a plane crash. He is still remembered as an inspiration for his achievements in the USET and his riding are still used by the trainers, and even professionals. He remains a prominent figure in the ‘Show Jumping Hall of Fame’ which was formally opened in 1989, to promote the sport of show jumping and to immortalize the legends of the men, women and horses who have made great contributions to the sport.
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