Hap Hansen with the thoroughbred Fairway, 1995 Brookside Classic

In 1983 Hap Hansen began his winning Grand Prix career going on to represent the United States on various Nation`s Cup teams, including Spruce Meadows and the Washington International Horse Show. In 1985 aboard Maybe` he tied 6th place in the FEI World Cup Finals in Berlin before being part of the winning Nations Cup team aboard uniperus` at Spruce Meadows in 1986. Once again aboard Juniperus`, he was then the highest placing American rider at the FEI World Cup Finals in Gothenberg in 1988, overall tieing 6th place. In 1990 he won the Johnny-Walker/American Grand Prix Association (AGA} Rider of the Year before then going on impressively to win the World Cup Qualifying Grand Prix at Los Angeles International Horse Show four years on the trot on four different horses between 1992 - 1995, while at the same time being voted the American Horse Show Association`s Hertz Rider of the Year.

In 1998 he then won the World Equestrian Games (WEG) Canadian Trials and one US Trial. At the Spruce Meadows Masters 2004 he then joined the elite group of riders who have won over $1,000,000 in prize money at Spruce Meadows itself, leading up to him receiving the CPHA Lifetime Award in 2006.

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Overall between 1990 and 2006 Hap Hansen won 98 Grand Prix events in United States, Mexico and Canada on twenty-one different horses, including Juniperus, Zulu, Amerika 7 and Mirage, earning him over $2,000,000 in prize money. Hap Hansen also made good names for mounts such as Best Of Luck and Sir Caletto in the Hunter Divisions.

The success of Hap didn`t just stop at being an extremely gifted rider, he was also a brilliant teacher with his students winning the West Coast Junior Hunter Finals twice, champions in multiple Hunter and Jumper divisions and were winners of the CPHA Adult Medal Finals. The now professional Natalie Rae Medlock excelled in every arena from Hunter Derbies to Grand Prix aboard Y2K, one of Haps` prized horses.

Hap started riding at 10 years old, his non-equine parents letting him have riding lessons hoping it would be the safest way for him to develop as he would always ask for the fastest horse from the rental string, and within a couple of years he had a membership at the Flintridge Riding Club, alongside legend Jimmy Williams, Susan Hutchinson and Robert Ridland and other stars to be.

Hap on many occasions describes his first encounter in the jumping ring. Hap Hansen first jumped Santa Barbara in his first open jumping class, a horse who was renowned for being hot when being warmed up. As Hap Hansen continued his career he developed greatly as a rider and is well respected as a trainer of jumping horses with a wealth of experience, knowledge and training techniques. Hap Hansen has a philosophy of working with the horses he rides, changing his riding style to suit them and not the other way round.

When ready to turn professional in the 70`s, Hap joined up at the Rancho Riding Club where he started a partnership with Sandy Aston, a well respected horsewoman with a keen eye for talent. He stayed at RRC for the best part of twenty seven years, and it was during these years he started his Grand Prix prowess.

To be able to afford a horse that he wanted to own himself Hap had to start one of the earliest horse owning syndicates, which in turn allowed him to purchase Sail Away. Then in the late 80`s Hap had a ride on a horse in a field in Fontainebleu, France, and immediately fell in love and knew this was a horse he had to have, that horse was the incredible Juniperus. Hap actually re-mortgaged his house to buy him! From there on the partnership of Hansen and Juniperus won many top ribbons and numerous Grand Prix victories, including the win for the US Nations Cup Team at Spruce Meadows in 1986.

Hap has deservedly earned a place among the greatest names in show jumping history by winning close to 100 Grand Prix. He now trains and sells the nation`s top hunter/jumper horses, and also has an aviary for his collection of exotic birds, including an African Gray Parrot, Lovebirds, Lorries and an African Crested Crane. He also obtained his pilot`s license and has his own plane.

Hap Hansen

Hap Hansen, resides in Encinitas, California, is one of the most successful and popular show jumping riders in the world. Approaching one hundred career grand prix wins, Hansen is in elite company near the top of the leader board for most lifetime wins. Since 1990, Hansen has posted ninety six wins on twenty-one different horses, with wins coming in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Hap is a former American Grand Prix Association (AGA) Rider of the Year and the over $2,000,000 he has amassed in prize money during his stellar career puts him among a very elite group of money winners.

Hap Hansen, an American rider from the West Coast, rides simply beautifully. He also rides very simply and naturally; nothing is made complicated. He would have to be considered one of America`s greatest stylists today. Hap rides hundreds of different horses in competitions every year, and they all love his touch. Horses jump particularly well for him, even on short acquaintance. Again, he combines strength and power with softness and finesse." THE AMERICAN JUMPING STYLE by George H. Morris.

Hap Hansen Horses

� � � Double Dutch
� � �� - x - (- )
� � � Gienow`s Lillian
� � �� - x - (- )
� � � His Horse
� � �� - x - (01/01/1996)
� � � Juniperus
� � �� - x - (- )
� � � Maloubet
� � �� - x - (- )
� � � Play Boy
� � �� - x - ()
� � � Veneur Hbc
� � �� - x - ()

International show jumping horse Juniperus competed by French rider Hubert Bourdy and then went on to jump successfully with American rider Hap Hansen, with both riders Juniperus jumped grand prix`s as well as nation cup competitions.