Veteran Horse Riders Who Still At The Top

Equestrian sports see many of their competitors not only competing at the top of the sport well into their 50`s but remain at the top, showjumping, dressage and eventing are all sports that experience is such a key factor for these horse sports.

Nick Skelton

Nick Skelton has recently retired from the showjumping arena in 2017, this is after winning his allusive olympic gold medal at the Rio 2016 olympics at the age of 58, with his talented horse Big Star. Nick Skelton also shows how demanding the horse sport is on the body, during his long career he suffered many injuries most notably a near career ending fall where he broke his neck, Nick Skelton also had a hip replacement a few years back, that barely stopped him competing.
Nick Skelton - Veteran Riders

Arthur von Pongracz

Austrian rider Arthur von Pongracz competed in dressage and is the second oldest olympian of all team, representing Austria at the age of 72 at the 1936 olympics in Berlin.

John Whitaker

Aged at 61 John Whitaker is the elder statesmen of the renowned Whitaker showjumping family, still competing John is still jumping at the highest level winning many classes in competitions, he was selected for the 2016 olympics at 60 and i wouldn`t be surprised if he is up for selection at the 2020 olympics!

Watch 60 year old John Whitaker at the 2016 olympics

Nelson Pessoa

Nelson Pessoa is another showjumper who competed at the top of the sport well into his 60`s and was a corner stone member of the Brazzilian showjumping team along with his son Rodrigo Pessoa. Nelson Pessoa is still heavily involved in the training of riders and horses at the age of 81 passing on his knowledge and experience.

Hiroshi Hoketsu

Another dressage rider Hiroshi Hoketsu is the oldest Japense olympian and the third oldest olympic competitor of all time, he first represented Japan at the 1964 olympics as a showjumper, 48 years later he would represent Japan at the 2012 olympics this time in the dressage arena at the age of 70.

Harvey Smith

One of the most colourful characters from the equestrian world, Harvey Smith competed at the top level of showjumping for over four decades, when he finally retired from the showjumping arena he would not retire from the horse world but switch to being a race horse trainer were he took his winning mentality to win numerous high profile races.

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