Big Ben (horse)
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{{Sport Horse infobox
|horsename= Big Ben
|image=
|caption=
|breed= Belgian Warmblood cross Thoroughbred
|sire= Etretat
|grandsire= Vagabond
|dam= Oekie
|damsire= Flevo
|sex= [[Gelding]]
|foaled= 1976
|country= [[Belgium]]
|colour= Liver [[Chestnut (coat)|Chestnut]] with a blaze and socks on both hind legs
|breeder= Jacobus van Hooydonk
|owner= [[Ian Millar]]
|trainer=
|record=
|earnings= $1.5 million +
|wins=
|awards=
|honours=
|updated=
}}
'''Big Ben''' ([[April 20]], [[1976]] – [[December 11]], [[1999]]) was a world champion [[show jumping]] horse.
First named "Winston", Big Ben was born at "van Hooydonk Farm" in Kalmthout (northern [[Belgium]]). Although his dam was only 15 hh, Big Ben grew to be a very large horse of 17.3 hands high (1.80 m). Because of his height, he was named Winston after [[Winston Churchill]], who had died 13 years previously but had been one of the most important and influential political leaders of the twentieth century. In 1983, he was sold to a farm in the [[Netherlands]] for only $2000, and renamed "Big Ben." A few weeks later, he was purchased by [[Equestrianism|equestrian]] rider [[Ian Millar]] for $45,000, and brought to Millar Brooke Farm in [[Perth, Ontario]], [[Canada]].
In 1984, the horse began competing in show jumping events in what would become a long and successful career. With Millar on board, Big Ben won more than 40 [[Grand Prix show jumping|Grand Prix]] titles including six [[Spruce Meadows]] Derbys, as well as taking the world cup show jumping championship two years in a row. His first [[Show Jumping World Cup|World Cup Final]] came at [[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]] in 1988 followed by another the next year in [[Tampa, Florida]]. As well, in 1989 he won the [[Grand Prix show jumping|Grand Prix]] of [[Bordeaux]], [[France]] and the Grand Prix of [[Stuttgart, Germany]], earning the number one ranking in the world for Millar.
Big Ben also won the du Maurier International twice which at the time was the world's richest grand prix event. After 11 years of competing around the world, in 1994 Big Ben retired to the farm in Perth, Ontario at the age of 18. He was inducted in the Ontario Sports Legends Hall of Fame and joined the great thoroughbred racing horse, [[Northern Dancer]] as the only other horse to ever be inducted into the [[Canadian Sports Hall of Fame]]. In 1999, Canada Post honored the horse with his image placed on a stamp. His story was told in the book titled "Big Ben" by author, Lawrence Scanlan.
Big Ben survived two colic attacks, as well as a terrible trailer accident in 1992, where 2 horses died, one was so injured it was forever unrideable, and another would never enter a trailer again. Big Ben won a Grand Prix only 2 months later.
A national icon, Big Ben was 23 years old when he was euthanized at Millar Brooke Farm on [[December 11]], [[1999]] after two veterinarians said nothing could be done to ease the suffering caused by a third case of [[colic]]. He was buried on a [[knoll]] overlooking the farm. In 2000, Big Ben's personal [[groom]], Sandi Hill, wrote a touching tribute to Big Ben in the book titled "An Apple a Day: A Heartwarming Collection of True Horse Stories" edited by Kimberly Gatto. [[Image:BigBen_gravesite.jpg|thumb|100px|right|Big Ben's grave site at Millar Brooke Farm]]
In 2005, the Perth and District Chamber of Commerce erected an arresting bronze statue of Big Ben with Ian Millar riding in a picturesque park setting along the banks of the [[Tay River]] in beautiful downtown [[Perth, Ontario]] not far from Big Ben's final resting place.
Big Ben has been forever immortalized as a [[model horses|Breyer]] model.
==Achievements==
* Won over $1.5 million in prize money
* First horse to win 2 consecutive [[Show Jumping World Cup|World Cup Final]] titles 1988 [[Gothenburg]] and 1989 [[Tampa]], [[Florida]]
* Team and Individual Gold medals at the 1987 [[Pan Am Games]], [[Indianapolis]]
* Member of the 4th place Team at the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Olympics]] in [[Los Angeles]]
* 2nd [[Show Jumping World Cup|World Cup Final]]'s in 1986 Gothenburg
* 5th [[Show Jumping World Cup|World Cup Final]]'s in 1987 [[Paris]]
* Member of the 4th place Team at the [[Show Jumping World Championships]], [[Aachen]]
* Winner of Masters [[Grand Prix show jumping|Grand Prix]] at [[Spruce Meadows]] in 1987 and 1991
* Member of the 4th place Team at the [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Olympics]] in [[Seoul]]
* Winner of [[Grand Prix show jumping|Grand Prix]] of [[Stuttgart]] 1989
* Winner of [[Grand Prix show jumping|Grand Prix]] of [[Bordeaux]] 1989
* Canadian National Show Jumping Champion 1988, 1991 and 1993
* Won the Spruce Meadows Derby 6 times in eight years (the Chrysler Classic in '86,'87 and '89 and the Shell Cup in '91,'92 and '93)
* One of only two horses inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
==References==
*[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0009578 Big Ben at Canadian Encyclopedia]
*[http://www.jumpcanada.ca/acrobat/2006_bios/ian_millar.pdf#search=%22Stuttgart%20big%20ben%20millar%22 Ian Millar's Results Jump Canada pdf file]
== External links ==
*[http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/big+ben4 Big Ben pedigree & photo]
[[Category:Show jumping horses]]
[[Category:Canada's Sports Hall of Fame inductees]]