John is a living legend in the world of International show jumping. He is one of the most admired riders in the world and has won 14 team medals at Olympic, World or European championships in his long career.

He was 18 when he first partnered Ryans Son, a horse with just 50p on his card when he went to John. The pair formed a partnership which was to last 14 years, the highlight of which saw them winning team silver at the Los Angeles Olympic Games.

The legendary grey Milton became John’s partner in 1985, with his first major win the Du Maurier Grand Prix in Spruce Meadows, Calgary in 1986, and many other major wins subsequently. John retired the great horse at the 1994 Olympia Horse Show.

In 1998 John was leading rider at the Volvo World Cup Final in Helsinki, he won the first two legs of the World Cup on the gallant 19 year old Virtual Village Grannusch. In 1998 John won the Peugeot Derby at Hickstead on Gammon, who at 21 is the oldest horse to have won the Derby. In 1999 John won the British Grand Prix at Hickstead and in 2000 the Peugeot Hickstead Derby with Virtual Village Welham. In the same year, John suffered a brain aneurism whilst competing in Sweden. Following hospital treatment, he made a full recovery and a chance ride on Douglas Bunn’s Buddy Bunn gave John his fourth Derby victory in 2004.

John was part of the bronze medal winning team at the 2007 European Championships in Mannheim, this also gained crucial Olympic team qualification.

John was selected for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and travelled to the event, but unfortunately had to withdraw during the competition when his horse Peppermill came out of his box with inexplicable stiffness.

In 2009, John formed part of the Meydan Nations Cup team in Lau Baule with Peppermill, and won numerous classes on his young horses. Again in 2010, he formed part of the Meydan Nations Cup team in Rome, where he came second; in St Gallen, where he came third and in Rotterdam, where he came second with Peppermill once again.

John continues to compete on the international circuit, often against younger generations of his extensive show jumping family, including his successful son Robert.

With permission from the BSJA