Here’s how Austin O’Connor describes himself on his Facebook page: “Irish international event rider and two-time Olympian…working hard to make it 3!!”
A victory Sunday in the MARS Maryland 5-star at Fair Hill with Colorado Blue probably did a lot toward having that happen. Austin’s triumph was the first at a 5-star for an Irish rider in 58 years, since Eddie Boylan won at Badminton, according to EquiRatings.
Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue are number one in the MARS Maryland 5-star event at Fair Hill. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
The 49-year-old rider’s appearance on the top step of the podium to accept the Fair Hill Bronze trophy was a surprise. He had seemed likely to make one of the levels after going from twelfth place in dressage to fourth following cross-country, where he was the pathfinder in the 5-star section. His horse—known for speed—finished just three seconds over the optimum time of 11 minutes, 10 seconds on Saturday’s strenuous route laid out by Ian Stark.
It was show jumping prowess from his generous horse, some lack thereof among his rivals and luck that clinched the prize for which Austin had yearned.
“Unbelievable,” said Austin, an hour or so after his win, still looking dazed even after four laps of a victory gallop around the arena.
“I can’t wait to come back.”
The show jumping phase has been a bit problematic for him recently.
“The last couple of three-days (events), he had a couple of cheap rails,” recounted Austin, who is based in Britain.
“Today I make a horrendous mistake (leaving out a stride on the way to the Liverpool to end up in a very risky leap) and he gets me out of jail. He’s an unbelievable horse. He’s a proper, proper 5-star event horse.”
Austin added, “He’s 85 percent thoroughbred; he’s all blood, he’s all class, he’s all heart. He can try and try to the bitter end.”
Known fondly as Salty, the flea-bitten grey (yes, that’s a real term in the horse world) has been Austin’s project since he was a foal, 14 years ago.
After a refusal and his subsequent withdrawal of Salty at the Burghley, England, 5-star in September, Austin planned to reroute to the 5-star in Pau, France, which is happening this week.
But Tim Gardner, long-time part of the Fair Hill contingent, suggested he try Maryland instead.
It’s a competition that has both made dreams come true and also sent them packing. That’s how it happened for world number one Oliver Townend, who was leading with a rail in hand after William Fox-Pitt, standing second, toppled a pole on the show jumping route laid out by Canadian designer Michel Vaillancourt.
Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Oliver, who has been second and third in the two previous years of the Maryland 5-star’s existence, seemed headed for victory at last this time around. But when one rail fell, and then another, it vaulted Austin to victory on 34.9 penalties, just ahead of William on 35.3, while Oliver wound up third with the lovely Cooley Rosalent on 37.1.
EquiRatings, which is usually right on the mark, had given Oliver a 68 percent chance of winning. But they did say they thought Austin could make the podium.
Oliver said his mare “was giving me an amazing feeling,” in the show jumping. She’s only nine, as he often mentions, and he felt a knockdown at the third element of the triple combination was “a baby mistake.” A knockdown at the next fence had the spectators groaning in unison.
“Then I felt it was me getting a little too desperate at the next one. So perhaps she had one down and I had one down,” he suggested.
He added, “I thought she jumped a beautiful round and we had two mistakes.”
Then he changed the subject to say how happy he was for Austin, who has “been a good friend for me in the fairly tough times of the last few years.”
He predicted a party to celebrate both his win at Burghley, his seventh 5-star victory, and Austin’s triumph in Maryland.
William, who keeps talking about retirement, is staying in the game for his mare Grafennacht.
“She’s keeping me going,” said the 54-year-old rider, winner of more 5-stars than any other competitor.
William Fox-Pitt and Graffenacht. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“I’m not sure I’d enjoy watching anyone else ride her yet,” he said.
“Could she give me a bit more fun and do I do it well enough? As an older rider, you’re increasingly worried about looking like an idiot. Yesterday morning I was thinking, `What the hell am I doing?’ By this evening I was a little,`That’s what I’m doing.’”
There wasn’t even a rail’s worth of penalties among the top three, showing how competitive the show jumping was at the event presented by Brown Advisory.
After Austin rode, Mia Farley had her turn on the thoroughbred Phelps, the only horse to hit the optimum time on cross-country, which put her third. It was a remarkable feat for a first-time 5-star rider, but the fairytale ended with two knockdowns in the final phase and a score of 40.9 penalties.
The entire story certainly isn’t over, though; Mia is only 23 and Phelps, owned by Olympic gold medalist David O’Connor, is just starting his upper-level career.
Mia was smiling as she held her horse before the awards ceremony, the pink fifth-place ribbon entwined in his bridle. She had noted previously that show jumping isn’t his strong point, so critiquing Sunday’s round, she said, “He was jumping high enough, for the most part. What more can I ask of him?” before bursting into giggles.
“I’m happy with how he felt on the last day. He was so good and competitive yesterday and I think we can get better Sundays, so we’ll see.”
Her errors moved up Hannah Sue Holberg to become the highest-placed American, in fourth with Capitol HIM on 40 penalties. The Holsteiner had been bought by Christa Schmidt as her personal ride, but he proved too strong and got passed to Hannah Sue.
Hannah Sue Holberg was the highest-placed U.S. rider in the 5-star on Capitol HIM. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Every we time we asked him to do more, he stepped up and answered the questions,” she said.
“He is incredible.”
The 16-year-old gelding was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease a year ago. Once he got on the medication he needed, “it changed his life,” Hannah Sue said.
As I was leaving the press conference, I saw Ian Stark, to whom Austin had referred in his comments, and it’s obvious they’re old friends.
“Tell me about Austin,” I asked Ian.
“Give me some insight into what he’s like.”
A toast to victory: Oliver Townend, Austin O’Connor, William Fox-Pitt and Hannah Sue Holberg.( Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Ian replied, “Austin is just a dedicated competitor. He’s great with his horses. He’s great with people. He’s sometimes a bit shy, but he’s out-and-out wanting to win and he’s just a nice guy. He’s had some very tough times.”
Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue on their way to getting their names in the record books. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Ian mentioned that Austin’s major mentor was David Foster, an Irish army officer and international three-day-event rider, killed in a fall cross-country at an Irish event in 1998.
“Austin was devastated at that. David was the main influence in his career,” Ian recalled.
“This is huge for him to win this. I think it will do his self-confidence so much good. It’s a good move for the sport and for Ireland, I think it’s fantastic.”
Click here for 5-star results.
