Custom Made, ridden by David O’Connor to a history-making eventing individual Olympic gold medal in 2000, wasburied in the Kentucky Horse Park’s Memorial Walk of Champions.
The 17.1-hand Irish sport horse also is being honored with induction posthumously into the park’s Hall of Champions. Custom Made, better known as Tailor, was retired at the park during the event in 2004. He lived at Jacqueline Mars’ Stonehall Farm in The Plains, Va., until his death in 2019 at the age of 34, with David at his side.
“Tailor was the horse of a lifetime,” said David.
“The most powerful horse I have ever sat on and a true gentleman of every sort. He was a great combination of athlete, legend, and friend.”
The park’s president, Lee Carter, noted, “The sport of eventing is an integral part of the Kentucky Horse Park story, and this should be recognized in our Hall of Champions. Custom Made is arguably the most decorated horse to compete at the park, having won the Kentucky Three-Day Event (1995), Badminton Horse Trials (1997) and Olympic gold. While Custom Made is no longer with us, we are thankful to David O’Connor for allowing future generations the chance to learn the history of this amazing horse.”
Tailor (Bassompierre x Purple Heather) was foaled in Ireland in 1985. He was imported to the U.S. by Joseph Zada to be a mount for O’Connor. In the first year of their partnership, they won the 1995 Kentucky Three-Day Event.
The following year, Tailor and O’Connor finished third in the Badminton Horse Trials and placed fifth individually in the Atlanta Olympic Games. They returned to Badminton in 1997 to secure the win, making Tailor the second American horse ever to be victorious in the prestigious competition.
Their historic achievement of individual gold came at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. It was the first eventing gold medal for the U.S. in 25 years. They continued a successful career together including victory in the gelding’s final competition at the 2002 Fair Hill International Three-Day CCI4*-L. He was inducted into the United States Eventing Association Hall of Fame in 2009.
Tailor lived out his life at Jacqueline Mars’ Stonehall Farm in The Plains, Virginia. He died in October 2019 at the age of 34 with O’Connor by his side, ending a celebrated chapter in U.S. eventing history.
“Tailor was the horse of a lifetime,” said O’Connor.
“The most powerful horse I have ever sat on and a true gentleman of every sort. He was a great combination of athlete, legend, and friend.”