Authentic, one of the greatest U.S. team show jumpers in history, died Wednesday at the age of 30 after a 16-year retirement.
His record with Beezie Madden was stellar, including team gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the Hong Kong Games four years later, where his rider also earned individual bronze, and in between in 2006, team and individual silvers at the 2006 Aachen FEI World Equestrian Games. He also secured two victories in the Budweiser American Invitational and triumphed in the Aachen grand prix, among many other wins on his amazing resume.
Beezie Madden and Authentic at the 2006 Hong Kong Olympics, where they brought home team gold and individual bronze. (Photo © 2008 by Nancy Jaffer)
John Madden, Beezie’s husband, and Authentic’s owner, Abigail Wexner announced his passing on social media. Authentic was known as the King of Madden Mountain, the Maddens’ retirement farm in Cazenovia, N.Y.
John and Beezie first saw Authentic as a three-year-old in 1998 at Stal Heins, under Johan Heins and Harrie Smolders. They felt he was something special, which led to his purchase by Elizabeth Busch Burke as a six-year-old. His barn name “Bud” was in recognition of Elizabeth because she was a member of the family that owned brewer Anheuser-Busch.
At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Authentic suffered from colic and it appeared he might not be able to compete, since medication was prohibited for horses competing at the Games. He was diagnosed with a twist in his intestine, so the veterinarian administered fluids and they encouraged him to roll.
“Sometimes, if you let them roll over, that would put it back in place,” John explained. The strategy worked and Authentic passed the horse inspection, going on to compete in his first Olympics and contributing to the team gold medal.
A syndicate got Authentic to Athens, but when those owners received a purchase offer that would have sent the horse to a European rider, Abigail Wexner bought him so he could stay with Beezie and the U.S. team.
Beezie and Authentic at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen. (Photo © 2006 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Looking back on his career and life, having Mrs. Wexner step up when she did, ultimately meant his place in the history books was guaranteed,” Beezie stated.
“She trusted our partnership and never put pressure on him or me. Whatever he needed, he got, and when it was time for the competition days to be behind him, she never wavered in his support. Every horse should have an owner like her,” Beezie observed.
Bud officially retired at the New Albany Classic in 2009.
As Mrs. Wexner once said, his home was always Cazenovia. Authentic took over caring for the weanlings and yearlings, as “Uncle Bud”, and enjoyed posing for photos with visitors, especially if they came with carrots. His longtime groom, Clark Shipley, was able to watch Bud grazing in his pasture from his window before he passed away from cancer in 2020.
“I am grateful for every minute I spent with Bud. He was born great. He had an aura about him, and every life he touched was better for it,” said John Madden.
“Bud’s intelligence and cheerful personality made him exceptional to work with and carried him through his many great accomplishments, as well as his long retirement. So many of my big “firsts” of my career were with him as a partner. I owe him so much and am grateful to everyone, especially Mrs. Wexner, who made it possible for him to be such a special part of my life for so long,” Beezie commented.