Custom Made, ridden to the 2000 Olympic eventing individual gold medal by David O’Connor, has died at the age of 34.
Affectionately known as Tailor, the 17.1-hand Irish Sport Horse gelding was imported to the U.S. in 1995. In their first year together, Tailor and David won the 1995 Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI3*.
Who will ever forget David O’Connor’s triumphant ride on Custom Made after taking the eventing individual gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It was a magic moment. (Photo©2000 by Nancy Jaffer)
In 1996, the duo finished third in the Badminton Horse Trials CCI4* and were named to the U.S. team for the Atlanta Olympics, placing fifth individually. The following year, they won the Badminton Horse Trials CCI4*.
Their victory at Sydney in 2000 was the first Olympic individual gold in eventing in 25 years..
Custom Made ended his career in 2002 by winning the Fair Hill International Three-Day Event CCI3*.
He was formally retired at the 2004 Kentucky Three-Day Event and inducted into the United States Eventing Hall of Fame in 2009. He lived out this retirement at David and Karen O’Connor’s Stonehall Farm in The Plains, Va., and was the last member of the “Fab Four,” which also included the O’Connors’ top mounts Biko, Giltedge, and Prince Panache. He was the last to go.
“Obviously, he was the horse of a lifetime, but probably one of the greats of our time that I have ever been around, especially thinking about it in the classic format, which is where he did most of his career,” David said.
“He was the most powerful athlete that I have ever ridden. He is gone now, but will be with me forever.”