1976Which two Canadian athletes became the very first horse-and-rider combination to win two consecutive World Cup victories?
In the world of Canadian equestrian sport, Ian Millar and his remarkable horse Big Ben, based in Perth, Ontario, made history as the first horse-and-rider duo to win two consecutive World Cup final titles in 1988 and 1989. Their partnership redefined the sporting landscape, capturing the imagination of fans by demonstrating that greatness in athletics transcends species. Big Ben, a towering liver chestnut originally foaled in Belgium in 1976, overcame early doubts about his size to win over 40 Grand Prix events and amass more than $1.5 million in prize money—an unprecedented feat for a North American show jumper. Today, their legacy endures not only through record-breaking achievements, but also in the form of a bronze statue erected in 2005 in Perth’s Big Ben Park, immortalizing the team in full flight.
