McLain Ward
Encyclopedia
McLain Ward is an American
show jumping
competitor and Olympic champion.
Official website: http://mclainward.com
At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens
, Ward won the gold medal as part of the United States team in Team jumping
, together with Peter Wylde
, Beezie Madden
and Chris Kappler
. He also continued to compete as an Olympian, winning the team gold for show jumping at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics with Laura Kraut (Cedric), Beezie Madden (Authentic), and Will Simpson (Carlson vom Dach) and Mclain's horse, Sapphire.
McLain has been recognized as a dominant competitor on the jumper circuit since his junior days. When he was just 14, he won the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Show Jumping Derby as well as the equitation medal finals, becoming the youngest rider in history to win both in one year. As mentioned in the book Unbridled Passion: Show Jumping's Greatest Horses and Riders, McLain proved to be a fierce competitor, even riding with a broken collarbone in the 2005 Samsung Super League. McLain fought through the pain to help the United States team capture the Championship.
Ward found himself at the center of controversy at the 2010 World Cup Final
in Geneva, Switzerland. His mount, Sapphire, was eliminated after the second round of jumping due to hypersensitivity in her left forelimb. She had placed second in both rounds prior to elimination, and was at the top of the overall standings at the time of the disqualification. Mclain challenged the ruling, stating that FEI had sent technicians to flex Sapphire repeatedly throughout the night until she turned up lame. This may be in part to Sapphire dominating competition throughout many FEI events, and FEI no longer wished for the pair to compete in the World Cup. The FEI appointed veterinarian stressed that there was no indication or evidence of any malpractice by McLain Ward or any member of the team. In July 2010 the FEI and McLain Ward agreed to avoid extensive litigations, that Sapphire was incorrectly eliminated. However, Sapphire’s disqualification from the final round of the World Cup remains in place. The FEI has also decided to develop mandatory guidelines for hypersensitivity tests.
In 2010 Ward was featured in the television series A Rider's Story
along with fellow Olympian Laura Kraut
. Mclain is married to Lauren Ward.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
competitor and Olympic champion.
Official website: http://mclainward.com
At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Ward won the gold medal as part of the United States team in Team jumping
Equestrian at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Team jumping
The individual jumping event, part of the equestrian program at the 2004 Summer Olympics, was held from 22 August to 27 August 2004 in the Olympic Equestrian Centre on the outskirts of Markopoulo in the Attica region of Greece...
, together with Peter Wylde
Peter Wylde
Peter Wylde is an American show jumping competitor and olympic champion.At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Wylde won the gold medal as part of the United States team in Team jumping, together with McLain Ward, Beezie Madden and Chris Kappler.-References:*-External links:*...
, Beezie Madden
Beezie Madden
Elizabeth Madden is an American show jumping competitor and Olympic winner from Cazenovia, New York....
and Chris Kappler
Chris Kappler
Chris Kappler is an American equestrian who competes in the sport of show jumping, He is an Olympic gold and silver medalist. Kappler was the rider of Royal Kaliber . Kappler is a resident of Pittstown, New Jersey.At the 2004 Olympic Games, Kappler won a silver medal in Individual Jumping...
. He also continued to compete as an Olympian, winning the team gold for show jumping at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics with Laura Kraut (Cedric), Beezie Madden (Authentic), and Will Simpson (Carlson vom Dach) and Mclain's horse, Sapphire.
McLain has been recognized as a dominant competitor on the jumper circuit since his junior days. When he was just 14, he won the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Show Jumping Derby as well as the equitation medal finals, becoming the youngest rider in history to win both in one year. As mentioned in the book Unbridled Passion: Show Jumping's Greatest Horses and Riders, McLain proved to be a fierce competitor, even riding with a broken collarbone in the 2005 Samsung Super League. McLain fought through the pain to help the United States team capture the Championship.
Ward found himself at the center of controversy at the 2010 World Cup Final
2010 FEI World Cup Jumping Final
The 2010 FEI World Cup Jumping Final was the final of the FEI World Cup Jumping 2009/2010. It was the 32st final of the FEI World Cup Jumping show jumping series. It was held at the Palexpo in Le Grand-Saconnex near Geneva, Switzerland, from April 14 to April 18, 2010.Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum of...
in Geneva, Switzerland. His mount, Sapphire, was eliminated after the second round of jumping due to hypersensitivity in her left forelimb. She had placed second in both rounds prior to elimination, and was at the top of the overall standings at the time of the disqualification. Mclain challenged the ruling, stating that FEI had sent technicians to flex Sapphire repeatedly throughout the night until she turned up lame. This may be in part to Sapphire dominating competition throughout many FEI events, and FEI no longer wished for the pair to compete in the World Cup. The FEI appointed veterinarian stressed that there was no indication or evidence of any malpractice by McLain Ward or any member of the team. In July 2010 the FEI and McLain Ward agreed to avoid extensive litigations, that Sapphire was incorrectly eliminated. However, Sapphire’s disqualification from the final round of the World Cup remains in place. The FEI has also decided to develop mandatory guidelines for hypersensitivity tests.
In 2010 Ward was featured in the television series A Rider's Story
A Rider's Story
A Rider's Story is a television program that airs on Horse Racing TV and on . Each show features the best riders from around the United States and tells their trials and triumphs from childhood to the present.-Production:...
along with fellow Olympian Laura Kraut
Laura Kraut
Laura Kraut is an American show jumping competitor and Olympic champion.At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Kraut won the gold medal as part of the United States team with her horse Cedric in team jumping, together with McLain Ward, Will Simpson, and Beezie Madden.In 2010 Kraut was featured in...
. Mclain is married to Lauren Ward.