Show Jumping Hall of Fame at the USHJA Wheeler Museum

Show Jumping Hall of Fame at the USHJA Wheeler Museum The SJHF honors the men, women, and horses who have made great contributions to the sport.

As showjumping at the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 gets underway this week, take a look back to 2006, the last ti...
08/18/2026

As showjumping at the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 gets underway this week, take a look back to 2006, the last time Aachen hosted the championships (then called the World Equestrian Games).

Beezie Madden (class of 2021) and Authentic (class of 2017) won Individual Silver and Team Silver --with Laura Kraut/Miss Independent, McLain Ward/Sapphire, and Margie Engle/Hidden Creek’s Quervo Gold.

And the next year, Beezie and Authentic won the Grand Prix at the 2007 CHIO Aachen, earning Authentic a star in the Aachen Walk of Fame.

Beezie was the fourth woman to top the podium of this signature class, which was first held in 1927.

(England's Liz Edgar was the first female winner, with Forever in 1980; SJ Hall of Famers Anne Kursinski and Starman won in 1991; Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Shutterfly won in 2005.)

As we round out the look back at some early U.S. medal winners and changes to the FEI World Championships format, check ...
08/04/2026

As we round out the look back at some early U.S. medal winners and changes to the FEI World Championships format, check out the World Championships in 1986 and the first American Gold Medal-winning team:

(l-r) Katie Monahan Prudent and Amadia, Katharine Burdsall and The Natural, Michael Matz and Chef, and Conrad Homfeld and Abdullah (who also won Individual Silver).

đź“·: Tish Quirk

As we get closer to this year's World Championships: Here's another dip into the archives about early U.S. medal winners...
07/30/2026

As we get closer to this year's World Championships: Here's another dip into the archives about early U.S. medal winners and variations in the FEI World Championships format through the decades.

The 1978 Championships at Aachen, Germany—site of this year’s Championships—included a Team Competition for the first time.

The U.S. team of Dennis Murphy on Tuscaloosa, Buddy Brown on Viscount, and Show Jumping Hall of Famers Michael Matz on Jet Run (left) and Conrad Homfeld on Balbuco (right) earned the Team Bronze. Matz and Jet Run finished with the Individual Bronze.

Fun Fact: Homfeld and Matz would be back at Aachen for the 1986 World Championships to help win Team Gold. Details to come . . .

In the run-up to next month's FEI World Cup Champtionships 2026 Aachen, we’ve got another moment from the archives abou...
07/21/2026



In the run-up to next month's FEI World Cup Champtionships 2026 Aachen, we’ve got another moment from the archives about early U.S. medal winners and variations in the World Championships format through the decades.

The 1974 Championships at Hickstead, England, have always been referred to as the Men’s World Jumping Championships—as parallel to the 1974 Ladies’ World Jumping Championship in La Baule, France. Show Jumping Hall of Famers Frank Chapot and Main Spring finished with the Individual Bronze in the "final four" format. This was last year that the men's and women's championships were separate competitions.

Fun Facts: The following week, Chapot and Main Spring won the King George V Cup in London. In the 1960s, the U.S. Equestrian Team published postcards to promote the Team members

As we celebrate World Horse Day, what better time to revisit Olympic Gold Medalist Bill Steinkraus’s tribute to the amaz...
07/11/2026

As we celebrate World Horse Day, what better time to revisit Olympic Gold Medalist Bill Steinkraus’s tribute to the amazing horses in our sport, in our lives, and in our hearts:

“We must never forget, every time we sit on a horse, what a privilege it is to be able to unite one’s body with that of another sentient being, one that is stronger, faster and more agile by far than we are, and at the same time, brave, generous and uncommonly forgiving.” --from “Reflections on Riding and Jumping"

Recognized by the United Nations in 2025, "World Horse Day is more than a celebration — it’s a call to protect one of humanity’s oldest partnerships, which still helps feed us, support our economies, and lift our spirits."

Photo: Hall of Famers Bill Steinkraus and Bold Minstrel, Aachen, 1960s, Wheeler Museum Collection, donated by Janet Harkins

Congratulations to JJ Torano and his mount, Jet Show Stable’s Vitus K, the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Rider of the Month ...
07/10/2026

Congratulations to JJ Torano and his mount, Jet Show Stable’s Vitus K, the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Rider of the Month and Horse of the Month for June.

This is the third time this year that Torano, of Wellington, FL, has won the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Rider of the Month. His earlier titles came in January and March, following his record-setting 2025 season when he also earned the award three times and was named the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Rider of the Year.

A talented junior rider, Torano competes in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series East Conference. He had a blazing start to the month at the Upperville C**t & Horse Show after piloting five horses into the top ten placings in the $10,000 SJHOF 1.45m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic: victory with Vitus K, third with D&H Q Paravatti N, fourth with Casanova Z, ninth with Coachella Z, and 10th with Mr. Worldwide.

At the Lake Placid Horse Show, he returned for the win aboard Mr. Worldwide in the $10,000 Mirror Lake Inn/The Cottage Café 1.35m SJHOF Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, then piloted Vitus K to second and Kung Fu to sixth in the $15,000 FarmVet 1.45m SJHOF Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic.

These consistent performances earned Vitus K the Horse of the Month award for June. The 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding previously won the Horse of the Month title with Torano in February 2025.

With the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 coming up in August, this month we’re taking a look back at some early U.S...
07/10/2026



With the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 coming up in August, this month we’re taking a look back at some early U.S. medal winners and changes to the format through the decades since 1953.

Initially held every year, in 1960 the World Championships moved to a four-year cycle in between the Olympic years.

And, on three occasions, a Ladies’ World Jumping Championships event was held. In 1966, at England’s legendary Hickstead, Show Jumping Hall of Famers Kathy Kusner and Untouchable placed second to Great Britain’s Marion Coakes and Stroller.

Fun Fact: Kusner was petite, so in international classes she had to carry extra weight to meet the 154 lb. required minimum for women riders. (Or was it 165 lbs, just like for men? Sources give mixed information.)

Check out the breastplate with pockets for lead bars.

Photo: L’Annee Hippique

For decades, top riders headed to Fairfield County Hunt Club for its June "A" show. Check out some great images of Hall ...
06/24/2026

For decades, top riders headed to Fairfield County Hunt Club for its June "A" show.

Check out some great images of Hall of Famers--some in less familiar roles--on course at Fairfield.

đź‘€ Harry Gill riding the jumper Winsome, 1953
đź‘€ Leslie Burr Howard and Domino in a First-Year Green Working Hunter class, early 1980s
đź‘€ Dave Kelley and Reach-a-Bit in a Working Hunter class, 1960s
đź‘€ Sonny Brooks and Manon, 1962
đź‘€ Bill Steinkraus and First Boy, 1957
đź‘€ Bold Minstrel in a Formal Attire Hunter class with owner/rider Billy Haggard, 1961

Congratulations to Parker Peacock of Pfafftown, NC, and her VDL Cagaro, who have earned the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Ri...
06/14/2026

Congratulations to Parker Peacock of Pfafftown, NC, and her VDL Cagaro, who have earned the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Rider of the Month and Horse of the Month awards for May!

A talented junior rider, Peacock competes in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series East Conference. During the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, Parker and her 11-year-old Westphalian bested the field in the $12,500 SJHOF 1.45m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic and won the championship in the 1.40/1.45m Junior/Amateur Jumper division. A few weeks later, they finished seventh in the $20,000 SJHOF 1.45m Junior Jumper Classic at the Devon Horse Show & Country Fair.

Did you know that 50 years ago, Melanie Smith Taylor (class of 1998) and Radnor II won the 1976 Upperville Jumper Classi...
06/02/2026

Did you know that 50 years ago, Melanie Smith Taylor (class of 1998) and Radnor II won the 1976 Upperville Jumper Classic at the Upperville C**t & Horse Show, the first of Melanie's three wins? Her second victory was with Val de Loire in 1978 and the third with Calypso (class of 2002) in 1980.

Wondering who will win this week's Jumper Classic? Tune in this Sunday.

Address

3870 Cigar Lane
Lexington, KY
40511

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Show Jumping Hall of Fame at the USHJA Wheeler Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Show Jumping Hall of Fame at the USHJA Wheeler Museum:

Shortcuts

Share

Category