Five things you didn’t know about Olympic showjumper Ben Maher

Get an insight into the life and times of legendary showjumper Ben Maher with our five fast facts  

Last year was quite the year for top British showjumper, Ben Maher, after he added an individual Olympic gold medal to the team one he earned at London 2012. But would you like to know a little more about what makes him tick? Well, now you can – thanks to Horse&Country’s latest interview – and we’ve got loads of interesting insights about the Olympian to share…

1. He almost quit showjumping

It was at age 13 that Ben realised riding would be his future, however he almost backtracked because he didn’t think he could make showjumping pay. Threatening to pull out of the industry just before the Beijing Olympics, he even took another job. However, he was quickly reminded of how much he loved riding and went on to pave the successful career path he boasts today.

2. He was the youngest member of the Team GB Showjumping team

Ben was just 25 years old when he rode for his country at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 on his horse Rolette, where the team came 5^th overall.

3. He needs a stepladder to mount Explosion W

Standing just shy of 17hh, the KWPN gelding is well matched to Ben, who’s just over 6ft himself. However, it’s not Explosion W’s height that requires the step ladder, but his naturally zingy nature. Ben must hop on board swiftly, while his groom, Cormac Kenny, bribes him with treats to prevent him from running off.

4. He was drug-tested at his own wedding

Another milestone for Ben in 2021 was his marriage to girlfriend, Sophie. However, the timing fell perfectly in line with the runup to Tokyo, meaning he had to momentarily dive away from celebrations and perform a drug test at his own wedding. Safe to say, he slipped away without disrupting the day, but it did later come up during his speech.

5. He doesn’t spend much time in the kitchen

Unsurprisingly, Ben doesn’t define himself as any kind of chef, however his favourite meal is spaghetti bolognese, and this, paired with chocolate fondant for dessert, is what he chose to cook with Daisy Bunn, presenter of Horse&Country’s popular show Daisy Dines With. Ben gave a wide-ranging interview where he unveiled his life and times and detailed his Olympic journey to date.

Daisy Dines With Ben Maher is available on H&C+ from Thursday 20 January. For more information, visit horseandcountry.tv