In many European countries, only a few see horses as a potential source of food. For them, horses are close to being treated as pets. Like many purebred dogs trained to perform various antics and tricks, horses are also trained to provide entertainment. Thus, the horses, together with the trainers and jockeys or jockeys, obtain career, fame and fortune.
One of the famous jockeys is American Olympic medalist Debbie McDonald and her equally famous lead mount, a chestnut Hanoverian named Brentina. McDonald began her career as a show jumper, but later switched to dressage due to a falling accident when her horse did a somersault that nearly cost her her life. Along with Brentina, she began building her career by winning as a gold medalist at the Pan American Games in 1999, and later becoming the first American to win the Dressage World Cup. She also earned several titles attached to her name, being awarded Equestrian of the Year by different awarding bodies such as the United States Equestrian Federation and the United States Olympic Committee. At the 2004 Olympics, where she clinched her First Lady Dressage title, the pair won team bronze and placed fourth overall. Brentina, on the other hand, was awarded Horse of the Year in 2005. In 2008, the horse retired at Thomas Farm and attended a retirement ceremony in Las Vegas in 2009, while McDonald continued to race other horses and became the USA Equestrian Federation Development Horse Dressage trainer many dressage stars look up to and emulate
Another equestrian who is popular in the horse and entertainment world is British Olympic medalist Leslie Law. She began at the age of 10 by taking on his brother and participating in his first legitimate event in 1982 and by 1989 became one of the most respected elite cyclists. In 1997, he began riding Shear H2O and Shear L’eau which placed him second in badminton 2000 and third in 2002. At the 2004 Olympics, he won the gold medal after a controversial issue was cleared by the Court of First Instance about the victory of the German Bettina Hoy. Arbitration, favoring the Law the decision. To date, he has one gold and two silver medals from the Olympic Games to his name.
In fact, having a true passion and love for horses certainly takes one great distances of fame and fortune. Although being an equestrian requires great efforts like going through endless training and expenses, in the end horse lovers can never deny their passion.