Eventing Loses a Legend in Richard Meade

By on Jan 9, 2015 9:00 am -
Richard Meade celebrates his victory at the 1982 Badminton Horse Trials. Photo courtesy of Knowle West Media Center/Creative Commons. Richard Meade celebrates his victory at the 1982 Badminton Horse Trials. Photo courtesy of Knowle West Media Center/Creative Commons.

The global eventing community mourns the loss of Richard Meade, who died last night at age 76 after a brief battle with cancer. He anchored the British eventing team for more than 21 years, winning team gold at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics aboard Cornishman and individual and team gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics with Laurieston.

Richard also won two gold and three silver medals at World Championships, in addition to gold and three bronze at European Championships. He also won Burghley once in 1964 riding Barberry and Badminton twice, in 1970 with The Poacher and 1982 with Speculator III.

He served on the sport’s governing body in the UK, which ultimately became British Eventing, for more than 30 years. He was also a former president of the British Equestrian Federation and a member of the FEI Eventing Committee. He further became a staple in the sport as an FEI judge and course designer.

Richard was a familiar face at British events and major horse trials around the world until the final days of his life, as he followed his son Harry’s career very closely. Richard lived long enough to see Harry named to his first senior team and ultimately win a team silver medal at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy last year.

“Richard at the height of his powers towered over the eventing world – his results far exceeded the innate ability of many of the horses he rode and he was at his very best when riding at the major events and championships,” Hugh Thomas, BE Chairman, said. “Then he gave countless time and effort to supporting the sport he loved. His passing really does feel like the end of an era.”

Tributes to Richard have been flooding social media all morning. British Eventing posted an extensive obituary and tribute at this link. The EN team extends our deepest condolences to Richard’s wife, Angela; their three children, James, Harry and Lucy; and all who knew and loved him. The sport has lost a giant.

[In Memoriam; Richard Meade OBE 04/12/1938 – 08/01/2015]

Post by O’Connor Equestrian.