William Coleman (equestrian)

Last updated
William Coleman
Personal information
Born (1983-05-08) May 8, 1983 (age 40)
Locust Valley, New York [1]
Medal record
Equestrian
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
World Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2022 Pratoni Team eventing

William Coleman III (born May 8, 1983) [1] is an American equestrian. [2] At the 2012 Summer Olympics he competed in the Individual eventing and Team eventing. [3] At the age of six, Coleman's family moved to Charlottesville, VA where he started riding. [4] His first horse was a Shetland pony that arrived in the bed of a pickup truck. Coleman soon started riding in the hunt fields of Virginia Piedmont Hunt where he learned the fundamentals of horse back riding. [5] His father was his first show jumping coach, being an avid fox hunter and horseman in his own right. [6] As his love for eventing grew he started training with Olympic veterans Karen and David O’Connor regularly. After graduating from Woodberry Forest School in 2001, Coleman took an apprenticeship with the O’Connors. [4] [5]

Contents

In 2001 at the age of 18, Coleman was gold medalist at the North American Young Rider's Championship. [7] When he turned 19 he moved up to the three-star level and finished 8th on his horse Second Hope at Fair Hill International CCI3*, earning a spot on the USEF's winter training list. [6] In 2003, Coleman and Fox In Flight traveled abroad to the Bramham CCI3* where the combination won the under-25 Championships, becoming the only US combination to ever do so. [8] [9] The pair stayed in England to compete in their first CCI4* at Burghley where the pair jumped a clean cross country round and finished 26th out of more than 100 starters. [8]

At the age of 20, Coleman was listed as a contender for a spot on the US Olympic team in Athens. [9] Unfortunately Fox In Flight was injured right before Rolex Kentucky in the spring of 2004, putting him out of contention for the 2004 Olympics. [6] However, Coleman had a second ride at Rolex Kentucky in 2004 on Second Hope. This would be his first attempt at Americas only four-star, where he finished as the top placed young rider. [8]

In the Fall of 2005 Coleman began his college education at University of Virginia, leading to the sale of some of his top horses, leaving him with just a few young horses and Second Hope. At this time in his life he took a step back from completing to focus on his education. [6] During his time away from competing he continued to focus on his riding education, taking lessons from many world famous riders such as Gerd Reuter in dressage, and Anne Kursinski and Wiljan Laraakers in show jumping.

In 2012 Will places fourth on Twizzel [10] at Rolex Kentucky CCI4* [8] and earned a spot on the team US London Olympic team. [11] [12]

In 2021, Coleman won the CHIO Aachen Nations Cup aboard Off the Record. He became the first American event rider to win in Aachen.

Notable accolades [8]

CCI***** results

Results
Event Kentucky Badminton Luhmühlen Burghley Pau Adelaide
200326th (Fox In Flight)
200419th (A Second Hope NRW)
200516th (A Second Hope NRW)
2006-2008Did not participate
20095th (Twizzel)
2010Did not participate
2011EL (Twizzel)WD (Twizzel)
20125th (Twizzel)
2013-2014Did not participate
20156th (OBOS O'Reilly)
2016Did not participate
201734th (Tight Lines)RET (OBOS O'Reilly)12th (OBOS O'Reilly)
201812th (Tight Lines)RET (OBOS O'Reilly)
201913th (Tight Lines)25th (Tight Lines)
EL = Eliminated; RET = Retired; WD = Withdrew

International championship results

Results
YearEventHorsePlacingNotes
2012Olympic GamesTwizzel7thTeam
37thIndividual
2018World Equestrian GamesTight Lines8thTeam
66thIndividual
EL = Eliminated; RET = Retired; WD = Withdrew

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eventing</span> Equestrian triathlon

Eventing is an equestrian event where a single horse and rider combine and compete against other competitors across the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test that required mastery of several types of riding. The competition may be run as a one-day event (ODE), where all three events are completed in one day or a three-day event (3DE), which is more commonly now run over four days, with dressage on the first two days, followed by cross-country the next day and then show jumping in reverse order on the final day. Eventing was previously known as Combined Training, and the name persists in many smaller organizations. The term "Combined Training" is sometimes confused with the term "Combined Test", which refers to a combination of just two of the phases, most commonly dressage and show jumping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pippa Funnell</span> British equestrian

Philippa Rachel "Pippa" Funnell MBE is an equestrian sportswoman who competes in eventing. In 2003, she became the first person to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. She also won Badminton in 2002 and 2005. At the European Championships, she has won two Individual golds (1999–2001) and three team golds (1999–2003). She is a three-time Olympic medallist, winning team silver in 2000 and 2004, and an individual bronze in 2004. She also competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary King (equestrian)</span> British equestrian

Mary Elizabeth King is a British equestrian who competes in eventing. She has represented Great Britain at six Olympics from 1992 to 2012, winning team silver in 2004 and 2012, and team bronze in 2008. At the World Equestrian Games, she won team gold in 1994 and 2010, and team silver in 2006. She has also won four team golds and one team bronze medal at the European Eventing Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kentucky Three-Day Event</span> Eventing competition

The Kentucky Three-Day Event, currently the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event due to sponsorship, is an eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Land Rover Kentucky is a CCI5*-L eventing competition. Five stars is the highest level of competition in the sport, the same level of competition as Eventing at the Olympics and the World Equestrian Games. The event is sponsored by Land Rover. Prize money of $400,000 is distributed among the top placings with $110,000 as well as a Rolex watch awarded to the first place horse and rider.The winning rider also gets a 12-month lease of a Land Rover

David John O'Connor is a retired equestrian who represented the United States in the sport of three-day eventing. He competed in two Olympic Games, winning a team silver at the 1996 Summer Olympics and an individual gold and team bronze at the 2000 Summer Olympics. At the 1999 Pan American Games, O'Connor took an individual silver and team gold and at the 2002 World Equestrian Games he assisted the US team to gold. After his retirement from competition in 2004, he became involved in the administrative side of international eventing. O'Connor has held top coaching roles for the US and Canadian national eventing teams, and was president of the United States Equestrian Federation from 2004 to 2012. During his career, O'Connor and his horses were awarded many honors, including equestrian and horse of the year awards from several organizations. In 2009, he was inducted to the United States Eventing Association's Hall of Fame, and two of his horses have been granted the same honor. O'Connor is married to fellow international event rider Karen O'Connor, and the pair operate two equestrian training facilities in the eastern United States.

Winsome Andante was an English imported crossbred eventer who competed successfully to the highest levels of the sport of eventing. His rider, Kimberly Severson, rode him in many well-known events, and he won the Rolex CCI**** a record three times. He also competed at the Burghley Horse Trials, as well as in the Olympics and the World Equestrian Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Fox-Pitt</span> British equestrian

William Speed Lane Fox-Pitt is an English equestrian who competes in eventing. His career highlights include winning three Olympic medals in the team event, with silver in 2004 and 2012, and bronze in 2008. At the World Equestrian Games, he won team gold and individual silver in 2010, and team silver and individual bronze in 2014. He also won World team medals in 2002 and 2006. At the European Championships, he has won six team gold medals, as well as Individual silver in 1997 and 2005, and Individual bronze in 2013. He is the recordman CCI*****'s winner with 14 grand slam titles. In 2011, he became the first rider to win five different five-star events, having won the Burghley Horse Trials a record six times, Rolex Kentucky three times, Stars of Pau twice, the Badminton Horse Trials twice, and the Luhmühlen Horse Trials once (2008). A serious fall in 2015 left him in a coma for two weeks, but he came back to make the British eventing team and attend the 2016 Summer Olympics. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2018 Birthday Honours.

Charisma, nicknamed "Podge" and "Stroppy", was a horse ridden by New Zealander Mark Todd. Charisma won many competitions in the sport of eventing. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest event horses ever to have competed. He stood 15.3 hands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucinda Green</span> British equestrian

Lucinda Jane Green is a British equestrian and journalist who competed in eventing. She is the 1982 World Champion and twice European Champion (1975–77). She also won World team Gold (1982), three European team golds and an Olympic silver medal in the team event in 1984. Between 1973 and 1984, she won a record six times at the Badminton Horse Trials. She also won the Burghley Horse Trials in 1977 and 1981. In 2020, she launched The Lucinda Green XC Academy, an online membership for cross country riding.

JJ Babu was a Thoroughbred gelding that excelled in the sport of eventing, under American rider Bruce Davidson.

Custom Made was an Irish Sport Horse standing 17.1 hands who was ridden by American David O'Connor at the international level in the sport of eventing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karen O'Connor</span> American equestrian

Karen Lende O'Connor is an American equestrian who competes in three-day eventing. Although she did not come from a family of equestrians, her interest in horses started at an early age, and she received her first horse for her 11th birthday. O'Connor began competing internationally in the late 1970s, and in 1986 began riding for the US national eventing team. Since then, she had ridden in five Olympic Games, three World Equestrian Games and two Pan-American Games, winning multiple medals, including a team silver at the 1996 Olympic Games and a team bronze at the 2000 Olympic Games. She has also posted numerous wins and top-10 finishes at other international events. As of 2013, O'Connor is not competing, having suffered fractures to two thoracic vertebrae during a fall at a competition in October 2012.

Eagle Lion 1985-2013 was an event horse that has competed at the highest level of the sport with great success. He stood 16.1 hh (169 cm).

Windfall II is a Trakehner stallion that has competed internationally in the equestrian sport of eventing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucinda Fredericks</span> Australian equestrian

Lucinda Fredericks is an equestrian athlete who competes in eventing. Having formerly competed for Great Britain, she now represents Australia. Riding Headley Britannia, she has won three CCI 4* events; winning Burghley in 2006, Badminton in 2007 and Rolex Kentucky in 2009. She won an Olympic silver medal in the team event at Beijing 2008, and also competed at the 2012 London Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boyd Martin</span> American equestrian

Boyd Martin is an American equestrian competing in the discipline of eventing. He has participated in three consecutive Summer Olympic Games and is a two-time Pan American Games team gold medalist and individual gold medalist. Boyd and his wife Silva run their Windurra USA training operation out of Cochranville, Pa. He is a two-time CCI5*-L winner, most recently taking top honors aboard On Cue at the 2021 Maryland CCI5*-L, and previously rode True Blue Toozac to the win in the 2003 Adelaide CCI5*-L.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonelle Price</span> New Zealand equestrian

Jonelle Price is a New Zealand equestrian, competing in eventing. She is married to Tim Price, also a New Zealand eventing rider. They are both competing at top international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Jung (equestrian)</span> German equestrian (born 1982)

Michael Jung is a German equestrian who competes in eventing and show jumping. A three-time Olympic gold medallist, he won individual and team gold at the 2012 London Olympics, followed by individual gold and team silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He was inducted into the Eventing Rider Association Hall of Fame in 2013, and in 2016 he became only the second rider in history to win the Grand Slam of Eventing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denny Emerson</span> American equestrian

Denny Emerson is an American equestrian. He is the only equestrian to have won both an international gold medal in eventing and a Tevis Cup buckle in endurance. In 1972, Emerson was named United States Eventing Association's Rider of the Year. He was a member of the United States Three Day Eventing Team that won the gold medal at the 1974 Eventing World Championships. As of 2015, Emerson operates as a clinician and trainer. He is a regular contributor to The Chronicle of the Horse's "Between Rounds" column. He and his wife, May Emerson, run Tamarack Hill Farms in Strafford, Vermont and Southern Pines, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Didier Dhennin</span> French eventing rider

Didier Dhennin is a French Olympic eventing rider. He competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics where he placed 6th in individual and 11th in the team eventing.

References

  1. 1 2 Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Will Coleman". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  2. "William Coleman". London2012.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013.
  3. "William Coleman". BBC Sport. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  4. 1 2 "10 Questions with Will Coleman - Eventing Nation - Three-Day Eventing News, Results, Videos, and Commentary" . Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Will Coleman Equestrian". www.willcolemanequestrian.com. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "What Will Do….What's next for Will Coleman - Eventing Nation - Three-Day Eventing News, Results, Videos, and Commentary" . Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  7. "North American Junior & Young Rider Championships". United States Eventing Association, Inc. - US National Combined Training, Horse Trials: Dressage, Cross Country, Show Jumping. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 "Rider Profile". United States Eventing Association, Inc. - US National Combined Training, Horse Trials: Dressage, Cross Country, Show Jumping. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Podcast: 2014 USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Champions". United States Eventing Association, Inc. - US National Combined Training, Horse Trials: Dressage, Cross Country, Show Jumping. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  10. "Nine U.S. Riders Declare For Burghley CCI****". www.chronofhorse.com. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  11. "William Coleman & Twizzel". www.chronofhorse.com. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  12. 1 2 "Fox-Pitt Starts Off Strong At Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials". www.chronofhorse.com. Retrieved April 18, 2018.