Each week on #HallOfFameThursday, Horse Network recognizes members of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame with an inductee’s plaque, historical photos and, on the first Thursday of every month, an article written by a Show Jumping Hall of Famer. This week, we recognize Bold Minstrel, Show Jumping Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

Bold Minstrel is the only horse in U.S. history to win medals at the Pan American Games in two different disciplines. The king of versatility, the 16.3-hand stunning grey Thoroughbred-cross was supremely talented and bold and he achieved amazing success in both eventing and show jumping in addition to excelling in the hunter ring.

Affectionately known as “Fatty” because he was an easy keeper, Bold Minstrel was bred in 1952 by Oliver DeGray Vanderbilt, the Master of Foxhounds of the Camargo Hunt in Ohio. William “Billy” Haggard III, a master of several disciplines himself, acquired Bold Minstrel as a five-year-old and started the horse’s career in foxhunting, hunters and eventing.

With a quick rise through the eventing ranks, Haggard and Bold Minstrel were chosen for the U.S. team for the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago where they helped the U.S. win the team Silver Medal and also finished ninth individually. Haggard and Bold Minstrel again represented the U.S. in eventing at the 1963 Pan American Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where they helped the U.S. win the team Gold Medal while placing sixth individually.

The pair was chosen as alternate for the U.S. eventing team for the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. When Mike Plumb’s horse was lost, Haggard generously loaned Bold Minstrel to the team for Plumb to ride and he flew over to Tokyo with him. Although Plumb and Bold Minstrel had only two weeks to get to know each other, the pair put in a superb performance to help the U.S. win the team Silver Medal and also finish 15th individually.

Bill Steinkraus, a good friend of Haggard’s who had strongly encouraged him to buy Bold Minstrel initially, pleaded with Haggard for years to let him compete him as a jumper. Haggard eventually gave in and Steinkraus took over the ride.

From 1966–1970, Steinkraus and Bold Minstrel were a force both nationally and internationally. They were part of winning Nations Cup teams at the National Horse Show in New York (1966, 1968, 1969) and at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg (1969). They won international classes at the Penn National (1967, 1969), National Horse Show (1967, 1969, 1970), Cologne, Germany (1967) and three classes in Lucerne, Switzerland (1970) when Bold Minstrel was 18 years old.

Bold Minstrel was well known for his limitless scope and excelled in Puissance classes. He and Steinkraus topped the class at the Pennsylvania National in 1967, and broke the record at the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden by clearing the wall at 7’3″. A statue commemorating this great accomplishment stands at the Carolina Horse Park. Bold Minstrel, who among other titles, won the Working Hunter and Conformation Hunter Championships at the National Horse Show, has been inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall Of Fame.

The Show Jumping Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit charity that relies solely on contributions to operate. If you liked this story, please consider supporting its efforts to preserve our sport’s history. Donations can be made online at www.ShowJumpingHallofFame.net.