August 18, 2022 
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 historic article about a Show Jumping Hall of Famer. This week features 2017 inductee Hunter Harrison.
Hunter Harrison was a prominent and influential figure in the world of international show jumping. He was extraordinarily dedicated to the sport as a sponsor, owner, business advisor and avid supporter for many years.
Harrison supported some of the sport’s top riders and his Double H Farm has owned and produced some of the best horses in the sport.
One of the most highly regarded executives in railway history, Harrison brought support of companies he led to the sport as some of show jumping’s most important sponsors. Under his leadership, railway giants CN and CP have provided support to major events like the Spruce Meadows Masters, National Horse Show, World Cup Finals, North American Junior and Young Riders Championships, Winter Equestrian Festival and Palm Beach Masters. Harrison also provided personal support and gave of his time to help lead events such as the National Horse Show (which he served as Chairman of the Board), Spruce Meadows Masters, American Gold Cup, Global Champions Tour and Winter Equestrian Festival.
Harrison also played a major role as a horse owner and supporter of top riders. In addition to his daughter Cayce, who won the individual Gold medal at the North American Junior and Young Riders Championships in 2002, he supported McLain Ward, who won Olympic Gold and Silver medals and the 2017 FEI World Cup™ Final with HH horses; international stars Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil and Daniel Duesser of Germany; and Cayce’s husband, Quentin Judge, who has also achieved international success for the U.S.
Some of Double H’s top horses include the famed chestnut mare Sapphire who won Olympic team Gold medals with McLain Ward riding at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Hong Kong Olympic Games, and HH Azur, with whom Ward won team Silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics as well as topping the 2017 FEI World Cup™ Final in Omaha. Other Double H horses shown successfully by Ward include HH Carlos Z, HH Callas, HH Ashley and HH Gigi’s Girl.
HH horses also carried Pessoa to great success including HH Rebozo, whom he rode in the 2012 London Olympics and 2010 World Equestrian Games, and HH Rufus, whom he rode in the 2008 Olympics and 2007 Pan American Games where he won team Gold and individual Silver medals. Judge’s top HH horses have included HH Dark de la Hart, on whom Judge won the Spruce Meadows Derby CSI5* in 2014, HH Copin van de Broy, with whom he helped the US win the CSIO5* Nations Cup of Gijon, Spain in 2014, HH Conrad, HH Quatour and HH Whiskey Royale.
Harrison was regarded as kind and gracious, and he loved giving back. He helped create CP’s charity initiative, “CP Has Heart,” a community investment program focused on improving the heart health of men, women, and children across North America. Under his leadership, the organization has raised over $10 million in donations over the years. Harrison’s life has been memorialized in a book published in 2018.
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.
