November 3, 2022 
Each week on #HallOfFameThursday, Horse Network recognizes members of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame with an inductee’s plaque and historical photos. This week’s featured inductee is William Steinkraus, Class of 1987.
William Steinkraus rode for the USET for 22 years and captained the Team for 17 years.
He rode in five Olympic Games and his most notable win was the Individual Gold Medal aboard Snowbound at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, when he became the first American ever to win an individual equestrian gold medal. Steinkraus also shared two Olympic Team Silver Medals (1960 at Rome and 1972 at Munich) and the Team Bronze at Helsinki in 1952.
Steinkraus was a member of the Gold Medal Pan American Teams in 1959 at Chicago and in 1963 at Sao Paolo. Some of his winning mounts included Trader Bedford, Black Watch, Ping Pong, Democrat, Hollandia, Saxon Wood, Night Owl, Bold Minstrel, Riviera Wonder, Main Spring, Snowbound, and Ksar d’Esprit.
A meticulous rider who won both the Maclay and Good Hands finals in 1941, Steinkraus influenced today’s equitation styles and in 1961, he wrote Riding and Jumping. The book was translated into several languages and is still in print.
Steinkraus retired from international competition in 1972. He was elected President of the USET in 1973, and in 1983 became Chairman of the USET’s Board of Directors. He was also a director of the AHSA and National Horse Show, as well as a delegate to the FEI.
Steinkraus served as the expert equestrian television commentator for the Montreal and Los Angeles Olympics as well as three World Championships and four World Cup Finals.
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