McLain Ward Returns To WEF With His Eyes On Rio

By Julie Unger

Show jumping star McLain Ward entered the 2016 season with a singular purpose in mind. “There’s one goal: to win two gold medals in Rio,” the three-time Olympian said. “There are some steps along the way, but that’s the only goal on the radar.”

For most, the goal of winning individual and team gold medals would be a lofty one. For Ward, with an FEI Longines top 10 ranking as of December 2015, holding eighth place with only one American ranked higher, the odds of achieving his goal are good. In fact, they’re really good.

Ward has reached the sweet spot in his career, which has spanned decades. It has brought him numerous accolades, including everything from being the youngest rider to win the U.S. Equestrian Team Medal Finals and the United States Equestrian Federation Show Jumping Talent Derby (at age 14) to being the youngest rider, in 1999, after winning 13 Grand Prix victories, to pass the $1 million Grand Prix winning mark, to competing in 14 FEI World Cup Finals and more recent achievements, such as more than 20 first-place wins in 2015 alone.

His success at the moment is due not only to his innate talent, but also the combination of the right horse, the right rider and the right support team is in place.

Riding comes as naturally as breathing for the “almost third generation in horse sports” rider, whose father was a successful Grand Prix rider, and whose mother rode hunters and trained.

“It was kind of in the DNA. I was brought up in the environment of the farm,” he said. “It was the natural course.”

Ward had the opportunity, the ability, the raw talent and the passion.

“I guess it’s the only thing I’ve ever known, and it has been a wonderful life,” he said. “Horses have given a lot, and the people in the community have given a lot. It’s a blessed story.”

Each year, as he has for the past three decades, Ward travels from his home in New York to compete in Wellington at the world-famous Winter Equestrian Festival.

“We’ll use the events here at WEF to build up through the spring. These are obviously important events in themselves, and this is a great facility,” he said of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

The path to reaching the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Ward explained, starts with working backward and planning, having the horse priming at the right time, and everyone staying healthy.

In 2015, Ward met his goals, bringing him closer and closer to achieving his overarching 2016 goal.

“Winning the Pan Am Games was a huge goal,” he said. “Rothchild has been a huge partner of mine for a number of years. We’re coming into our ninth season this year, so we’re really proud to be able to do that and represent the country.”

Rothchild wasn’t the only mount to reach victory with Ward of late. HH Carlos Z, HH Ashley, HH Best Buy, Azibantos, Bueno, Adele and, last but not least, HH Azur, all have taken their turns receiving ribbons and placing.

“We also had a very successful year in the Grand Prix. We won a number of big ones and brought along HH Azure, the horse that we’re aiming toward Rio,” Ward said. “I think is a very exciting time in my career.”

HH Azur, a stunning chestnut Belgian Warmblood bay mare with a bright white blaze, hasn’t been selected by chance. There’s something extra special about her.

“She has more talent — that’s a combination of a lot of things, obviously — than just about anything that I’ve ever been around,” Ward said. “I think she’s uniquely special, and we’ll try to keep her healthy, fit and work backward from Rio.”

The two, HH Azure and Ward, took first place at the $50,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix, the Hampton Classic CSI 4*, the $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the Spruce Meadows CSI 5* and the $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix in 2015, along with second place at the $100,000 Suncast 1.50m Final Winter Equestrian Festival CSI 5* and third at the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix Old Salem.

Being great isn’t everything, though, when the goal is the Olympics.

“It takes an incredible amount of things. A brilliant, exceptional horse — which I’ve been lucky enough to have a few times in my career — but in particular, I think in this moment, a great team, not only of myself and my wife, but also the owners, the grooms, the manager, the blacksmith, vets, everybody. It takes an army to do this,” Ward said. “Really, this has been their life’s work. We really have a moment that’s come together here that’s something really special. If we all live up to what we’re supposed to be, we can all pull it off.”

Riding and competing are a lifelong passion for Ward, who competes in a sport where riders have just 15 minutes to walk a pattern before taking their turn at the gate. It takes work, practice and effort.

“Horse sports, at the highest level now, is the same as managing any other sports team,” Ward explained. “You can’t send the same pitcher to the mound every night. It’s no different in our sport. We’re lucky enough to have great support with owners, so we have several mounts that can compete at the highest level. We alternate them. We plan their year out pretty well in advance. We try to pick horses to use in particular venues that suite their strengths.”

For what would be Ward’s fourth Olympic Games — he competed in 2004 and 2008 with mount Sapphire winning the team gold medal, and in 2012 with Antares F, the timing is perfect. The stage has been set.

“The Olympics is specialized and high-level,” Ward said. “In the United States, where the sport is really strong, you have to have a really phenomenal horse to make the team. If you’re realistically thinking of winning a medal, it has to be a super horse.”

The learn more about McLain Ward, visit www.mclainward.com.