Priceless (horse)
Encyclopedia
Priceless http://www.brendonhill-stallions.co.uk/images/pricelessolympics2.jpghttp://www.brendonhill-stallions.co.uk/images/pricelessolympics.jpghttp://www.brendonhill-stallions.co.uk/images/pricelessolympics3.jpg was a horse ridden by British rider Virginia Leng
. She competed the gelding in the sport of eventing
. Priceless won four team gold medals for Britain, as well as the Badminton Horse Trials
and Burghley Horse Trials
.
In every Three-day Event in which he competed, Priceless never had a cross-country penalty (a feat considered amazing by the eventing community), and did not have a stop the whole of his career. Priceless was excellent on cross-country, being fast, careful, and a fantastic jumper, with great form and scope. Perhaps this was the reason he was never out of the top twelve in any Three-Day event.
Priceless won eight medals at international championships: four team golds (1981 and 1985 European Championships
and the 1982 and 1986 World Championships
), one team silver (1984 Olympic Games
), two individual golds (1985 European Championships and 1986 World Championships) and one individual bronze (1984 Olympic Games). He is one of the rare horses to have held both European and World team and individual titles concurrently, in addition to Cornishman V and Toytown
. He is also the only horse to have won the Burghley Horse Trials
twice.
After his eventing career, Priceless fox hunted with his owners, before retiring on Leng's farm. He was euthanized at the age of 28.
"He's never stopped at a jump, which is quite remarkable. He's one of the all time greats." Richard Meade
"He's a bit of a legend. I'd read and heard a lot about him before I ever saw him but it wasn't until the team started training together for the 1984 Olympics that I realised quite how brilliant he was. In the flesh he looks like a very large pony, and when he wasn't fit you might have wondered if he'd be capable of Three-Day eventing. Once you study him in action though, he leaves you no doubt. Throughout the team training he stood out above the rest. He did everything that bit better. He excelled in everything he did, particularly when he had an audience. He always thought he was special and he was jolly well right." Ian Stark
"On the day of the cross-country at the Los Angeles Olympics, Ginny and Priceless set off early I wanted a shot of them jumping the Crescent Oxer which I knew could be spectacular if - as Dot had told me - they took the direct route through the centre. If they had decided to choose the easy way round the side I would have missed my picture altogether. It was a gamble, especially as no one before them took the central route and a lot of the riders seemed to be making heavy weather of the course. The gloomy predictions that no one would clear seemed to have a ring of truth. Then Priceless and Ginny appeared, heading straight for the centre of the oxer. It was the most enormous fence, but they just sailed over it. As they carried on round the course, I could hear the commentator saying. "Clear, clear, clear." and it was as if a cloud had lifted." Kit Houghton, Equestrian Photographer
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
Virginia Leng
Virginia Helen Antoinette Holgate, also known as Ginny Leng, was a British equestrian competitor who achieved many notable successes in the 1980s, including winning the Individual European Eventing title on 3 consecutive occasions, 1985, 1987 and 1989, a feat which has never been equalled before...
. She competed the gelding in the sport of eventing
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
. Priceless won four team gold medals for Britain, as well as the Badminton Horse Trials
Badminton Horse Trials
The Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only six annual Concours Complet International Four Star **** events as classified by the Fédération Équestre Internationale , which takes place in April or May each year in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort in...
and Burghley Horse Trials
Burghley Horse Trials
The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September...
.
- Color: BayBay (color)Bay is a hair coat color of horses, characterized by a reddish brown body color with a black mane, tail, ear edges, and lower legs. Bay is one of the most common coat colors in many horse breeds....
- Sex: GeldingGeldingA gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
- Breed: ThoroughbredThoroughbredThe Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
X - Breeding: by Ben FaerieBen FaerieBen Faerie is a stallion who has had a great influence on eventing horses in Great Britain. His descendants include Virginia Leng's mounts Priceless and Nightcap, and Pippa Funnell's mounts Primmore's Pride and Walk on Star.*Foaled: 1968...
- Breeder: Brendon Hill
- Owner/Rider: Ginny Holgate-Leng-ElliottVirginia LengVirginia Helen Antoinette Holgate, also known as Ginny Leng, was a British equestrian competitor who achieved many notable successes in the 1980s, including winning the Individual European Eventing title on 3 consecutive occasions, 1985, 1987 and 1989, a feat which has never been equalled before...
In every Three-day Event in which he competed, Priceless never had a cross-country penalty (a feat considered amazing by the eventing community), and did not have a stop the whole of his career. Priceless was excellent on cross-country, being fast, careful, and a fantastic jumper, with great form and scope. Perhaps this was the reason he was never out of the top twelve in any Three-Day event.
Priceless won eight medals at international championships: four team golds (1981 and 1985 European Championships
European Eventing Championship
The European Eventing Championship, like most other European Championships, is held every two years. Today it is a three star eventing competition....
and the 1982 and 1986 World Championships
Eventing World Championship
The Eventing World Championship, or the eventing competition in the World Equestrian Games , began in 1966. It includes both a team and individual competition for the best horses and riders in the sport of eventing...
), one team silver (1984 Olympic Games
Equestrian at the 1984 Summer Olympics
The Equestrian Events at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics included Show Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. All three disciplines had both individual and team competitions.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-References:*...
), two individual golds (1985 European Championships and 1986 World Championships) and one individual bronze (1984 Olympic Games). He is one of the rare horses to have held both European and World team and individual titles concurrently, in addition to Cornishman V and Toytown
Toytown (horse)
Toytown, a chestnut gelding born in 1992, standing at 17hh and with particularly distinctive markings including a white blaze and white spots, is a British event horse owned and ridden by Zara Phillips...
. He is also the only horse to have won the Burghley Horse Trials
Burghley Horse Trials
The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September...
twice.
After his eventing career, Priceless fox hunted with his owners, before retiring on Leng's farm. He was euthanized at the age of 28.
Quotes about Priceless
"Partnerships like that usually happen once in a lifetime." Lucinda GreenLucinda Green
Lucinda Green MBE is a champion British equestrian and journalist who before her marriage was Lucinda Jane Prior-Palmer.-Family:...
"He's never stopped at a jump, which is quite remarkable. He's one of the all time greats." Richard Meade
Richard Meade
Richard John Hannay Meade, OBE is a British equestrian expert and Olympic gold medal winning rider, tipped at one time to be the future husband of Princess Anne.In 1964, Meade won the Burghley Horse Trials on Barberry...
"He's a bit of a legend. I'd read and heard a lot about him before I ever saw him but it wasn't until the team started training together for the 1984 Olympics that I realised quite how brilliant he was. In the flesh he looks like a very large pony, and when he wasn't fit you might have wondered if he'd be capable of Three-Day eventing. Once you study him in action though, he leaves you no doubt. Throughout the team training he stood out above the rest. He did everything that bit better. He excelled in everything he did, particularly when he had an audience. He always thought he was special and he was jolly well right." Ian Stark
Ian Stark
Ian David Stark is a Scottish equestrian who competes in the sport of eventing. Stark was born in Galashiels in the Borders in 1954 and began riding horses at the age of 10....
"On the day of the cross-country at the Los Angeles Olympics, Ginny and Priceless set off early I wanted a shot of them jumping the Crescent Oxer which I knew could be spectacular if - as Dot had told me - they took the direct route through the centre. If they had decided to choose the easy way round the side I would have missed my picture altogether. It was a gamble, especially as no one before them took the central route and a lot of the riders seemed to be making heavy weather of the course. The gloomy predictions that no one would clear seemed to have a ring of truth. Then Priceless and Ginny appeared, heading straight for the centre of the oxer. It was the most enormous fence, but they just sailed over it. As they carried on round the course, I could hear the commentator saying. "Clear, clear, clear." and it was as if a cloud had lifted." Kit Houghton, Equestrian Photographer
Competition record
1986- 10th Thirlestane Castle Advanced
- 2nd Gatcombe Park Advanced
- Individual Gold, Team Gold World Championships at Gawler CCIO ***
1985
- Individual and Team Gold at the European Championships at BurghleyBurghley Horse TrialsThe Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September...
- 2nd Locko Park Advanced
- 4th Holker Hall Advanced
- 1st Badminton Horse TrialsBadminton Horse TrialsThe Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only six annual Concours Complet International Four Star **** events as classified by the Fédération Équestre Internationale , which takes place in April or May each year in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort in...
CCI**** - 1st Brigstock Advanced
- 2nd Rushall Advanced
1984
- Individual Bronze & Team Silver medals Los Angeles Games
- 9th Castle Ashby Advanced
- 2nd Tweseldown OI
- 1st Brigstock Advanced
1983
- 1st Burghley Horse TrialsBurghley Horse TrialsThe Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September...
- 4th Gatcomb Park Advanced
1982
- Team Gold, 7th Individually World Championship at Luhmuhlen CCIO ***
- 1st Locko Park Advanced
- 4th Badminton Horse TrialsBadminton Horse TrialsThe Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only six annual Concours Complet International Four Star **** events as classified by the Fédération Équestre Internationale , which takes place in April or May each year in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort in...
CCI **** - 1st Brigstock Advanced
- 3rd Frensham Advanced
1981
- 6th Individually, Team Gold European Championship at Horsens CCIO ***
- 1st Locko Park Advanced
- 4th Dauntsey Advanced
- 8th Badminton Horse TrialsBadminton Horse TrialsThe Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only six annual Concours Complet International Four Star **** events as classified by the Fédération Équestre Internationale , which takes place in April or May each year in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort in...
CCI **** - 3rd Brigstock Advanced
1980
- 6th Burghley Horse TrialsBurghley Horse TrialsThe Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September...