Richard Spooner is an internationally successful equestrian

Equestrianism

Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...

. He competes in the sport of show jumping

Show jumping

Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...

 on the West Coast of the United States and in Europe. In June 2006 at Spruce Meadows

Spruce Meadows

Spruce Meadows is an equestrian facility in Calgary, Alberta built by the Southern Family and opened in 1976. The show jumping complex is in the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains just south of the city and comprises...

, he cleared the $1-million mark, the 10th rider to reach that milestone in the show's history.

In 2010 Spooner was featured in the television series A Rider's Story

A Rider's Story

A Rider's Story is a television program that airs on Horse Racing TV and on . Each show features the best riders from around the United States and tells their trials and triumphs from childhood to the present.-Production:...

along with fellow Grand Prix show jumper Ashlee Bond.

Winning Grand Prix Horses

• Robinson
  Robinson (horse)
  Robinson is a horse ridden by the American show jumper Richard Spooner.* Color: Fleabitten Gray* Sex: Gelding* Born: 1988 in Germany* Breed: Hanoverian* Breeding: by Raphael, out of Garina* Rider: Richard Spooner* Owner: HMB Enterprises...
  
  
• Kirk
• Cosino
• Incento
• Bradford
• Roxy Z
• Hilton Flight
  Hilton Flight
  Hilton Flight is a horse ridden in international show jumping by Richard Spooner.*Color: Bay*Markings: Star, near fore sock*Height: 17.0 hh *Sex: Gelding*Born: 1993 in Ireland*Breed: Irish Sport Horse...
  
  
• Southshore
• Quirino 3
• Millennium
• Ace
• Ezrah
• Pako
• Cristallo
• Apache
• Airtime
• Gerry the Grey
• Cordoba
• Live Fire
• Conquest de Paradiso

Major career wins and achievements

2005

Winner – (Quirino 3)
$50,000 HBO World Cup Grand Prix of Del Mar 1 October

Winner – (Ezrah)
$30,000 Ariat

Ariat

Ariat is an American manufacturer of riding boots and other equipment and apparel intended for equestrians. Founded by Beth Cross and Pam Parker, Ariat International, Inc. sought to provide engineered western style boots for riding, work, and casual wear...

Grand Prix 4 February

Winner – (Hilton Flight)
$75,000 WCQ Grand Prix 6 February

Winner – (Quirino 3 and Millennium Tied)
$30,000 Ariat

Ariat

Ariat is an American manufacturer of riding boots and other equipment and apparel intended for equestrians. Founded by Beth Cross and Pam Parker, Ariat International, Inc. sought to provide engineered western style boots for riding, work, and casual wear...

Grand Prix 13 February

Winner – (Ezrah)
$30,000 Ariat

Ariat

Ariat is an American manufacturer of riding boots and other equipment and apparel intended for equestrians. Founded by Beth Cross and Pam Parker, Ariat International, Inc. sought to provide engineered western style boots for riding, work, and casual wear...

 Grand Prix March 11

Winner - (Ezrah)
$150,000 Ford World Cup Grand Prix March 13

Winner – (Robinson)
$25,000 Spring Classic I San Juan Capistrano, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 April 3

Winner – (Millennium)
$35,000 Spring Classic III San Juan Capistrano, California April 16

Winner – (Richard Spooner)
Pacific Coast Rider of the Year

2004

Winner - (Bradford, 2nd on Hilton Flight, and 3rd on Robinson)
$50,000 EMO Grand Prix 1 February

Winner – (Robinson)
$25,000 Ariat

Ariat

Ariat is an American manufacturer of riding boots and other equipment and apparel intended for equestrians. Founded by Beth Cross and Pam Parker, Ariat International, Inc. sought to provide engineered western style boots for riding, work, and casual wear...

Grand Prix 13 February

Winner – (Robinson)
$25,000 Ariat

Ariat

Ariat is an American manufacturer of riding boots and other equipment and apparel intended for equestrians. Founded by Beth Cross and Pam Parker, Ariat International, Inc. sought to provide engineered western style boots for riding, work, and casual wear...

Grand Prix March 5

Winner - (Hilton Flight)
$150,000 Ford World Cup Grand Prix March 14

Winner - (Robinson)
Round 1 OLYMPIC TRIALS May 14

Winner - (Hilton Flight)
Round 1 OLYMPIC TRIALS May 14

Winner - (Robinson)
Round 6 OLYMPIC TRIALS May 23

Winner – (Bradford and 2nd on Sunrise)
$30,000 Ford Motor Company U.S Jumping Derby August 24

Winner – (Hilton Flight)
$40,000 Showpark Grand Prix 3 September

Winner – (Hilton Flight)
$40,000 Los Angeles International Grand Prix 25 September

Silver Medal Winner - (Robinson)
Nations Cup, Spruce Meadows Masters

Winner – (Richard Spooner)
Pacific Coast Rider of the Year

Winner - (Hilton Flight)
PCHA Horse of the Year

2003

Winner – (Robinson)
$25,000 Ariat

Ariat

Ariat is an American manufacturer of riding boots and other equipment and apparel intended for equestrians. Founded by Beth Cross and Pam Parker, Ariat International, Inc. sought to provide engineered western style boots for riding, work, and casual wear...

 Grand Prix 7 February

Winner – (Robinson)
$75,000 Bayer/USET WCQ Grand Prix 9 February

Winner – (Robinson)
$25,000 Ariat

Ariat

Ariat is an American manufacturer of riding boots and other equipment and apparel intended for equestrians. Founded by Beth Cross and Pam Parker, Ariat International, Inc. sought to provide engineered western style boots for riding, work, and casual wear...

 Grand Prix, Indio, California

Indio, California

Indio is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California's Colorado Desert region. It lies east of Palm Springs, east of Riverside, and east of Los Angeles. It is about north of Mexicali, Baja California on the U.S.-Mexican border...

Winner – (Robinson)
$50,000 Kings Shavings Grand Prix, Indio, California

Winner – (Robinson)
$35,000 San Juan Capistrano Grand Prix, California

Winner – (Bradford)
$30,000 Oaks Grand Prix, San Juan Capistrano, California

Winner – (Robinson)
$50,000 Grand Prix of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

Winner – (Robinson)
$25,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar, California

Del Mar, California

Del Mar is an upscale beach town in San Diego County, California. The population was 4,161 at the 2010 census, down from 4,389 at the 2000 census. The San Diego County Fair is hosted on the Del Mar Fairgrounds every summer. Del Mar is Spanish for "of the sea" or "by the sea", because it is located...

Winner – (Hilton Flight)
$40,000 Esso Imperial Oil Grand Prix, Spruce Meadows, Canada

Winner – (Bradford)
$40,000 Ford Motor Company U.S. Jumping Derby

Winner – (Bradford)
$40,000 Grand Prix of Showpark

Winner – (Hilton Flight)
$75,000 BP Cup, Spruce Meadows, Canada

Winner – (Quirino 3)
$25,000 Oaks Blenheim Grand Prix

Winner – (Robinson)
$35,000 Grand Prix of Los Angeles

Los Ángeles

Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...

Winner – (Richard Spooner)
Pacific Coast Rider of the Year

Winner - (Robinson)
PCHA Horse of the Year

2002

Winner - (Incento)
$50,000 EMO Grand Prix January 30

Winner – (Robinson)
$50,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix Lexington

Lexington, Kentucky

Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...

, Kentucky

Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...

Winner – (Robinson)
$35,000 Oaks Classic Grand Prix

Winner - (Incento)
$30,000 Oaks Summer Classic Grand Prix

Winner - (Incento)
$30,000 La Farge Cup Spruce Meadows, Canada

Winner – (Robinson)
$200,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup Spruce Meadows, Canada

Winner – (Robinson)
$175,000 Chrysler Classic Spruce Meadows, Canada

Winner – (Hilton Flight)
$40,000 U.S. Jumping Derby

Winner – (Roxy Z)
$25,000 World Cup Grand Prix of San Juan Capistrano

Winner – (Richard Spooner)
North American Champion (2002)

Winner – (Richard Spooner)
Pacific Coast Rider of the Year

2001

Winner - (Robinson)
$25,000 Ariat

Ariat

Ariat is an American manufacturer of riding boots and other equipment and apparel intended for equestrians. Founded by Beth Cross and Pam Parker, Ariat International, Inc. sought to provide engineered western style boots for riding, work, and casual wear...

 Grand Prix January 28

Winner - (Southshore)
$50,000 EMO Grand Prix January 30

Winner - (Bradford)
$25,000 Ariat

Ariat

Ariat is an American manufacturer of riding boots and other equipment and apparel intended for equestrians. Founded by Beth Cross and Pam Parker, Ariat International, Inc. sought to provide engineered western style boots for riding, work, and casual wear...

 Grand Prix February 4

Winner - (Robinson)
$25,000 Ariat

Ariat

Ariat is an American manufacturer of riding boots and other equipment and apparel intended for equestrians. Founded by Beth Cross and Pam Parker, Ariat International, Inc. sought to provide engineered western style boots for riding, work, and casual wear...

 Grand Prix March 2

Winner - (Robinson)
$25,000 Ariat

Ariat

Ariat is an American manufacturer of riding boots and other equipment and apparel intended for equestrians. Founded by Beth Cross and Pam Parker, Ariat International, Inc. sought to provide engineered western style boots for riding, work, and casual wear...

 Grand Prix March 9

Winner - (Southshore)
$150,000 Ford World Cup Grand Prix March 11

Winner - (Robinson)
$35,000 Lexus of Glendale Grand Prix May 28

Winner - (Incento)
$25,000 Oaks Blenheim Classic Grand Prix June 8

Winner - (Robinson)
$100,000 Grand Prix of Tahoe July 22

Winner - (Richard Spooner)
P.C.H.A Grand Prix Rider of the Year

Winner – (Richard Spooner)
United States Grand Prix Rider of the Year

Winner - (Robinson)
PCHA Horse of the Year

2000

Winner - (Southshore)
$50,000 Rio Vista Grand Prix

Winner - (Robinson)
$150,000 Ford Grand Prix

Winner - (Southshore)
$50,000 Oaks Classic Grand Prix

Winner - (Southshore)
$30,000 Spruce Meadows Grand Prix

Winner - (Incento)
Round 3 OLYMPIC TRIALS

Winner - (Kirk)
$25,000 Treatwells Summer Classic

Winner - (Robinson)
$100,000 Lake Tahoe Cosequine Grand Prix

Winner - (Kirk)
$25,000 Waterfront Hilton Grand Prix

Winner - (Southshore)
$35,000 Oaks International Grand Prix

Winner - (Richard Spooner)
P.C.H.A Grand Prix Rider of the Year

1999

Winner - (Kirk)
$25,000 Cosequin Grand Prix

Winner - (Robinson)
$50,000 World Cup Grand Prix Indio

Winner - (Robinson)
$150,000 Finova Grand Prix Indio

Winner - (Robinson)
$45,000 Grand Prix of California

Winner - (Robinson)
$40,000 Pedigree Grand Prix Los Angeles

Winner - (Kirk)
450,000 SEK Grand Prix Bratislava

Bratislava

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...

, Slovakia

Slovakia

The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...

Silver Medal Winner - (Kirk)
Nations Cup, Bratislava, Slovakia

Winner - (Southshore)
$25,000 Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort Grand Prix

Winner - (Southshore)
$45,000 Cosequin Grand Prix of Showpark

Winner - (Southshore)
$50,000 Oaks International Grand Prix

Winner - (Robinson)
PCHA Horse of the Year two years in a row

Winner - (Richard Spooner)
PCHA Rider of the Year four years in a row

1998

Winner - (Cosino)
Grand Prix of Indio

4th Place - (Cosino)
Volvo World Cup Finals - Helsinki

Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...

, Finland

Finland

Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

Winner - (Robinson)
Grand Prix “The Oaks”

Winner - (Robinson)
$40,000 US Jumping Derby

Winner - (Robinson)
Grand Prix $50,000 “The Oaks International”

Winner - (Kirk)
Grand Prix $35,000 LA International

Winner - (Robinson)
Grand Prix $40,000 LA National

Winner - (Richard Spooner)
P.C.H.A Grand Prix Rider of the Year

Winner - (Robinson)
P.C.H.A Grand Prix Horse of the Year

Winner - (Richard Spooner)
AGA West Coast Rider of the Year

• Voted as one of the top 20 riders in the world by L’ANNEE HIPPIQUE

1997

Winner - (Robinson)
Cosequin Grand Prix of Indio

Winner - (Kirk)
$150,000.00 Grand Prix of Indio

Winner - (Kirk)
Grand Prix, San Juan Capistrano

Gold Medal Winner - (Robinson)
Nations Cup, - Falsterbo

Falsterbo

Falsterbo is a town located at the south-western tip of Sweden in Vellinge Municipality in Skåne County. Falsterbo is situated in the southern part of the Falsterbo peninsula. It is part of Skanör med Falsterbo, one of Sweden's historical cities.-History:...

, Sweden

Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

Winner - (Robinson)
Grand Prix Ball of Fire, -Falsterbo, Sweden

Silver Medal Winner - (Robinson)
Nations Cup, - Gijon

Gijón

Gijón , officially Gijón / Xixón, is a coastal industrial city and a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias in Spain. Early mediaeval texts mention it as "Gigia". It was an important regional Roman city, although the area has been settled since earliest history...

, Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

Winner - (Kirk)
Lala Cup, - Monterey

Monterrey

Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...

, Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

Winner - (Kirk)
P.C.H.S.A. Grand Prix Horse of the Year

Winner - (Richard Spooner)
P.C.H.S.A. Grand Prix Rider of the Year

1996

Winner - (Kirk)
Grand Prix, San Juan Capistrano

Winner - (Kirk)
Grand Prix “The Oaks”

Winner - (Robinson)
Grand Prix, Pebble Beach

Winner - (Robinson)
Grand Prix, “The Oaks International

Winner - (Robinson)
Grand Prix, Cow Palace

Winner - (Kirk)
California Horse of the Year

California Horse of the Year

The California Horse of the Year is an American horse racing honor awarded annually since 1973 by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association to a Thoroughbred racehorse bred in the state of California.-Winners:...

Winner - (Richard Spooner)
P.C.H.A. Grand Prix Rider of the Year

1990-1995

Winner of hundreds of national jumper classes and jumper
Championships

1989

Worked for George Morris

George Morris

George Morris may refer to:*George H. Morris, American hunter/jumper trainer* George Franklin Morris , U.S. federal judge*Sir George Lockwood Morris, ironfounder and Wales international rugby player...

 and later went on to work for Ian Millar

Ian Millar

Ian Millar, CM is a Canadian show jumping world champion and Olympic silver medalist. Due to his longevity and accomplishments, he is often nicknamed "Captain Canada" in his sport. He is tied with Austrian sailor Hubert Raudaschl for most Olympic appearances .-Biography:Millar was born in Halifax,...

.

1988

Winner - United States Equestrian Team

United States Equestrian Team

The United States Equestrian Team, or USET, was founded in 1950 at the Coates estate on van Beuren Road in Morristown, New Jersey, and is the international equestrian team for the United States...

Equitation Finals

Winner - Bronze and Silver Medals from the USET for winning over
Twelve medal classes throughout 1998

Reserve Champion American Horse Show Association Equitation Finals

Reserve Champion ASPCA National Equitation Championships

Voted Best Junior Rider in the Nation (Horses Magazine)

1987

Qualified for all major Equitation Finals

Ninth Place American Horse Show Association Equitation Finals

1986

Winner - (Reserve Bid)
Los Angeles Horse Show Association Equitation Finals

External links

• Richard Spooner website