Two young superstars are helping boost showjumping in the USA, bringing not just talent but a touch of Hollywood glamour to the sport.
Eighties icons
Jessica Springsteen and Hannah Selleck are ones to watch right now in showjumping, but did you know they are both daughters of famous 1980s icons?
Mention the name Springsteen and one name springs to mind, but despite being the daughter of one of the biggest rock stars in the world, Jessica is making her own name as a successful showjumper.
The 23-year-old won multiple national titles as a junior and young rider, and has continued to enjoy success as a senior, with help from her trainers Nick Skelton and Laura Kraut. One of her top horses is Peter Charles former Olympic partner Vindicat.
She helped the US team win the FEI Nations Cup in Dublinlast year jumping a double clear,won the American Gold Cup, and was one of 10 riders long-listed for the 2014 World Equestrian Games.
Her father Bruce often attends shows to watch his daughter compete.
Moustache
Another rider with a famous father is Hannah Selleck, daughter of ‘Mr Moustache’- aka actor Tom Selleck. Hannah was a team and individual gold medallist at Young Rider level and is now making her mark as a senior rider. In 2014 she came fifth in a major class at the Longines Los Angeles Masters with her talented mare Barla. The 26-year-old now has her sights on the Rio Olympics next year.
“Horses are a great leveller,” Hannah said. “As riders we know that you can be winning one day, and on the ground the next. Riders can have very long careers which last for many years. Some of the more mature riders are old enough to be my father, but I quite like the one I’ve got!”
New World Cup league
Both riders joined showjumping legend Beezie Madden to promote the new Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League, which kicks off in August.
The new format now incorporates the three biggest North American countries – USA, Canada, and Mexico – into one league. There are seven East and seven West Coast World Cup events, all at three-star level or above and offering a minimum of US $170,000 prize money.
The top seven athletes from the East Coast, top three from West Coast, and top two from Canada and Mexico, will qualify for next year’s final in Gothenburg, Sweden (23-28 March 2016).