Beezie Madden and Authentic Are Jumping For Another Olympic Gold

July 10, 2008

Already Olympic gold members, show jumper Beezie Madden and her horse Authentic are headed to Hong Kong for their second consecutive Olympic games. Their two clear rounds in Athens in 2004 helped rocket the US Olympic Show Jumping team to a gold medal. Now they’re back again, and jumping just as strong as ever.

Perfect Match

After wrapping up the Olympic trials in Europe, Beezie and her 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding claimed the top spot on the US show jumping team. A true superstar pairing, Beezie calls Authentic her very own “once in a lifetime horse.” She first met his when he was 4-years-old, and got ownership when he was 7. Authentic was originally owned by Elizabeth Busche Burke of the Anheiser Busch family. He’s affectionately known as “Bud” at home.

Growing Up With Horses

With parents who owned show horses, Beezie first climbed into a saddle at the tender age of 3, and got her first pony at 6. During her junior year of high school she juggled classwork and competing on the Florida show jumping circuit. After graduating as valedictorian from Southern Seminary, a junior college in Virginia, Beezie turned her life over to horses.

She met John Madden (brother of top equitation coach Frank Madden) in 1987 at a horse show. John was intrigued by her and approached her about coming to work for him. 11 years later they were married and running the business together; she rides and teaches and he trains and handles the operations.

Beezie Madden’s Show Jumping Career

Beezie made her Grand Prix debut in 1989 and just four years later was named United States Olympic Committee’s Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year. This prestigious honor was well-earned after Beezie led the USET to back-to-back Nations’ Cup wins at the Washington International Horse Show and at the National Horse Show, and by winning the American Gold Cup, the Grand Prix of Rochester, the Grand Prix de Penn National at Harrisburg and the Grandprix of New York at the National Horse Show in one year.

Two of her highest achievements are becoming the first woman and US rider to reach the Top Three in the Show Jumping World Ranking List (2004) and becoming the first woman to win over $1 million in show jumping earnings.

Beezie has anchored the USET in international competition over the last few years. She led the US to a decisive win in the 2005 Samsung Super League, and won the $1 million CN International at Spruce Meadows on Judgement andthe $200,000 American Invitational in Tampa, FL on Authentic. She and Authentic also had double clear rounds at the 2004 Olympics, contributing to the US team gold. At the 2006 World Equestrian Games, Beezie and Authentic had just one rail down, but won the individual silver medal and helped the USET to win a silver team medal.

Beezie is the first two-time winner of the prestigious USET Foundation Whitney Stone Cup, awarded for a distinguished record in international competition while also serving as an ambassador for equestrian sports.

Additional Tidbits

• Born: November 20, 1963
• Hometown: Mequon, WI
• Residence: Cazennovia, NY
• Olympics: 2004
• Events: Show Jumping

Beezie and husband John sponsor the Syracuse Sporthorse Invitational benefit, which also includes the Animal Planet cup.

Beezie and Authentic Compete at Tampa in April, 2008

Posted in 2008 Olympics, Show Jumping