Giltedge was a Irish Sport Horse that was ridden by American David O'Connor at the international level in the sport of

eventing Eventing (also known as three day eventing or horse trials) is an equestrian event where a single horse and rider combine and compete against other competitors across the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This ...

. Giltedge, formally known as Giltex, was bought by Jackie Mars from Irish eventer Eric Smiley as a mount for American rider David O'Connor. Although described by his rider as being less inherently gifted when compared to some of his stable mates (such as

Custom Made Custom, customary, or consuetudinary may refer to: Traditions, laws, and religion * Convention (norm), a set of agreed, stipulated or generally accepted rules, norms, standards or criteria, often taking the form of a custom * Norm (social), a r ...

), Giltedge's work ethic helped him to succeed. Giltedge's first three-day in the United States was the 1994 Fair Hill. The event ended in disaster when a misjudged take-off distance from the obstacle resulted in a fall for O'Connor. During the pair's second three-day, the gelding caught his leg on a fence and flipped, leading to a punctured lung for his rider. It wasn't until their third three-day, at the 1995 Fair Hill, where Giltedge showed his ability, finishing second by 0.1 penalties. After that event, the horse would never be out of the top ten placings. Giltedge was selected for the United States eventing team for the

1996 Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...

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. A good dressage test combined with a clean cross-country and stadium round, helped the team to clinch the silver medal by two penalties—the country's first eventing team medal in an Olympics or World Championship in 12 years. Giltedge also competed four years later at the

2000 Sydney Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from ...

, as part of the bronze medal team. Giltedge's final three-day was the 2002

World Equestrian Games The FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for equestrianism, and are administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). The games have been held every four years, halfway between sets of consecutive S ...

held in Jerez,

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

. The gelding was the first American horse on cross-country, and the course was found to be quite slick. A lack of traction due to studs that were too small, resulted in O'Conner's decision to slow down, so as to prevent a fall. Unfortunately, the pair finished with 30.40 time faults. However, a clear stadium round, one of only 5 in the competition, helped the United States capture a long-awaited team gold. Giltedge was retired at the

Rolex Kentucky Three Day The Kentucky Three-Day Event, currently the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event due to sponsorship, is an eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Land Rover Kentucky is a CCI5*-L eventing competition. Five s ...

in 2003. He enjoyed his retirement at Stonehall Farm, and gave demonstrations with the O'Connors.

Major Accomplishments

2002 * Horse of the Year,

Chronicle of the Horse ''The Chronicle of the Horse'' is an American weekly equestrian magazine.Mary Fishback, ''Northern Virginia's Equestrian Heritage'', Arcadia Publishing, 200/ref> It covers dressage, hunters and jumpers, eventing, foxhunting and steeplechase racin ...

* Team Gold,

, Jerez, Spain 2001 * National Performance Horse Registry Silver Stirrup Award, Adv. Level Eventing Champion * 1st Rolex Kentucky CCI**** 2000 * Team Bronze Olympic Games,

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* 8th Foxhall CCI*** 1999 * Team Gold, Individual Silver Pan American Games,

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749 ...

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* 1st North American Beaulieu CIC*** 1998 * Team Bronze, 6th World Equestrian Games, Rome, Italy 1997 * National Performance Horse Registry Silver Stirrup Award, High Score Horse * 1st, Fair Hill CCI*** * 3rd, Punchestwon CCI*** 1996 * Team Silver Olympic Games, Atlanta, Georgia 1995 * 1st Fair Hill CCI***

References

External links

Giltedge's pedigree

Photo of Giltedge
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070318184228/http://www.galesequinefacility.com/EA%20O%27Connor%20Clinic.jpg , date=2007-03-18 Eventing horses Horses in the Olympics Horses in the Pan American Games 1986 animal births 2015 animal deaths