McKinlaigh (1994–2020) is an Irish Sport Horse who competes internationally 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 ...

for the United States. With rider

Gina Miles Gina Miles (born November 27, 1973) is an American eventing rider. Riding McKinlaigh, owned by Thom Schulz and Laura Coats, Miles won a silver medal in individual eventing at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Early life She was born November 27, 1 ...

, he won team gold in the 2007 Pan American Games, and individual silver in the 2008 Olympic Games.

Life and career

McKinlaigh was foaled in

County Carlow, Ireland County Carlow ( ; ga, Contae Cheatharlach) is a county located in the South-East Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. Carlow is the second smallest and the third least populous of Ireland's 32 traditional counties. Carlow ...

, in 1994. He is a liver chestnut Irish Sport Horse gelding sired by Highland King out of Kilcumney Hostess. He was bred by Yvonne Walsh. McKinlaigh stands . As a three-year-old McKinlaigh was sold to Chris Ryan, who trained him under saddle and competed him in his first event. McKinlaigh was later sold to the Schultz family. In 2000 McKinlaigh was imported to America and became the mount of eventer

, who was managing the Schultz's California ranch at the time. Competing for the United States, McKinlaigh and Miles placed in the top 25 at 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 ...

in Jerez, Spain. McKinlaigh also competed in the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event for the first time in 2002. In 2006, he was the United States Eventing Association's Horse of the Year. Miles and McKinlaigh were part of the gold medal-winning American team in the

2007 Pan American Games The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic C ...

, and won bronze individually. In 2008, Miles and McKinlaigh competed on the US Olympic team in the Beijing Olympics, winning silver individually; the American team did not medal due to many faults on the cross-country course. In 2015, McKinlaigh was inducted into the

United States Eventing Association The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is the organization responsible for organizing, promoting and adjudicating equestrian eventing in the United States. Formerly known as the United States Combined Training Association, the USEA is a 501(c ...

Hall of Fame for his notable career and Olympic accomplishment.

References

{{Reflist, 30em 1994 animal births 2020 animal deaths Horses in the Olympics Irish Sport Horses