Ballincoola, winner of the 2005 Burghley CCI**** (England) with William Fox-Pitt, died of cardiac arrest on Sept. 22 at a British show jumping competition. He was 16.
“Max” earned 1,637 British Eventing points and completed 15 three-day events, five of which were long format and nine of which were four-stars. He earned British Eventing’s Horse of the Year award in 2008.
Ballincoola’s many top four-star placings with Fox-Pitt included a second-placed finish at the 2008 Burghley CCI****, third at Badminton CCI**** (England) in 2008 and fourth at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (Ky.) in 2004.
He was known as “Mr. Consistency,” incurring only one cross-country refusal at the four-star level at Burghley in 2004. “I got it wrong at a fence, and he quite rightly chose to save my skin,” Fox-Pitt said.
Fox-Pitt found the Irish-bred gelding by Highland King in Andrew Hazeltine’s yard in 2002 for Judy Skinner and Michael Payne. He won his first three-day at Burgie CCI** (England) in 2002.
“I can’t remember how many horses I had been involved with over many years, but for whatever reason they all fell by the wayside. Max was the first to get to the top – in 2002 just completing the two-star at Burgie would have been a good result. He restored my faith in why I own event horses,” Skinner said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Since finishing second at Burghley in 2008, he had been competed by Fergus Payne, Michael Payne’s son and Skinner’s grandson, to the three-star level. Fox-Pitt said at the time, “It was partly my idea for Fergus to take the ride, although a part of me thinks I might regret it now—but if Fergus was my son or grandson I’d want him to have a horse like Ballincoola.”
Fergus and Max won their first outing together and finished eighth at Burgie CCI** (England) in 2009.
“I just look at what Max has done for my family. It’s been a joy both to witness his great results and watch Fergus complete both his first two- and three-star competitions. Unfortunately Hector [second son], who had just taken on the ride, never got to benefit from Max’s experience,” said Michael.
“He was my horse of a lifetime. My only sadness is that despite being reserve three times he never made the British team and therefore perhaps hasn’t had the credit he deserved,” said Skinner.
Ballincoola has been buried on the Payne family farm.
