It’s not exactly a new experience for seven-time Olympian Phillip Dutton to win an upper-level event, but the CCI4*-S at TerraNova—which served as the third qualifier in the inaugural year of the US Equestrian Open series—was a big day, even for him. Dutton won with Azure, and he also took second on Quasi Cool, giving him an early lead in the series, which builds toward a fall 2025 final offering $250,000 in total prize money. 

The 1-2 finish was good affirmation for Dutton that he’s on the right path with his current crop of top horses. Azure, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Omar—Cavalier Roselier, Cavalier Royal) owned by Caroline, Anne and Michael Moran, completed her first CCI5*-L this season at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, having won the CCI4*-L at Bromont in July 2023. Caroline Moran’s 13-year-old Holsteiner Quasi Cool (Quo Vados—B-Estelle, Lord) has two wins at the four-star level, but fell on cross-country at Kentucky earlier this year in his first five-star attempt. 

Now 61, Dutton is accustomed to his age having become part of his athletic story. In Tokyo, at 57, he was the oldest member of the U.S. Olympic Team across all sports, and five years before that, at the 2016 Rio Games, his individual bronze earned him the distinction of being the oldest Olympic medalist since 1952 (a record he ceded this year, when show jumper Laura Kraut, at 58, won team silver in Paris). He has hinted that the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics may mark a turning point after which he could ease off the gas, though there are no timelines written in stone. 

We caught up with Dutton after his win at TerraNova, where he shared more about his horses, his future—and, with his dry wit, how his approach to riding has changed with age, and how his approach to his own fitness is markedly different than that of Boyd Martin, his good friend and fellow Aussie transplant.

Tell me a little bit about Azure. What are her quirks and strengths? 

She’s hot but very talented. It’s always a challenge to get the best out of her at the competitions because she’s a bit on edge, but I’m hoping that this was a bit of a turning point for us. Dressage was the best that she’s done so far, where I could ride her through the whole test and not just sit there and hope and pray that she doesn’t blow up. She show jumped well, and then she’s a beast on cross-country.

What about Quasi Cool? 

He’s the kindest animal in the world. He’s just so quiet and nice. He’s a little strong cross-country, so it’s not that easy for me, but he can do a good dressage test. He’s just a fun, great horse to have around. An overall good guy. 

What’s your long-term plan with each of them? 

 I’d like to get the mare to Kentucky again and be a bit more competitive than we were this year, which I think she could do if she just keeps on this track. I’ll probably aim for a four-star with “Cool” and maybe take him overseas at the end of 2025. 

What are your thoughts about the new US Equestrian Open series?  

I think it is really exciting. We’re all in for it. Anything that raises the profile of the sport and the prize money is good. It’s going to be a great boost for our country and the sport, and from what I can tell, all the riders are really excited about it. 

Obviously there’s probably more prize money at Kentucky and more at the Maryland 5 Star, but this would be a lot, and then added to that it’s spread all around the year as well, so that’ll make it worthwhile as well. 

What are your goals for yourself as you look forward into your career. What do you still want to accomplish? 

I’ve got a lot still to accomplish. I like the process of bringing on the young horses and getting the best out of them and being involved with some of these more up-and-coming riders as well. I’m going to keep going for another three or four years, probably, and then back it down a bit and take it down a notch or two from what I’m doing now. 

Do you have specific horses in mind that are kind of part of your bucket list before you gear things down? 

I’m excited about the group of horses I have now. Denim (a 9-year-old Holsteiner owned by Caroline Moran, Ann Jones, Ann Lapides and Neill Sites), he’s sort of stepping up to the plate and had a good finish at Blenheim this year. Then Possante (an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by The Possante Group), he’s certainly got a lot of improvement in him and had a decent finish at Boekelo [20th on a 43.1 in the CCIO4*-NC-L]. 

Then obviously these two [Azure and Quasi Cool]. I haven’t had much luck with Jewelent (a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse owned by the Jewelent Group), but, you know, hopefully next year we’ll have a better chance with him, and he’s looking like he’s can be competitive at big events as well. 

Has your approach to riding changed with age? 

That’s an interesting question. I think I understand horses and what we’ve got to do and how to get the best out of them probably better now. I don’t mean this in a bad way, but I’m probably less forceful than I was when I was younger and hadn’t quite grasped how to get across what I wanted to the horse in an easier way.

I think I have a better understanding of what is needed from the horse and rider at the highest level. It’s a constantly evolving sport; there’s been so much growth and improvement in dressage and show jumping, but also the cross-country is still the heart of the whole sport. So, I’m trying to stay on the cutting edge of those three phases. Having horses that are going to be competitive in the next cycle of championship events is always difficult, to stay ahead of that and make sure that my riding and the people I teach are up to the task.

I’ve learned to be prepared for what you’re aiming for. The more I do, the more I realize that preparation is so crucial. Setting yourself up for success so that you’re not going to some of these big events with just a chance of doing well, you’re going to events because you’re really prepared and ready for it. 

Has your mindset around competition changed at all as you’ve done more and more of it? 

The more I do, the more I realize that repetition, and practicing well and training well are so important. On a day-to-day basis, get yourself to be just a little bit better every day and your horse improved just a little bit every day. 

Don’t try to make a huge improvement or try to change things too drastically in just one ride. It’s more about just chipping away at it all the time and trying to get so that my horse understands what I’m trying to get through to him.  

When I finish my ride, I like to think that the horse is in a calm state and that he feels good about what we just did. That doesn’t mean just to be nice and pat him on the neck all the time; sometimes to get your point across, you’ve got to be a bit firm, but by the time you’re finished, I like to think my horses have understood what we’re trying to do, and they feel good about it.

There’s been a lot of coverage of Boyd Martin’s routine—the ice baths, the stretching and all the things that he does to say fit and flexible and address past injuries. Do you have a routine outside of the saddle that keeps you sharp?

I’m kind of embarrassed to tell you this, but I basically don’t do anything to stay in shape. I think I was just born with what you might say, good genes. I’ve probably been to a gym four times in my life. I try to watch what I eat, and if I’m not riding much, then I’ll do some other form of exercise. It could be a bike ride, or I’ll probably start running again now that the season’s over, but I don’t have anything magical to stay agile. 

“I’ve done a couple ice baths with [Boyd], and there is a bit of a rush when you get out of it, but the thought of getting in is not that nice.”

Phillip Dutton

I just feel a bit sorry for Boyd, actually, that he’s going through all this torture.

[Dutton pauses, then adds deadpan: “That was a joke.”]

I’ve done a couple ice baths with him, and there is a bit of a rush when you get out of it, but the thought of getting in is not that nice.