Ben Maher

Benjamin Richard Maher MBE (born 30 January 1983, in Enfield ) is a British show jumper. He represented Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2009 European Championships in Windsor, 2012 London Olympics, 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He won the team jumping gold at the London Olympics with Team GB, their first team jumping gold medal for 60 years, and an individual gold for Great Britain at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He also won bronze at the 2011 Europeans Championships in Madrid, Spain. He has won many international Grand Prix, including the Olympia Grand Prix, the King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead and an FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix at Wellington with various rides.

Maher was selected as part of the 2016 British Olympic Show Jumping Team with Tic Tac

Maher began riding at the age of eight. He was educated at Saffron Walden County High School, and after finishing school, he trained with Liz Edgar before travelling to Switzerland to further his education with Beat Mandli.

He had success as a young rider, winning Team Gold with the British Young Riders Team at the European Championships in 2004. He is now a regular member for the British team, and has been ranked as high as 2nd on the Longines World Rankings.

Career
In 2005, CSIO5* Hickstead, Great Britain: Maher won the Hickstead Derby

In 2008, Ben competed at the Olympic Games with Rolette.

In 2010, CSI5*-W s'-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands: On 26 March, Maher and Wonderboy III took the top spot in the feature class of the opening day. This was the 1.50m Rabobank Prijs.

CSI5*-W London Olympia, Great Britain: Ben and Noctambule Courcelle won the Puissance.

In 2011, CSI5*-W Basel, Switzerland: Oscar took 4th prize in a speed-class.

CSI5*-W Zurich, Switzerland: Maher and Robin Hood W came 2nd in the Rolex FEI World Cup Qualifier.

CSI3* Lummen, Belgium: Tripple X III came 2nd.

CES5* European Championships, Madrid, Spain: The British team of Nick Skelton (Carlo) (1.04/0/0); Guy Williams (Titus) (7.01)/(12)/0; Ben Maher (Tripple X III) (2.76/4/4); and John Whitaker (Peppermill) (5.66/4/8) took Team Bronze. Ben and Tripple X III also took 12th position individually.

CSI5*-W Olympia Horse Show, London, UK: Ben and his home-bred Tripple X III came 1st in the Rolex FEI World Cup.

In 2012, CSI5*-W Basel, Switzerland: Tripple X III won the feature 1m55 class on Friday night.

Won gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics for Great Britain in the Team showjumping.

Maher was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism.

In 2013, won team gold and individual silver medals at the European Championships, riding Cella.

Won Olympia London International Horse Show Grand Prix riding Tripple X.

Won the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of London at Olympic Park with his grey mare Cella.

In 2014, won the $125,000 Grand Prix CSI3* at WEF with Cella.

Won WEF World Cup Qualifier on Cella

Won the €130,000 Grand Prix in Guangzhou, China with Vainquer

Won the Olympia London International Horse Show Grand Prix on Diva II.

In 2015, won World Cup CSI5* at WEF on Diva II

Won Rotterdam Nations Cup on Diva II, with team members Joe Clee/Utamaro D'Ecaussines, Jessica Mendoza/Spirit T, Michael Whitaker/Cassionato

Tied for first with Karim Elzoghby/Amelia at Global Champions Tour Paris Grand Prix

In 2016, won the $500,000 Rolex CSI5* at WEF with Sarena

Won the Beijing World Cup Qualifier on Wavanta

Won the Rome Nations Cup with Tic Tac and teammates Jessica Mendoza/Spirit T, Michael Whitaker/Cassionato, and John Whitaker/Ornellaia

He won two consecutive Longines Global Champions wins in 2018 and 2019.

Won the Individual Showjumping Gold Medal at Tokyo 2020 Olympics, riding Explosion W.

Owners
Ben Maher has formally ridden horses under several owners, most notably Jane Forbes Clark and Poden Farms, whom he used to also train the owner, Emily Moffitt.

He has been riding for American owners Charlotte Rossetter & Pamela Wright since late 2019. Their partnership began when they purchased shares in his Olympic Gold Medal partner, Explosion w, and Ben since gone on to ride exclusively for them with new horses.

Ben is currently ranked Number 2 in the World, according to the FEI Jumping Rankings.

He bases in Wellington, Florida each year from late December until late March, and Europe throughout the summer.