That Amazing Mare Sapphire

By Nancy Jaffer

She's an iconic chestnut mare, a superb performer with as strong a desire to win as her rider, McLain Ward. Sapphire lives up to her name as a jewel of grand prix show jumping, the female equine standout of this era.

Her blaze, which looks like an upward pointing arrow, foretold her destiny. The 15-year-old Belgian warmblood and McLain have taken two Olympic team gold medals, a World Equestrian Games team silver and grand prix victories in such classics as Devon, the President's Cup, the American Invitational, the Hampton Classic and the $1 million (Canadian) CN International at Spruce Meadows. It is, in short, a long and incredible record.

Riding Sapphire is a treat. "She's so solid and brave," says McLain, who co-owns the daughter of Darco, a longtime Belgian team mount, with harness horse breeder Thomas Grossman of Blue Chip Bloodstock.

"She always feels right and ready to go; she always gives you 110 percent," McLain observes.

Her ability, he points out, "allows me to take chances, because she comes through over and over again." And it's being able to take those chances that has enabled him to ride her into the winner's circle so many times, with eight major victories last year alone.

Read the full article in the July-August issue of Just About Horses.