John Whitaker – 70 Years of Competitive Instinct

Dressed in ordinary blue jeans, he could pass for any 70-year-old farmer. He walks a little stiffly and limps slightly on one leg. There is cattle on his farm in West Yorkshire, but that is where the similarities with most people end. His list of achievements is extensive, with results from all the major championships. For the Gothenburg audience, John and his former partner Milton are forever etched into memory after winning two World Cup Finals.

“I competed in Gothenburg for the first time in 1979, and after that I did it every year for 20 years in a row,” says John Whitaker.

The last time he was in Gothenburg was in 2019, when he fell and broke his collarbone.

“The thing about equestrian sport is that you can’t get too big-headed. You can win one day and be lying on the ground the next. To stay in this sport, you have to love the horses and constantly try to understand them. It’s a constant challenge, and there aren’t many sports where you can still compete quite successfully at the age of 70,” John says.

When John Whitaker thinks of the Gothenburg Horse Show, the first thing that comes to mind is the welcome from the officials and the crowd.

“The audience here is really something special. What I also remember from my early starts in Gothenburg is that the vertical fences were built differently from what I was used to, with probably ten poles. There was also a tradition that the winner received cars. I took a car home every year, so I’ve driven a lot of Volvos,” John says with a smile.

Around the world, on international show-jumping arenas, 13 different riders compete with the surname Whitaker. John and Michael were the first. Michael still competes, but at a lower, national level. John, however, often travels to competitions alongside his son Robert.

“Robert lives in the south of England, so we don’t travel together, but we meet frequently at competitions and of course help each other. In fact, I take more pleasure in seeing him win than winning myself,” says John.

Winning and staying competitive is still what drives John, and it is always the long-term goal, even though—like all riders—he also rides rounds that are more about developing horses for bigger tasks ahead. This year, John Whitaker is competing at Scandinavium with two geldings, Equine America Unick du Francport and Sharid, aged 18 and 17 respectively.

“I’ve had them both for six years. They’re a bit older and don’t go too hard. We haven’t aimed for the World Cup Final this year, but of course, if a wildcard were to come up, I would certainly consider it,” says John.

Back home in Great Britain, there are promising horses coming through the ranks.

“I have two up-and-coming horses that are eight and nine years old. If I’m still standing and the horses are good enough, I certainly wouldn’t mind riding the World Cup Final in Gothenburg in 2027.”