Biko (horse)

Biko was a horse ridden by American rider Karen O'Connor at the international level in the sport of eventing.

*Color: Bay miaa
*Markings: Large blaze, sock right hind
*Height: 17.3 hh (173 cm)
*Sex: Gelding
*Foaled: 1984
*Breed: Irish Thoroughbred/Irish Sport Horse
*Breeding: by Beau Charmeur out of My Hansel by Prince Hansel
*Rider: Karen O'Connor
*Owner: Mr. & Mrs. Richard Thompson, Malvern, PA.

Biko was found by William Micklem in Wexford, Ireland. He told O'Connor of the horse, and she bought the then five-year-old Thoroughbred. She found the horse to be incredibly talented, with a great ability to shorten and lengthen his stride, great strength and grace, and beautiful movement.

Biko made the 1996 Olympic Team, but his rider broke her thumb days earlier which made it difficult to control the strong horse, and the pair had a run-out on cross-country. However, they helped the United States win the team silver medal after a clear stadium round. He later made the American Team at the 1994 FEI World Equestrian Games, where he finished an individual 11th place.

Biko holds the number one spot on the Top Ten All American High Point Horses of the Century, and won the Horse of the Century Award from the USCTA (now USEA). With O'Connor, he represented the country on multiple occasions, including the 1996 Olympic Games, and competed and finished with top placings at the Badminton Horse Trials and Rolex Kentucky Three Day.

The gelding was retired in 1999, when he was 15, after he slipped both of his achilles tendons off his hocks at the Badminton Horse Trials. A ceremony was held at the 2001 Rolex Kentucky Three Day. The gelding now enjoys his retirement on the O'Connor farm.

"Competition Record"'

1999
* 12th Badminton Three-day Event CCI****
* 24th Beaulieu North American Classic HT (Advanced)
* 7th Morven Park Spring HT (Advanced)
* 2nd Sharpton Winter HT AI

1998
* 5th Rolex Kentucky Three-day Event CCI****
* 12th Beaulieu North American Classic HT (Advanced)
* 4th Morven Park Spring HT (Advanced)
* 6th Sharpton Winter HT AI

1997
* 7th Fair Hill International Three-day Event CCI***
* 10th Gatcombe HT (Advanced)
* 55th Badminton Three-day Event CCI****
* 2nd Beaulieu North American Classic HT (Advanced)
* 2nd Morven Park Spring HT (Advanced)
* 7th Sharpton Winter HT AI

1996
* Team Silver, 18th Individually Atlanta Olympic Games (CCI****)
* 24th North Georgia International Open Invitational HT (Advanced)
* 2nd Groton House Farm HT (Advanced)
* 2nd Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (Advanced)
* 20th Beaulieu North American Classic HT (Advanced)
* 5th Morven Park Spring HT (Advanced)

1995
* 8th European Three-day Championships CCI*** (Best US horse)
* 3rd Badminton Three-Day Event CCI****
* 6th Morven Park Spring HT (Advanced)

1994
* 11th Individually at the 1994 FEI World Equestrian Games (CCI****)

1993
* 6th Blenheim Audi International Horse Trials CCI***

1992
* 3rd Loughanmore 3-Day CCI**
* 6th Essex Three-Day Event CCI*
* 3rd MCTA HT (Preliminary)
* 4th Loudoun Hunt P.C. Spring H.T. OP 1991
* 3rd Radnor Hunt International Three-Day Event CCI*
* 1st Blue Ridge HT (Preliminary)
* 1st Fair Hill HT OP
* 1st Groton House Farm HT (Preliminary)
* 5th Fair Hill May HT OP

External links

* [http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/biko2 Biko's pedigree & photo]

Biko is a full TB his full brother Jumbeau was a good racehorse. Biko was purchased by Willima Micklem as a 3 year old in Co Wexford and sold to Karen O'Connor as a 6 yo. He was the most exceptionally physically talented horse Mr. Micklem has known but not easy mentally.

My Hansel his dam was a small but well made and well bred mare with excellent National Hunt lines that are found in many of the top National hunt racehorses and show jumpers. Beau Charmeur his sire was French bred.