skip to Main Content
Blog Featured Image

Showdown: A Thoroughbred Hunter Legend

The American Thoroughbred dominated the hunter/jumper horse show scene for many decades. One must simply look back at the record books to see that, with a few exceptions, the hunters and jumpers that made history were all of thoroughbred lineage. While warm bloods appear to have replaced them as the most predominant breed in the show ring over the last 15 years or so, the last several years have given rise to a strong effort to bring back the Thoroughbred show horse.

These horses were incredible athletes that accomplished remarkable feats, and they deserve to be remembered and celebrated as such. In this post I will highlight a number of names that are synonymous with greatness in equestrian history, with a marvelous hunter named ‘Showdown.’

Born and bred in 1963 by Mr. and Mrs. W.O. Moss of Southern Pines, NC, the 16.2 hand bay Thoroughbred gelding (by Battlewick out of By Accident) that came to be known as ‘Showdown,’ spent his formative years with several legendary horsemen and women, the first of which was Bobby Burke. At the age of three, Showdown was purchased by Sallie Busch Wheeler as a Christmas gift for her husband, Kenny, where the horse quickly became one of the many successful hunters to hail out of Cismont Manor Farm. The big bay racked up one championship after another, in both the Green and Regular Conformation Hunter divisions, during his time with the Wheelers, including multiple AHSA Horse of the Year titles in both 1967 and 1968. In fact, after a particularly impressive performance at The Devon Horse Show in 1968, amateur-owner, and New York City restaurateur, Marvin van Rapoport, purchased the horse though he would remain at Cismont Manor until after the National Horse Show that fall.

spindletop showdown thoroughbred hunter horse ridden by marvin van rappaport

Showdown continued his winning ways with new owner van Rapoport and trainer Junie Kulp of All Around Farm from 1969-1971, during which time he was also shown by a host of brilliant riders including Terry Rudd and Joey Darby. The horse showed under the name ‘Spindletop Showdown’ during these years, as all of van Rapoport’s horses took on this prefix, a nod to the owner’s popular New York City restaurant, The Spindletop. From Devon to Ox Ridge, to the National Horse Show, this great Thoroughbred hunter continued his domination of the show ring, at one point winning forty-three consecutive classes. By the end of 1971, the horse had earned his fourth straight AHSA Horse of the Year title in the Regular Conformation Hunters.

In 1972, the great bay hunter went west to new owners Mr. & Mrs. Paul Davies Jr., and trainer and hunter rider extraordinaire, Linda Hough of California. The ‘Spindletop’ prefix was dropped, and the horse returned to competition as ‘Showdown,’ but the blue ribbons kept coming. At the National Horse Show that year, the horse earned his fourth consecutive championship in the Regular Conformation Hunters. Just as he had for his previous owners, Showdown continued to perform brilliantly, which as some would say, is the mark of a truly great horse. He retired undefeated and was inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame in 1998.

Showdown & Linda Hough at Monterey

Jennie Carleton

Jennie is highly involved in the horse show community. As one of the founding members of the USHJA Wheeler Museum Committee, established to highlight and educate the membership and the public on the history of the Hunter/Jumper Sport, she has assisted in the formation and promotion of every exhibit. Having pursued an education in journalism, among other fields, Carleton has authored a number of articles and press releases for various equestrian publications, and considers writing and horses her two greatest passions. Carleton also established and continues to manage several Facebook Groups dedicated to the history of the hunter/jumper sport and its preservation. This includes the USHJA Wheeler Museum Group, which was the brainchild of Carleton and her close friend and committee co-chair, Bill Rube. In 2015, Carleton began working for the National Horse Show as a social media coordinator, and she hopes to soon be assisting the USET Foundation as they prepare for the 2016 Olympic games.

This Post Has 10 Comments
  1. Thank you Jenny, My junior horse, at one time also had the “Spindletop” prefix.. Write on girl, you are bringing many back to the way it should be.

    1. Thank you! Glad to hear you liked it. We love hearing about the great horses and riders from “back in the day” too.

      1. This horse was elegant when he jumped. I remember seeing him at the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden.

  2. I love the back stories and old photos of these vintage, amazing horses. I really think those were the golden days of Hunter/ Jumpers.

Leave a Reply to larry lambert Cancel comment reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back To Top