Here’s Stephen Hadley on Milton at the Newbury Show in 1983. The later legendary Milton is here six years old. Stephen Hadley rode Milton for a while after Caroline Bradley’s death in 1983 and before John Whitaker took him over. Stephen Hadley is now an outstanding commentator of the show jumping on FEI TV.
Stephen Hadley on the 6-year old Milton in 1983
The fabulous Milton (1977 – 1999) was a grey gelding and stood 16.2 hands (168 cm) high. Milton was by Dutch warmblood Marius, out of Irish Draught Aston Answers (first called Epauletta). His grandsire was international jumper Any Questions and his granddam was Pennywort by the thoroughbred Top Walk xx. So Milton‘s lines included successful sportshorses in both paternal and maternal lines, his sire and grandsire being an international level and his dam a Grade A national level jumper.
Milton was bought as a foal by Caroline Bradley from the breeder John Harding-Rolls. She trained him until her death in 1983, after which many offers were made to her parents to buy the gelding, who had already proven his talent but they kept the horse. Stephen Hadley (now FEI TV commentator) rode Milton for a short time, before John Whitaker took over him. The couple entered international competition in 1985. The rest is history!
John Whitaker – Milton at Olympia in 1985. Photo © Kit Houghton.
Caroline Bradley – Marius (Milton’s sire). Photo © Bob Langrish.
Clare Jones – Epauletta (Milton’s dam). Photo © MVR.
Paula Graham – Any Questions (Milton’s grandsire). Photo © Monty.
Paula Graham – Pennywort (Milton’s granddam). Photo © Monty.
Jump-off between five riders from the Royal International Horse Show at Wembley, London 1981. First out is Liz Edgar on Everest Forever, then Johan Heins on Larramy, Stephen Hadley on Sunorra, Nick Skelton on St James and last out is Lionel Dunning on .Jungle Bunny. Enjoy!
Five fanstastic riders in the jump-off for the 1980 Radio Rentals Championship in London. John Whitaker on Ryans Son, Stephen Hadley (now FEI TV commentator) on Sonorra, Caroline Bradley on Tigre, and the youngsters Nick Skelton on Maybe and Robert Smith on Sanyo Video!
