78 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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Story courtesy of WIHS
Frank Chapot is one of the most famous riders in American
history. He frst joined the United States Equestrian Team in 1956,
as its youngest member and while still on active duty with the
U.S. Air Force. For the next 20 years, Frank compiled an enviable
record with the USET: two Olympic Silver Medals, an individual
Bronze in the 1974 World Championships and participating on a
record 46 winning Nations’ Cup teams. Frank won two President’s
Cup Grand Prix events, including in 1965 with the famous San
Lucas. He married the former Mary Mairs, twice his Olympic
teammate and the frst American rider to win a show jumping Pan
American Games individual Gold Medal. Their daughters, Wendy
and Laura, have gone on to be successful equestrians as well.
After phasing out his career as a USET rider, Frank became the
Team’s show jumping chef d’Equipe, helping the Team attain two
historic and previously elusive goals: frst-ever team Gold Medals
in the Olympic Games in 1984 and in the World Championships
in 1986. In the 1988 Olympics, Frank’s contribution to the Team’s
Silver Medal went far beyond his role as chef d’Equipe, Greg
Best, the individual Silver Medalist, was Frank’s pupil, and Best’s
mount, Gem Twist, was a horse of Frank’s own breeding and a
son of another top Chapot mount, Good Twist.
Frank underwent brain surgery to repair a subdural hematoma
on July 24, 2012. After rehabilitation, Frank is now at Hunterdon
Care Center in Flemington, New Jersey, where he is recovering.
Frank has shown and supported the Washington International
Horse Show (WIHS) for years, and in this story he reminisces
about the show, the Olympics and competing for the United States.
What was special about the WIHS when you rode there?
Back then, there were a lot of dignitaries and very important
people that would come to the show, like John F. Kennedy and his
wife. The Armory always had special character.
Whatwasyour frst experience at theWashington International
Horse Show?
I competed at the frst ever WIHS before it was a CSIO. There
was no Nations Cup class there yet; but it had a very special grand
prix. I rode a horse named Trail Guide and beat the 1952 Olympic
gold medalist Hans Guenter Winkler. I have very fond memories
of winning that frst grand prix ever held. I’ll never forget that.
What was Trail Guide like?
Trail Guide was 19-years-old; I rode him in the 1956 Olympic
Games in Rome. He belonged to the USET and was an old cavalry
horse. Back then, we swapped horses around (for the team), so I
wasn’t the only person to ride him.
What were your experiences with the Nations Cup classes?
I rode in the Nations Cup every year. We won the Nations Cup
many, many years…when I was a rider and chef. I remember one
year when we won the Nations Cup, (then Vice-President) Hubert
Humphrey handed us the trophy. We had Billy Steinkraus as our
captain until he retired and then I was the captain. My wife Mary
rode on the team, Bill Roberts was on it - there were lots of good
team members. In the old days, we only had three riders on a
team; now there are four.
In those days, all the shows picked up the tab for international
teams to come over - there was Harrisburg, Washington, the
National Horse Show and The Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.
Washington was very highly regarded as a competition. It was
very important for offcial teams to come over and make an
international competition in the U.S. In later years, it was probably
not at the same level. It was very diffcult to get the star riders to
make the trip over until we got the World Cup classes over here.
American Gem: Frank Chapot
Washington International Horse Show Course Designer Anthony d’Ambrosio, George Morris,
Chris Kappler and Frank Chapot.
Photo by Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.