The great show jumping horse Monopoly was bred by Mr. J.A. Cottle and born in New Zealand in 1979. A registered Hannoverian, Monopoly’s sire was Witzbold while his thoroughbred dam was Suzy by Abridge Member.

Canadian Olympian Jay Hayes found Monopoly and he was imported to Canada by the Ierullo family for their daughter, Skye. In 1989, Monopoly was sent to Terrance ‘Torchy’ Millar for training and his student, Beth Underhill, became Monopoly’s rider the following season. The success of the new partnership was immediately apparent. The pair made their Canadian Equestrian Team debut in 1990 when they were members of Canada’s winning Nations’ Cup team at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, a feat they would repeat in 1991 and 1992.

At the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba, Beth and Monopoly claimed Team and Individual Silver Medals. The following year, they were part of the Canadian effort at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and again represented Canada at the 1994 World Equestrian Games in The Hague, the Netherlands. In 1993, Monopoly carried Beth as she became the first woman to win the Canadian World Cup League, and, in 1994 and 1996, Beth and Monopoly won the coveted Canadian Show Jumping Championship title at Spruce Meadows.

With countless grand prix victories to their credit, Beth and Monopoly won more than $1 million in the show ring together. The partnership’s last major victory came in the $100,000 Ocala Grand Prix in 1999, and Monopoly was officially retired from competition in 2001. Having enjoyed incredible success, Monopoly not only secured a special place in Beth’s heart, he was also was loved by legions of show jumping fans. At the age of 29, he is enjoying his well-deserved retirement at Beth’s farm in Schomberg, Ontario.

Presented by Equestrian Management Group