STAN Fear, of Somerville, has been inducted into the Equestrian Victoria Hall of Fame.
Now 88 and retired, Fear was one of a pioneering class of riders who was part of the introduction of jumping as a sport in Australia.
Having been involved in international competitions, Fear has rubbed shoulders with the best horse people in the world, including Princess Anne who he counts as a friend, the Roycroft family, and even Queen Elizabeth 11.
“I feel lucky to have been given recognition, it means a lot to be considered in the same ranks as some of the best horse people out there,” he said.
“I’ve done many things and it’s a great honour to get this.”
Fear started his horse riding journey at 15, following in the footsteps of his father and brother, who started competing at the Royal Melbourne Show in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Rising quickly through the ranks, Fear soon became known for his skill in novelties, hunting and section fours, and Olympic jumps.
In 1964 he was selected as a reserve rider for the Tokyo Olympics and served as chef d’equipe at Montreal in 1976, Los Angeles in 1984 and Seattle in 1988. In that time he also managed three world cup riders.
Fear says he rode several horses over his career, but one of his first horses, Brandy, was a favourite.
The chestnut was fast and able to jump some of the highest fences and together the pair won many events.
A life member of the Royal Agricultural Society, Fear was also widely regarded for his judging skills, serving on the Equestrian Federation of Australia committee and judging for the Federation Equestre Internationale.
First published in the Mornington News – 20 September 2022
