Explosion W

Ben Maher’s current star is proving one of the greatest horses in a generation, with Hollywood good looks and a desire to win

- JENNIFER DONALD

AS his rider Ben Maher says, Explosion W is “a natural-born winner”. The majestic 11-year-old gelding only really blasted on to the five-star showjumping scene as recently as 2018, but what a mighty impression he’s made.

He’s one of a kind — abnormal even — and the closest you’ll find to a jumping machine. With an enviably high cruising speed and a breathtaking athleticism that enables his body to bend in ways that don’t seem possible to produce that extra clearance, it’s no surprise he can maintain an astonishing clear round ratio over 1.60m tracks.

The fairytale began in the Netherlands, where small-time breeder Willy Wijnen produced him until the age of seven, when he was spotted by a friend of Ben’s and bought by Poden Farms. His early education came through Ben’s then stable riders, including Emily Mason and Carly Anthony, before Ben took the reins himself in 2018.

Their five-star launchpad came in Shanghai that spring, where they finished runner-up in the grand prix and the appreciative ringside murmurings began. In Madrid just weeks later came Explosion W’s coming-of-age grand prix victory, where the horse Ben always knew was special proved to be a world-beater.

Their boots and hooves have barely touched the ground since, with Explosion W earning the accolade of the best horse in the world according to the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses rankings, while stockpiling an enviable display of silverware.