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The American musical sensation, Bruce Springsteen’s daughter, Jessica Springsteen is an equestrian virtuoso. She has been a dominant force in the equitation ring since she was just a teen. From winning elite competitions like the 2008 ASPCA Maclay and the 2009 WEF Excellence in Equitation Championships to clinching a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Jessica Springsteen has covered it all. Nonetheless, the equestrian credits the major wodge of her success to her horses, who helped her reach the pinnacle of success. 

Jessica Springsteen started her equestrian career with ponies, as a child, slowly graduating to stallions, geldings, and mares as an adult. With each of her horses, she has a different tale of victory. Let’s know more about Jessica Springsteen’s horses, and a glimpse of their triumphs with the Olympian.

Jessica Springsteen and her Olympic horse Don Juan van de Donkhoeve

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Don Juan van de Donkhoeve is a Belgian warm blood stallion, who accompanied Jessica Springsteen at many prestigious equitation events. Don Juan began his career in 2016 in Europe under the tutelage of Belgian equestrian Eleonore Lambilliotte. Then in 2019, the Springsteen family’s Colts Neck farm acquired the stallion, adding another top star to Springsteen’s herd of talented horses. Don Huan and Jessica Springsteen first competed together in the year 2019, in the international circuit at the CSI4* and CSI5* levels. In 2021, the pair competed as part of the U.S. Jumping team for the Nations Cup Wellington CSIO4*. The biggest victory for Jessica Springsteen and Don Juan came in 2020 with the Tokyo Olympics. With their exceptional performance at Tokyo’s equestrian park, the pair helped the U.S. team bring home the silver medal. 

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Springsteen’s recent additions to her horse family

In 2020, the equestrian added two more horses to her string of champion steeds. Although she owns a herd of heptad now, she only rides only two of her newest horses – Cynar, a gray gelding, and Tiger Lily, a chestnut mare. Describing the qualities of her horses, the equestrian once mentioned, “They’re completely different”.

Read More: Communication With Horses Proved Crucial in Bruce Springsteen’s Equestrian Daughter’s Career Once: “Let Them Know That They’ve Done It Right”

Talking about Cynar and Tiger Lily, Springsteen conceded, “We joke about Tiger Lily because she’s either like a tiger or a lily…she can definitely be a little frisky”, and “Cynar is much more cool-headed. He’s much more even and focused. You kind of know what you’re going to get with him a little bit more”. 

Other horses equestrian Jessica Springsteen has ridden over the past years

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In the 2021 and 2022 International Circuit, Jessica Springsteen participated in a series of competitions with RMF Tinkerbell (mare), and RMF Zecilie (mare). In June 2021, Springsteen and RMF Tinkerbell stood atop the podium by winning the Hubside Jumping Grimaud-Gulf of Saint-Tropez’s CSI4* Grand Prix.  

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Then, in August 2021, the equestrian caused a splash among her fandom by winning the Brussels Stephex Masters riding RMF Zecilie. In September 2021, Springsteen competed as a part of Nations Cup teams at CHIO Aachen with Don Juan Van de Donkhoeve and at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Knokke Hippique CSIO5*, the equestrian once again paired with RMF Zecilie.

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Watch this story: Top 10 Moments of Olympic Sporting Spirit