As athletes, you have a very small window for success. Being at the peak of physical prowess is a fleeting thing and you have very little time on your hands to achieve your place among the elites. However, thankfully, equestrian stars can get by with a little help. Riding high on the back of their trusty four-legged partners, these stars can manage to continue their careers for a longer time than most other athletes. And now, another 82-year-old rider is about to make history.

Stars like the Italian icon Frankie Dettori are known for pushing the boundaries of how long an equestrian career can continue. And yet, being over 70 and hoping to make an appearance in another tournament is pretty much off the table for most. But Henry Watson isn’t one to let his ripe old age stand in the way of fulfilling his passion.

Equestrian star looks forward to his next challenge

A YouTube upload by NBC2 News depicts how Watson is gearing up for the upcoming Southwest Florida Dressage Show. In the video, the equestrian veteran talks about what keeps him coming back on his beloved Smooth Bullet. “Generally speaking, I don’t like people. I like horses. They never lie to you. If they’re afraid, they’ll tell you. If they’re calm, they’ll tell you,” Henry says nonchalantly. The horse rider is practicing at the Hidden Heaven Ranch in North Fort Myers with the eye to make the most of the opportunity at hand.

During the interview, Watson shows why his bovine partner is a worthy candidate to win Saturday’s event as Smooth Bullet aggressively nods his head for a cookie. The interviewer then goes on to highlight what makes Watson and Smooth Bullet’s upcoming performance a significant one. “When Henry and Bullet compete on October 26, they’ll be officially a part of The Century Club, because Bullet is 20, and Henry is 82,” says the NBC2 News host.

The YouTube video also notes how Henry got his first horse at 70. “It’s never too late, and that’s what this century ride is all about,” Watson states. “Something I always wanted, always dreamed about, read books about, watched them on TV, but it was never possible,” he tells how being a professional equestrian was a recurrent thought. But Watson certainly has a lot to look for in the sport for some inspiration.

Age is never a barrier for most horse riders

In the USA’s equestrian circuit, the name Laura Kraut evokes a certain reverence. The 58-year-old rider was part of the Team USA contingent that won silver in Paris earlier this year, making her the oldest US Olympic medalist in over 7 decades. With that, she once again proved that age is just a number and when you put your mind to something, nothing can hold you back from achieving your goals. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Australian equestrian Mary Hanna also was the center of attention as being the oldest Olympian in any sport. At 66, she claimed that an undying passion for the sport keeps her motivated to perform at the highest level of the sport.

“I don’t think about my age because there’s a lot of older people riding and doing really well. Nobody in horse sport ever mentions my age, it’s only when I get out of horse sport that people mention it and think it’s a bit odd,” Hanna said about why the age factor seldom crosses her mind and that one should keep going as long they wish to if their physical health permits it. Do you think Watson will also be able to pull out an impressive bunny from the hat this weekend? Share your predictions for the Southwest Florida Dressage Show with a comment!