Custom Made
Custom Made was foaled in Ireland in 1985 out of Bassompierre and Purple Heather. In 1998 he was imported to the United States by owner Joseph Zada of Xandarius, LCC to be a mount for David O’Connor. The two captured the hearts of Americans in their first year of partnership by winning the 1995 Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI3* at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The remarkable duo achieved their crowning moment at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, winning the eventing individual gold medal. This was the first eventing gold medal for the U.S. in 25 years. They continued a successful career together including the win of his final competition at the 2002 Fair Hill International Three-Day CCI3*. He was formally retired at the 2004 Kentucky Three-Day Event and was inducted into the United States Eventing Hall of Fame in 2009.
Irish Sport Horse
Dark Bay Gelding
Foaled May 26, 1985 in Ireland
Died October 2, 2019 in The Plains, Virginia
Barn Name: Tailor
By Bassompierre, out of Purple Heather by Ben Purple
Owner: Xandarius, LLC (Joseph P. Zada)
Breeder: Kitty Horgan and Elizabeth O’Flynn
Rider: David O’Connor
Retired in 2004 at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event
Titles / Awards
Inducted into the Eventing Hall of Fame in 2009
Notable Wins
1st Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI *** (1995)
2nd Morven Park Spring HT (Advanced) (1995)
3rd Southern Pines HT OI (1995)
3rd Pint Top Farms HT OI (1995)
4th Beaulieu North American Classic HT (Advanced
3rd Badminton Three-Day Event CCI **** (1996)
3rd Sharpton Winter HT OI (1996)
5th Morven Park Spring HT (1996)
5th individually, Olympic Games in Atlanta (1996)
1st Badminton Three-Day Event CCI **** (1997)
4th Morven Park Spring HT (1997)
4th Blenheim Three-Day Event CCI *** (1999)
5th Sharpton Winter III One Day HT AI (2000)
6th Kentucky Three-day Event CCI **** (2000)
Individual gold, Olympic Games at Sydney (2000)
2nd Middleburg HT OI (2001)
3rd Kentucky Three-day Event CCI **** (2001)
4th Morven Park Three-day Event (Advanced) (2001)
1st Fair Hill International Three-day Event CCI *** (2002)
1st Over The Walls HT (Advanced) (2002)
2nd Groton House Farm II Open HT (Advanced) (2002)
2nd Poplar Place HT (Advanced) (2002)
3rd Red Hills HT (Advanced) (2002)
Eventing
The Olympic sport of eventing is best described as an equestrian triathlon. The sport originated as a cavalry test and is comprised of three phases: dressage, cross country, and show jumping.
Posthumously Inducted into Hall of Champions
December 2023
