When USA Equestrian Team member Lisa Jacquin and her star jumper For The Moment earned their share of the team silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the gutsy Thoroughbred gelding was at the top of his game. He was fast, powerful, and precise. He was also 19 years old. By anyone’s standards, For The Moment was a dream horse, with all the bells and whistles that come standard with world-class jumpers. He had just the right mix of athleticism, ability, and can-do attitude.

But For The Moment possessed something else that’s a little harder to put a finger on. In addition to great conformation and talent, he had some rare quality that contributed to his incredible staying power. His star-studded career spanned nearly two decades, several continents, and countless jumps, generating a string of victories so long that Jacquin can’t even begin to name them all. At the age of 23, he was still a formidable force in a sport dominated by horses half his age.

Jacquin said of her former partner, “He was an incredible horse, with tremendous longevity in his career. He was super strong and healthy, and he had tons of stamina and soundness.”

Stamina and soundness carried the superstar jumper a long way. When Jacquin bought the 15.3-hand Thoroughbred off the racetrack in 1978, he was six years old. “For The Moment spent eighteen solid years competing at the Grand Prix level,” she said