Hap Hansen: One Day at a Time, Still Waiting

In the middle of the day at a busy West Coast show, each ring is a whirlwind of stressed trainers, anxious competitors, and bustling grooms. Hap Hansen seems to transcend this experience.

He is completely calm and thoughtful throughout the training or showing process. Everything is exactly on time, but nothing seems rushed or stressful at all; it is so under control that the process to the ring and even in the ring seems effortless, at least to this bystander.

I had seen Hansen at horse shows for years. But during all those years, his reserved and calm demeanor, along with his legendary show record, made him seem completely unapproachable. However, when I introduced myself and we started talking, I was pleasantly taken aback by how affable and easy he was to talk to. His love of horses shines through all conversation and he has absolutely no airs about him- it was a collegial and at times humorous conversation. 

When you think about consistency on the West Coast, Hansen is often the first person people mention. Whether it’s the fact that he’s ranked among the top-five grand prix-winning riders of all time, showing hunters, or developing young horses from on-the-line classes through high performance, Hansen has been a steady presence in California for many decades. 

Not only has he produced a long string of winning horses, he is a proven coach of top competitors, consistently training young riders that go on to launch successful professional careers of their own. Talking to trainers about their own careers, it is clear the effect Hansen has had and continues to have on the entire sport. “Patience and hard work. One day at a time,” is the advice he gives to young riders and professionals. Speaking to him, his voice is lively and smooth- it was unexpectedly reassuring and complimented the graveled tone his look connotes. 

Hansen with students of Hap Hansen Stables.

Hansen takes his own advice, taking his 99 grand prix wins one day at a time. Every grand prix might be the one that takes him to the magic number of 100, and the crowd holds their breath and murmurs over every fence when he’s in the ring, but Hansen isn’t rushing anything. His 98th win was in 2006 and his 99th in 2012, but he won’t sacrifice his horsemanship or show schedule aren’t to compromise for milestones. 

He sports a Southern California too-tan complexion, stooped posture, and a hardened visage. To an outsider, his record in the ring might not match his image; his patina is evidence of many years of being a hard-living, all-around horseman. However, he’s the opposite of ostentatious, he is not someone on the ground that it is easy to visualize giving a soft comforting ride to a hunter or a blisteringly competitive jump-off round. 

With the exceptional youth we see in the show ring today, his 60 years stand out even more. At a recent grand prix, riders chose songs to ride into the ring with and while there was a lot of rock and current pop music to pump up to (like Justin Timberlake’s SexyBack), Hansen entered the ring with an old song that would only inspire a jitterbug. Competing against several riders in their teens and early twenties, Hansen has literally won fifty grand prix classes before they were born. 

Hap Hansen Stables, in Rancho Santa Fe, California, is such a longstanding presence in the area that it is now taking training horses to the next generation. “Linda Smith had a mare Amerika 7 that I showed in the grand prix that did very, very well,” Hansen notes. “When we retired her from jumping, we bred her and she had eight babies.” All who have been successfully trained and shown by Hansen. 

Hansen proudly rattles off the breeding of Amerika 7’s offspring. They were all born in Southern California and have been regulars at the West Coast International Hunter Futurity Regionals, including Gee Whiz (More Than Luck x Amerika 7), who won the 2012 Yearling Colt/Gelding Challenge Series. Amerika 7, who Hansen won his 75th grand prix on in 1997, is by Acord, who Hansen won his 50th grand prix title on. 

Some of these babies have been sold, and Hansen and his assistant Trudi Fletcher currently have several in his training, including Lorelei, a seven year old who showed in the Level 5 and 6 at Thermal, a bay mare Amerika’s Luck, who he was showing in the 1st Year Green Hunters at The Oaks, and Opulence, an eleven year old gelding by Inferno. Lorelei is by Lord Continuet, who was shown at the Grand Prix level by Keri Potter. Amerika’s Luck, along with a four year old chestnut full brother, are by Tish Quirk’s stallion More Than Luck. 

Smith, who has supported Hansen in the grand prix classes for years, also owns Hansen’s current grand prix star Archie Bunker, his partner for his 99th grand prix win. This season they have been showing this year at Thermal and The Oaks.

Hansen and Archie Bunker. Photo ©Gail Morey/haphansen.com

Besides over two million dollars in career prize money (he has won over $1 million at Spruce Meadows alone), Hansen has also represented the United States in twelve World Cup Finals, with two sixth place finishes, and has been on over 20 Nations’ Cup Teams. His lifetime awards including both the Show Jumping Hall of Fame and National Show Hunter Hall of Fame.

While most of his recent success has been in the jumper ring, Hansen has “always liked the hunters. I think the way things fluctuate, I haven’t had many hunters the last few years, but I’m always happy to show a nice hunter,” he says. “I love the hunter classes and especially a nice ride in the hunters.”

Hansen competing in the hunters this season at HITS Thermal.

With all of his success, Hansen is still involved in all sides of the industry. “I enjoy all aspects of it- I enjoy doing the entries and the office work. Trudi is doing a lot more riding. I feel a little bit spoiled to do the ones I want to and concentrate on the big class and the teaching. The business has been really good to me and I really enjoy it.”

With all of that time keeping his grand prix horse in top form, coaching riders and bringing along a slew of young horses, one would think that Hansen doesn't have time for much else. However, this multi-faceted horseman has his pilot's license and enjoys flying small planes, and he keeps an impressive aviary that houses exotic birds at his home in Rancho Santa Fe. 

And as for that pie in the sky, 100th grand prix win? It might happen this year, it might happen next week. And, it might not. Either way, the crowd will continue to hold its breath and study this venerable rider, each and every time he enters the ring.