Farewell Supernova

Spencer Wilton’s Olympic medallist partner Supernova has sadly passed away at the age of 22.  

The British-bred son of De Niro was a key player for the British teams throughout the 2010s, and was much-loved by Spencer, his owner Jen Goodman, and those who enjoyed time with him throughout his early career.  

Born in Wales, ‘Neville’, was bred by Mrs Kirby and bought as a yearling by Melanie Slater. Melanie introduced and sold the horse to Carl Hester, who spotted his talent early on and recognised all the ability to make a top Grand Prix horse. In his early years spent with Carl in Newent, Neville was introduced to competition by Katie Bailey who began his time inside the white boards at Novice level in 2009. Both Carl and Charlotte Dujardin recorded a handful of results on board the tall, elegant bay, before fate played its course and Spencer Wilton first came across his future star, spotted as an eight-year-old taking part in the dressage demonstration at Badminton Horse Trials in 2011.  

Spencer’s long-term supporter Jen Goodman bought Super Nova and the trio never looked back. In 2014, the combination secured their first international victories together at Barcelona CDI, winning all three Grand Prix tests at the show. The 2015 show season produced placings in Compiegne, Hagen, Darmstadt-Kranichstein and Perl Borg as Spencer and Neville’s arrival at the top of the sport looked just around the corner. Whilst 2016 would be a year to remember; two international wins at Lier CDI 3* opened a successful spring campaign which led to their first international team selection, a spot at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.  

Alongside Carl Hester (Nip Tuck), Charlotte Dujardin (Valegro) and Fiona Bigwood (Atterupgaards Orthilla), Spencer and Neville brought home team silver from the Rio Games. Individually, they achieved 72.68% in the Grand Prix and 73.61% in the Grand Prix Special, ranking them inside the top 30 in the world, an impressive championship debut.  

The pair would continue to go from strength to strength, earning a career personal best score of 78.66% in the Grand Prix test at Hartpury CDI in 2017, after earning a Grand Prix Special career best score just a couple of months earlier at Compiege CDI, another remarkable 78.35%. The same year saw a super return to the championship stage, where they were 13th in the Grand Prix Freestyle and fourth with the team representing Britain at the FEI European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. A World Equestrian Games would follow in 2018, where their 74.581% Grand Prix score helped Great Britain secure team bronze.

Although later years were marred by injury for both Neville and Spencer, who underwent back surgery in 2019, management, dedication and care led them back to the international arena in 2020 where they achieved a clean sweep of international wins, winning four classes across Keysoe and Lier with scores over 75%. Their last recorded result was a National Grand Prix class at Burrows Court, Gloucestershire, in spring 2021 where they earned a remarkable 79.60%.  

Later in 2021, Spencer announced the retirement of Neville at 18-years-old, who went on to spend four happy years at home with his owner Jen Goodman. On 28 March, Spencer announced the passing of his great friend and star horse on social media: “This is a post I’ve always dreaded having to make. It’s come about far earlier than I had ever thought but at the age of 22 our beloved Supa Nova has left us for the big green paddock in the sky. I so wish that Neville could have understood the absolute joy, excitement and at times heartache that he gave myself, his owner Jen Goodman and his totally devoted groom Claire Hinton. He took us all on the journey of a lifetime that we’ll be eternally grateful for.” 

British Dressage extends condolences to Jen, Spencer, Claire and their connections on the loss of a horse who did much for them personally, and earned a much-deserved place in British Dressage history.