Bridget “Bud” Hyem

1964 Olympic Memories

Bridget Macintyre was born at ‘Kayuga’ Muswellbrook and educated at Kayuga Primary and New England Girls College. Bridget won numerous equestrian trophies in Australia between 1940 and 1960 including Junior Girl (Sydney Royal Easter Show and Melbourne Royal Shows), Champion Lady Rider (Royal Easter Show), and Champion Showjumper on “Coronation” (Royal Easter Show). At the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo Bridget “Bud” Hyem became Australia’s first female rider to complete in an Olympic Equestrian event (Showjumping) aboard “Coronation”. Intriguingly Bridget billeted with legends Betty Cuthbert and Dawn Fraser in the Tokyo Olympic Village. The men were allowed to stay with the horses but women had to be ‘chaperoned’ in care within the village!

Hyem produced champion hack “Bon Accord” (Bred by Mr and Mrs Mackay) and was owner-breeder of 1979 Australian Showjumping Champion “Red Rocket”. Bridget’s many other horse breeding success stories include “Kibah Tic Toc” which carried Black Hill rider Matt Ryan to Double Gold at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona and “Kibah Sandstone” which Matt rode to Gold Medal victory in Sydney 2000. Bridget received special dispensation from SOCOG in order to ride ‘Kibah’ retired ‘Tic Toc’ on her leg of the Olympic torch relay through Gunnedah in 2000 rather than run or walk.

See also: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/2128204/obituary-bridget-hyem-equestrian/

See also: https://www.equestrian.org.au/news/vale-bridget-bud-macintyre-hyem

See also: https://www.theland.com.au/story/3578065/equestrian-pioneer-remembered/

See also: https://www.australianjumping.com.au/rider-history/bridget-bud-mcintyre-hyem/

Vale – Bridget ‘Bud’ (Macintyre) Hyem

See: https://www.equestrian.org.au/news/vale-bridget-bud-macintyre-hyem

Equestrian Australia (EA) is saddened by the news former Olympian Bridget ‘Bud’ (Macintyre) Hyem has passed away at the age of 81.

Growing up on her family’s property Kayuga, near Muswellbrook, NSW, Bud was a successful show jumper who reached the pinnacle of the sport in 1964 when she became the first female equestrian to represent Australia at an Olympic Games. At these Games Australia finished 7th in the team’s event and Bud aboard Coronation placed 24th individually. Bud returned to Australia a married woman, after a small wedding in Tokyo to well-known Australian show jumper Bill Hyem.
Later in life Bud bred two of Australia’s most successful event horses, Olympic gold medallists Kibah Tic-Toc and Kibah Sandstone. The half-brothers were both ridden by Matt Ryan, with Tic Toc claiming double gold in Barcelona and Sandstone gold in the team’s event in Sydney.

In an interview with the ABC’s Australian Story, Ryan said that Bud was ever encouraging. “One of the quirky problems that I had with Tic Toc was the showjumping phase, and that must’ve frustrated the hell out of Bud, because her specialty was showjumping, and the fact that that was my weakest link in three-day eventing must’ve really annoyed her.  “She would send me photos of other people riding him at top level showjumping, saying, “See, Matt? He can actually jump really well. Get your arse in gear!” Just be a little more positive to it.”

Tic-Toc returned to Australia in 1999 and in 2000 Bud took him out of retirement to ride in the Olympic torch relay prior to the Sydney Games. Before he became an Olympic horse Tic-Toc was ridden by Bud’s daughter Lisa who competed with him at local pony Club gymkhanas and jamborees. The bloodlines of Tic-Toc and Sandstone date back to a ‘little black mare’ which Bud’s father purchased from a drover for two shillings. Bud opened up her famous property ‘Kibah’ to hold both Pony Club and EA One Day Events, the well-known cross country course was attended by keen eventers from all over Australia.

EA Chairman Dr Warwick Vale paid tribute to Australia’s first ever female Olympic equestrian. “Bridget Macintyre was a pioneer in our sport and she will be remembered for her achievements as both a rider and a breeder. Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this difficult time. “As a rider Bud was at the forefront of the sport and she made history in becoming the first female equestrian to represent Australia at an Olympic Games. “As the breeder of Kibah Tic Toc and Kibah Sandstone Bud played a hand in some of Australia’s greatest equestrian triumphs and it is a rare and remarkable accomplishment that will long be remembered.”