Looking Back: 2010 Was a Remarkable Competition Year for Boyd

The year 2010 has been a stellar one for Boyd, with his first opportunity to represent the United States at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, where he was the highest-placing individual American rider. He also finished in the top ten at the Pau CCI**** in France, his first time competing in Europe. At the end of the year Boyd is ranked third overall on the US Eventing Association Rider of the Year rankings with 552 points and second overall USEA Adult Rider at the Advanced Level. On the International Equestrian Federation’s (FEI) HSBC Rider Rankings for Eventing, Boyd finished an astounding fifth overall.

His horses have also had a banner year. Boyd’s own Neville Bardos, who is currently in the syndication process, finished tenth overall on the USEA Horse of the Year standings and 7th overall at the Advanced level. Ron and Densey Juvonen’s outstanding Hanoverian gelding Remington XXV, who was Boyd’s partner for his European four-star debut at Pau this fall, is ranked 6th overall at the Advanced level and 8th overall for Horse of the Year.

Bruce Davidson Sr.’s young Thoroughbred mare Rock on Rose, who Boyd piloted around the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** in April, finished 7th overall on the Mare of the Year rankings.

In all Boyd rode completed five separated four-star rides in 2010, with three horses at Rolex Kentucky, Neville at the WEG and Remi at Pau. According to Boyd that means that he jumped approximately 215 four-star cross-country fences and spent about 58 minutes total on four-star cross-country courses. That is some serious mileage! It’s all the more impressive that every single cross-country round was without jumping faults.

The four-star horses were not the only champions in Boyd’s barn this year. Ron and Densey Juvonen’s mare Charla tied for 8th overall at the Preliminary level; Amy Lindgren’s Minotaure du Passoir, who won this year’s Bromont CCI* in Canada, finished 10th at Prelim. Boyd was also the Adult Preliminary Rider of the Year.

With more promising horses coming along all the time, here’s looking forward to another fantastic year in 2011!

-Amber Heintzberger