Boyd and Silva Martin

Friday Evening Party and Saturday Schedule

2012-01-27T21:09:00.004-05:00

Two days in to the Bettina Hoy clinic we all had a great time at the reception held this evening at held at the home of Neville Bardos syndicate members George and Gretchen Wintersteen. A good time was had by all of the riders, grooms, owners and clinic supporters. We're all looking forward to our lessons tomorrow.

-Boyd

Here's the schedule:

Jan Byyny 8:00
Jan Byyny 8:45
Allison Springer 9:15
Kevin Keane 10:00
Erin Sylvester 10:45
Sara Gumbiner 11:30
Boyd Martin 1:00 (Nev)
Boyd Martin 1:45 (Otis)
Boyd Martin 2:30 (Thomas)
Jessica Hampf 3:15

Bettina Hoy Clinic Friday Schedule

2012-01-27T06:58:00.006-05:00

Allison Springer on Arthur Taking Instruction from Bettina Hoy

Schedule for Friday, January 27

8:00 Emily Van Gemeren & Berkeley
8:45 Will Coleman & Twizzel
9:30 Kevin Keane & Fernhill Flutter
10:15 Jan Byyny & Why Not
11:00 Jan Byyny & Syd Kent
11:45 Jessica Hampf & High Society
12:30 Lunch
1:15 Allison Springer & Arthur
2:00 Boyd & Remi
2:45 Boyd & Neville
3:15 Boyd & Otis

Silva, Crew and Horses Arrive in Wellington, FL

2012-01-26T20:29:00.002-05:00

Kymmy, Devon, Scout, (our new working student) , seven horses and I have arrived in Wellington, Florida to compete this weekend. Kymmy and I trained with Michael Barisone this morning and the horses were great. Michael is a huge help; I got a lot out of the lessons and the horses did great.

We have: Stately, Duvent, Jeff, Rosa, Promise, Curtis and Markie here.

We start showing tomorrow at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. There is a lot going on at that place this weekend; our show, the Wellington Classic Dressage, is combined with the World Dressage Masters and the grounds are packed!

Wish us luck!
Silva

Bettina Hoy Clinic January 26-28, 2011 at Bridle Creek Farm in Aiken

2012-01-25T07:55:00.005-05:00

Image of Bettina Hoy from www.HoyTeam.com

We are inviting some of the best horses and riders in Aiken, including potential Olympic horses that’ll be heading to Kentucky later this spring, to a three-day clinic with German rider Bettina Hoy. Everyone is welcome: owners and grooms are free and there is a $20 auditing fee for others.

Bettina is one of the best riders and trainers of all time; she and her husband Andrew, who rides for Australia, have both ridden at the Olympics and World Championships and have numerous wins around the world. She has flown over from Germany especially to come to Bridle Creek Farm for the clinic, tomorrow through Saturday.

Friday afternoon is a beer, wine and cheese "Meet Bettina" party – anyone and everyone is welcome from 1-3pm to enjoy this occasion with us.

For GPS Navigation please use this address:
Colbert Bridge Road
1139 Colbert Bridge Road
Aiken, SC 29803

Check out the schedule below for Thursday's rides so that you can come see your favorite horses and riders in action. The schedule for each day will be posted on our blog the night before. Stay tuned for more information.

Schedule

8:00 Jan Byyny (Syd Kent)

8:45 Boyd Martin (Ying Yang Yo)

9:30 Jan Byyny (Why Not)

10:15 Boyd Martin (Neville Bardos)

11:00 Boyd Martin (Otis Barbotiere)

11:45 Kevin Keane (Fernhill Flutter)

LUNCH (Drag Ring)

12:45 Will Coleman (Twizzel)

1:30 Will Coleman (Nevada Bay)

2:15 Allison Springer (Arthur)

3:00 Erin Sylvester (No Boundaries)

Tonight on Phelps Radio!!

2012-01-19T08:45:00.000-05:00

Karen O'Connor, Boyd Martin, Carol Cohen, and Bernie Traurig Join Mason Phelps Radio

Wellington, FL - January 10, 2012 - The first segment of Mason Phelps Radio was a huge success last week, and as listeners gear up for the second installment on Thursday, January 19, the guests are lining up to join Phelps in studio. Karen O'Connor, Boyd Martin, Carol Cohen, and Bernie Traurig will join Phelps and co-host Steve Williams this week at 5:00 p.m. EST onW4CY.com. Phelps and his guests will be discussing the most important issues regarding the equestrian community, from exciting upcoming events, to the challenges and obstacles the sport faces.

Olympian Karen O'Connor will be a guest this week as she prepares for Friday night's PRO DerbyCross event at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Teams are composed of three event riders, a show jumper, and a polo player. The teams compete in a relay event over a course of cross-country and stadium jumping obstacles in the International Arena. Also participating in PRO DerbyCross and joining Phelps will be eventing rider Boyd Martin.

"I'm delighted to be included on Mason Phelps Radio, and I am looking forward to talking about my year coming up in 2012, as well as the exciting DerbyCross," commented O'Connor. "I am a board member for PRO and I am also a team captain. It is a very exciting event that everyone can enjoy."

The World Dressage Masters is also right around the corner, and this week chairman of the World Dressage Masters Ambassador's Committee Carol Cohen will be in studio to discuss the upcoming event. "I am thrilled to be a guest on the show," she remarked. "I am very excited to work with Mason, he is so highly respected in the community. He knows everything and everyone, and it's really fun for me to a part of it and talk about World Dressage Masters."

Cohen added, "We're going to talk about the changes we've made for this year, the talent that is coming in, and how the venue has gotten better. This is the second year in a row that the International Polo Club has produced the event, and everything is improving."

The final guest on the show will be EquestrianCoach.com President Bernie Traurig. EquestrianCoach.com is an online education service that provides systematic, online "lessons" presented by Traurig and a host of world-class trainers and competitors.

"I am really excited to join Mason on his new radio show," expressed Traurig. "Mason and I go way back. I look forward to sharing what I've been up to and talking about my online learning tool based on the American Hunter Jumper Forward Riding System, EquestrianCoach.com."

There are 17,000 Internet radio stations worldwide and W4CY is ranked 13th in the world. Listeners can tune in by visitinghttp://w4cy.com/, and they can also call into the show with comments by dialing 561-623-W4CY (9429).

From International Polo to the Winter Equestrian Festival, Phelps will have the latest lowdown on all of the exciting events in Wellington, the equestrian capital of the world. And as you might expect, he'll be reporting weekly on who has been naughty and nice.

For more information about the new show or to tune in please visit http://w4cy.com/, the #1 ranked Internet radio station in West Palm Beach. For more information about Mason Phelps and Phelps Media Group, please visit www.phelpsmediagroup.com.

Count Down to Derbycross!

2012-01-18T09:53:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Samantha Lendl 772 633-6129 samantha@professionalriders.org

PRO DERBYCROSS OCCUPIES WELLINGTON JANUARY 20TH

Eventers. Jumpers. Polo Team Up & Take Over

(Wellington, FL) – The much anticipated PRO DerbyCross Team Competition returns to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, home of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, on Friday January, 20th at 7:00 PM. Team FarmVet/Cavalor, featuring Captain Buck Davidson, Bruce Davidson, Will Faudree, Aaron Vale and Kris Kampsen returns in full to defend their title against five other teams.

PRO DerbyCross is a team competition featuring riders from the three equestrian disciplines of eventing, show jumping and polo. Each team is composed of three event riders, a show jumper and polo player. Teams compete individually against the clock over a hybrid course that features cross country obstacles and show jumps. Olympic Gold Medalist and Canadian Eventing Team Coach, David O’Connor, will once again design the course in the International Arena.

2012 PRO DerbyCross Wellington Teams:

TEAM SMARTPAK: Captain Phillip Dutton, Eventing Boyd Martin, Eventing Jennie Brannigan, Eventing Jeffery Welles, Show Jumping Nic Roldan, Polo

TEAM WINDSOR: Captain Leslie Law, Eventing Sinead Halpin, Eventing Sharon White, Eventing Scott Smith, Show Jumping Luis Escobar, Polo

TEAM GUARDIAN HORSE BEDDING: Captain Karen O’Connor, Eventing Clark Montgomery, Eventing Marilyn Little-Meredith, Eventing Benjamin Meredith – Show Jumping John Gobin, Polo

TEAM OMEGA ALPHA: Captain Jessica Phoenix, Eventing Rebecca Howard, Eventing Selena O’Hanlon, Eventing Erynn Ballard, Show Jumping Martin Estrada, Polo

TEAM DEVOUCOUX: Captain Hannah Burnett, Eventing Shannon Lilley, Eventing Jon Holling, Eventing SJ TBA

Doug Barnes, Polo

TEAM FARMVET/CAVALOR: Captain Buck Davidson, Eventing Bruce Davidson, Eventing Will Faudree, Eventing Aaron Vale, Show Jumping Kris Kampsen, Polo

The PRO DerbyCross Calcutta Welcome Reception will be held at The White Horse Tavern at The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on January 19th at 6:30 PM. The PRO DerbyCross Team Competition takes place at the International Arena at the PBIEC on January 20th at 7:00 PM. Tickets for both the Calcutta Welcome Reception and the PRO DerbyCross Patron’s Marquee are available and general admission is free. For further information on ticket packages please visit: www.derbycross.com

Proceeds from the PRO DerbyCross Team Competition benefit Operation Homefront, which is the Official Charitable Partner of the Professional Riders Organization. Operation Homefront provides emergency financial relief for U.S. Service Members and their families in times of need as well as Wounded Warriors during their recovery and transition. Equestrian Sport Productions and the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival will be hosting hot dogs and beer for 100 of our local U.S. Service Members and their families Friday January 20th at 5:30 PM at the Suncoast Pavilion adjacent to the International Arena at PBIEC.

For information or sponsorship and advertising opportunities, please contact: Samantha Lendl, samantha@professionalriders.org

Dressage in Ocala: First Show of 2012 a Success

2012-01-16T21:55:00.006-05:00

Silva riding the 2011 USEF International Horse of the Year Neville Bardos

This weekend Kymmy, Devon and I went to the show in Ocala, Florida. We took nine horses with us so we were busy! They traveled in my five-horse trailer and the new lorry, which was great because it was so nice and comfortable for the horses, and Kymmy took her trailer, too.

I took seven dressage horses plus two event horses, Neville and Party Boy. Party Boy is Fernanda Kellogg’s prelim horse – he’s been with me for a few months since he’s a great jumper but he has trouble in the dressage. He’s come a long way; this was his first dressage show and we have been working hard. I didn’t know what to expect because he can be a wild man. Even though we were in “sunny” Florida, it was only 20 degrees and he was first to go every morning, when it was coldest, but he was good – he won both training classes and ended up training level champion, so I’m very happy with him.

Our celebrity Neville was good, too. It was very nerve wracking for me and the girls to take him, because of the pressure to keep something from happening to him! Boyd flew down to watch after the convention so there was pressure from him watching, too. Neville hasn’t been to any events in a while so I was worried about him getting wild, not to mention worried about my marriage! I was a little bit careful with him, but he came second on the first day in Third level test 1, Boyd suggested after the first day that I put more pressure on Neville instead of kind of tiptoeing around; he was hotter since I pushed him, and Third level test 2 is a tricky test with flying changes and a canter half pass, but I think it was the best trot tour that’s he’s done and he really let me ride him (see video).

Rosa Cha is back! She had a little injury and hadn’t shown for a while – she missed Devon last year. She’s a pretty hot horse as well, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I entered her in Third level test 2 and when I got on her she just turned it up; she never goes as well as at a show. She won with 73.9% and had great comments from the judges. On Sunday we did Test 3 which is harder but she can handle it easily. On Sunday she got a little more excited – she won her test with 68% but she put in two bucks and was full of herself! That’s okay since she’s just coming back.

Duvent had a great finish to the season at Dressage at Devon in Fourth level last year. I’ve been working on the tempi changes all winter – out in the field we’ve done literally hundreds of changes, but in the arena it’s still difficult. I rode him very steady in the trot, so his scores were a little on the low side, but I wanted to keep him rideable in the canter instead of going for his big spectacular trot. He finished fourth, and on Sunday I went back to the normal trot work and he scored 7’s and 8’s but he did get tense in the canter – but since the trot was better we won on 66.6% or so.

Jeff the Chef was back too – he’s been out for a long time with Lyme disease; I had never believed in it before but he was really down for a long time. I just threw him out in the pasture and let him come back on his own time. He was so young when I did the Grand Prix with him for the first time, he probably wasn’t strong enough, but I was so excited with him that I just went for it. Now I’m going to give him more time. He won the PSG on Sat and the Inter 1 on Sunday. I think I’ll keep him at that level until he gets really strong enough before I do the Grand Prix again.

Hidden Promise, (see video) is a horse that I own who was born in a Thoroughbred body but moves like a warmblood. He’s really a pleasure to have at the show; he doesn’t look at anything and just does his job. I rode him in 3rd level for the first time and he finished 4th on Sat and 3rd on Sun. He’s for sale and I think he’ll be a great horse for somebody like a Young Rider since he’s so easy and honest.

I also rode Devon’s horse Rembrandt. I’m sad that Devon will leave me eventually to go to college, and I hope she’ll go somewhere that she can keep riding part time. She is planning to sell her horse because she doesn’t have time to ride and go to school I showed him and finished fourth sat in 3rd 1 and on Sunday he finished well in 3rd level test 2. He’s been a great horse for Devon – they were championships at training and first level at the BLM’s, and now they’re moving up to Third level.

I took Stately along just to ride him, but didn’t show him. He’s a little between levels in his training right now and I wanted to keep him with me and going.

Kyymy rode Markie in PSG – they’re still green at this level and they’ve moved up pretty fast so she’s going to have to spend some time at this level before they move up again. We still have a lot of work to do perfecting the test but we’re happy with the way the horse is going. She was 6th on Sat and 3rd on Sun.

-Silva

Dressage Horses in Aiken

2012-01-16T13:51:00.008-05:00

Our dressage horses have a new home in Aiken for the next two months, at Fernanda Kellogg and Kirk Henkel's beautiful new farm called Fox Frolic. Fernanda and Kirk bought the farm not too long ago, so there is a lot of construction still going on. Once it's all finished the farm is going to be breathtaking! We are so lucky to be here.

The horses are very happy; they have huge stalls and lots of wonderful turnout. We are having such a good time with everybody at Fox Frolic!
My team this winter is of course Devon and Kymmy as well as a new working student, Scout Ford. Scout is a great addition to our team: she is a always happy and has a big smile. Her young horse Maybell is a very exiting horse with a big future.
Unfortunately Ashlea has not been able to join us yet because she is having visa problems and is still in Australia at the moment .

An update with photos and video from our weekend in Florida is coming soon.....

Silva

Official USEF Press Release!!

2012-01-13T22:49:00.000-05:00

Neville Bardos and Sjoerd Named 2011 Horses of the Year by the United States Equestrian Federation

RELEASE: January 13, 2012
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: USEF Communications Department

Cincinnati, OH – For the first time ever, the USEF crowned two horses with its highest honor, one from an International Discipline and one from a National Discipline. Neville Bardos and Sjoerd were named 2011 Horses of the Year at tonight’s USEF annual Horse of the Year celebration. Honored for their accomplishments in 2011 their roads through the last 12 months, while both exceptional, have been very different.

Videos of all of the Horses of Honor are available here:http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/USEFAnnualMeeting2012

Neville Bardos - Eventing

Horse of the Year Neville Bardos (Photo Courtesy of USEA)

He shouldn’t have lived. But he did. He shouldn’t have returned to his life as an event horse. But he returned better than ever. Trapped in a burning barn for 45 minutes, Neville Bardos made a miraculous recovery from injuries sustained in a fire that claimed the lives of six other horses at his rider Boyd Martin’s barn in West Grove, PA. The now 13-year-old Australian Thoroughbred gelding won the USEF National CCI3* championship in 2009 and was 10th at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games – leading the U.S. effort. But his life changed dramatically in the early hours of Memorial Day in 2011. Martin pulled him out of the burning barn to safety. Neville Bardos was left with horrific injuries due to massive amounts of smoke inhalation and the subsequent damage to his throat.

Neville, who is owned by 10 members of a syndicate bearing his name, never seemed to feel as badly as he should have and he began making a miraculous recovery. Through the help of his vet (Dr. Kevin Keane), his groom (Lindsey Taylor) and the Fair Hill Equine Therapy Center (where he visited the Hyperbaric Chamber) Neville defied the odds and made a miracle trip to the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in England in September. He rocketed around the cross-country course clean and fast and finished seventh at the world’s toughest CCI4*.

Braver than brave, Neville Bardos’ courage saw him through more than just a difficult cross country course it helped see Martin through the rebuilding of his own life. Shortly after the fire, Martin lost his father in a bicycling accident in Australia. Shortly after that Martin’s wife Silva lost her father to cancer. It was a nightmare summer for the Martin’s and Neville’s success helped them find their way through it.

In 2011, he was also second at the Red Hills Horse Trials in the CIC3*(in March), fourth in the Advanced at the Millbrook Horse Trials in August. If Neville Bardos had lived the rest of his life in the field this story would have had a no less incredible and happy ending. But Neville was looking to make a miracle and tonight was the next chapter in that mission.

Neville Bardos is the 2011 USEF International Horse of the Year!

2012-01-13T22:21:00.002-05:00

It was announced at a Gala dinner tonight in Cincinnati, OH that Neville Bardos is the 2011 USEF International Horse of the Year. There were a lot of other great horses nominated, and we are all very happy that so many people agreed that Neville is deserving of the title.
Many thanks to all of Neville's adoring fans, and here's to 2012!

Continued Coverage of Neville on NPR!

2012-01-13T19:44:00.002-05:00

We received a call today from the BBC regarding the recent front page article in the New York Times.
NPR has run a subsequent radio piece on Neville on "The World", which is part of BBC radio.

Do not fret if you miss it live on your local NPR station. Here it is online. Take a listen!

Boyd and Neville Featured in The New York Times

2012-01-13T09:07:00.004-05:00

Neville Bardos is a finalist for international Horse of the Year. More Photos »

By MARY PILON

Published: January 12, 2012

AIKEN, S.C. — The horses’ straw beds were ablaze, with the rest of the barn, when two men rushed in against the flames and black smoke to try to save the 11 horses inside.

“It was horrific,” said Boyd Martin, the trainer. “Basically, you could see some of my horses burnt to death.”
Six were dead. Four others escaped. Neville Bardos, a chestnut gelding and the last living horse in the barn, was found in a corner. They heard him gurgling.

Continue Reading....

And be sure to pick up a copy of today's paper!!!

Working Student Spotlight - Emily van Gemeren

2012-01-09T15:03:00.000-05:00

NAME: Emily van Gemeren
DOB: July 4, 1989
HOMETOWN: Canton, CT
WITH WINDURRA SINCE: September 2011
JOB DESCRIPTION: Working Student

Photo credit Shannon Brinkman

Emily grew up on a horse farm in Connecticut and has been working with and riding horses for sixteen years. She began her eventing career at age 10 on a one-eyed Appaloosa pony when she started training with four-star rider Jennie Goebel Tucker.

While maintaining an active eventing competition schedule, Emily also rode for her high school's Equitation team with coach Rick Caldwell for four years as well as for the Dartmouth College Dressage Team for two years with coach Lindle Sutton.

Emily came to Windurra for 3 months as a working student in 2009 during an off-term from Dartmouth College. Following her graduation in 2011, she has returned to Windurra to train, compete, and work until she starts graduate school (that is the plan for now, anyways!).

Her current competition horse is an Irish Sport Horse called Berkley. She began riding him in 2009 during her time at Windurra, and since then they have developed a special partnership, moving up to the Intermediate level at the end of 2010. In 2011, they successfully completed the Fair Hill International CCI** and plan to move up to Advanced this spring.

PRO Derbycross Returns to Wellington!!

2012-01-09T14:14:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year again.........PRO Derbycross returns to Wellington 1/19 & 1/20!!
Come join Team Smartpak, which consists of Boyd, Jennie, Phillip, and polo player Nic Roldan for a fabulous event which blends elements of XC Eventing with GP Show Jumping. Each team will consist of 3 event riders, 1 show jumper (TBD) and 1 polo player......with all team members tackling an exciting jumping course under the lights in Wellington.

Needless to say the Thursday night Calcutta is quite the party to attend, and the 7 teams in competition are all star studded. Check out the promo video below & see you there!!
For tickets call 772-633-6129 or email info@professionalriders.org

Event Horses Arrive in Paradise

2012-01-05T10:28:00.014-05:00

The Windurra event horses just managed to avoid the freezing weather that arrived in Pennsylvania yesterday. We have officially relocated for the winter to 'horse heaven' down here in Aiken, SC. We arrived at the beautiful Bridle Creek Farm to be blown away by the improvements in the facilities over the past few years.

Farm owner Ilene Boorman has transformed her farm into the ultimate event horse training facility. Since last year, she has added a huge jumping ring with rubber footing, eight more post and rail paddocks, mirrors for the dressage ring and a cross-country training course built by Eric Bull from ETB Construction.

Eric has built a water jump (that can be ridden in 6 different lines), a bank complex (that can be ridden in 9 different lines) ditches, adjustable trakehners and a sunken road (that can be ridden in 5 different ways). He has also placed a huge arrangement of portables that can be moved
around in all sorts of ways.
The dressage and jumping ring has been carefully constructed by a good mate of mine, Brian Riedmuller [301-370-5365]. Brian looks to be the ring construction specialist down here in Aiken, working on a few different farms.

I have a great crew of staff helping with the event horses here, led by 2011 USEA Groom of the Year Lindsey Taylor, assistant rider Caitlin Silliman, rising star Sara Gumbiner and working students Emily Van Gemeren and Erin Lehman. I must say it is a lot easier to keep the farm neat and tidy since we are not sharing the facility with Silva and the dressage queens!
All of the horses look in top nick, and are slowly getting fit for the eventing to begin in February.

I am open for business, teaching jumping lessons here in the afternoon. Lessons are $100, which includes the facility fee for the farm. So if you are in Aiken and need a hand, text me on 610-806-2381 to work out a time.

-Boyd

They Shipped to Aiken in Style!!

2012-01-04T09:30:00.001-05:00

Stadium International Trucks, an official US distributor of THEAULT Horse Boxes, is proud to support Boyd and Silvia Martin!

Boyd and Silva are thrilled to be driving their new THEAULT Morpheus, which provides safe, compact and comfortable transportation for 2 horses with a cabin that can be conformed to either day or night living. Horses travel rear facing in the Morpheus which has proven to be less stressful and they love the convenience of a hauling vehicle which doesn't require daily hook up. They find the interior to be very luxurious and every amenity has been very well thought out. They viewed the horses on the monitor as they shipped down to Aiken & the horses shipped perfectly. The cab chasis is so powerful that they were able to hook up their 2 horse trailer to the back and haul 4 from Cochranville to Aiken in style!!

Established in 1924 by Emile Theault in the Normandy town of Avranches, the company began life as a constructor of horse drawn carriages, livestock carriers and delivery trucks. With Normandy being in the heart of France's Horse country, Theault's focus turned to Horse transportation and in the 1950's the company chose to specialize entirely in this field.

In 1961 THEAULT produced the first ever compact 2-stall rear-facing horse van, a design template for which has influenced many other aspiring manufacturers. With an evolving reputation for innovation and quality, THEAULT quickly secured their place as pioneers in the design and development of horse vans, which is seen today in THEAULT's international distribution throughout the World.

In 1998 THEAULT produced the first rear facing aluminum van, providing a more economical and durable vehicle with improvements such as sliding rail partitions, quick release breast bars and crash tested bulkheads. This quality and attention to detail has helped capture business from Olympic riders, Champion racehorse trainers, professional horse transporters, Police forces and even Armies throughout the world. In 2010, THEAULT built a fleet of ten 9-stall trucks for Dubai's magnificent Meydan project!

Stadium International Trucks, an official distributor of THEAULT vans in the USA, has been in business for over 28 years selling International, Hino, Mitsubishi and Ottawa Trucks. Stadium's desire to continue their product line growth resulted in the acquisition of a Theault franchise in 2011, and they are excited to bring THEAULT's unrivaled history of high quality and safety conscious horse transportation to the United States.

For more information on THEAULT vans, please visit their website.

New Sales Horse: Ricochet EDF

2011-12-28T12:51:00.003-05:00

NAME: Ricochet EDF
SEX: Mare
COLOUR: Bay (w/2 hind fetlock socks)
HEIGHT: 15.3hh
DATE OF BIRTH: 6/29/2005
COUNTY OF BIRTH: Bedford, MA, USA
SIRE: Resonanz (by Rhodiamont)
DAM: Rhyme (by Clover Hill ISH)
BREED: Oldenburg/ISH
BREEDER: Eleazer Davis Farm, Inc.
PLACE OF BIRTH: Bedford, MA USA
OWNER: Lisa Samoylenkom / Eleazer Davis Farm.

Cheti is super talented, nice moving and unbelievable jumping young horse. She is a real lady that has the ability to take an accomplished rider as far as they want to go in either dressage, show jumping or eventing.

She was bred by her owner Lisa Samoylenkon of Belford MA. and trained professionally from the get go. She is bred beautifully with jumping and dressage lines from Germany and Ireland in her pedigree. In the right hands this could be one of America's top young horses.

Please call Boyd for more info 610-806-2381

Happy Holidays

2011-12-28T08:07:00.003-05:00

We would like wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - and what a year! 2011 will definitely be remembered for us for a long, long time. It was the ultimate of highs and lows.

This past year was probably the toughest year for us with all of the tragedies that hit us in the middle of the year. Without a doubt, we could not have survived it without the hundreds of people that supported us through the tough times. One thing we learned is that when things go bad, you see people's true colors. We would like to thank everyone that chipped in to help us out.

We would especially like to thank the wonderful people that worked for us this year. We had the best team in the world that really rallied when times were tough. Without this awesome group of people, we could not have produced the outstanding results that we saw with the horses this year.

We would also like to pay tribute to the awesome owners that provide these spectacular horses for us to train. Without these horses, we would be nothing.

So thank you, and good luck for 2012!!

Boyd & Silva

Thanks to Our Hard Working Staff!

2011-12-21T10:36:00.000-05:00

We're starting to gather bios and pictures of our hard working staff here at Windurra USA! A big thanks goes out to all the staff here at our barn & we're excited to start posting their bios on our website.

Here are the first two entries:

Dressage Staff

NAME: Kymberly Pullen

HOMETOWN: Sugar Land, TX

WINDURRA SINCE: 2/2011

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Grooming, Riding and Hauling

Kymmy graduated Texas A&M University with a degree in Animal Science and Business. She began by riding and competing in the hunters, but has been competing in dressage since college.

Kymmy has brought her own horse along to WIndurra to work under the tutalage of Silva. Wiedermark "Markie" , is a 18.1h hanoverian gelding, who she has had since he was 4. Kymmy has brought him up through the levels to Prix St. George with their debut at Intermediare coming in the Spring of 2012 and their first CDI during the summer.

Eventing Staff

NAME: Lindsey Taylor

DOB: 3/14/1986

HOMETOWN:.

Saint Charles, IL

WINDURRA SINCE: 1/2011

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Head Groom and Operations Manager

Lindsey got hooked on horses while she was a freshman at Wheaton College at the age of 18. Looking for something to distract her from her schoolwork, she attended a mini event that her younger sister was competing in. She got the idea that riding might be a fun extra-curricular activity and began taking once a week lessons with Pat Bunge at a small eventing barn, Red Roses Farm in Saint Charles, IL.

One thing led to another and she was soon leasing a horse and competing in local events. She rode a borrowed horse in a clinic with Becky Holder during this time and was impressed by the enthusiasm, expertise and attention to detail that Becky brought to her teaching. Lindsey decided to pursue a working student position with Becky in 2008 and 2009, during which time she learned an immeasurable amount about eventing at it's highest levels, and became quite interested in grooming and horse care.

It's All About Giving at This Time of Year

2011-12-20T21:31:00.000-05:00

NJ Star Ledger has run a fabulous article in the sports section about giving back to the local horse community throughout the holiday season. They also give a nice nod to Neville's nomination for Horse of the Year noting that, "Neville Bardos, who survived a devastating barn fire in May, has to be the odds-on favorite for the U.S. Equestrian Federation's international horse of the year honors."

There is also mention about fellow competitor Lisa Marie Fergusson loss of Smart Move this past week down in Wellington Florida. Through the SCES (who raised over $50K for us in the aftermath of the TPF fire), a fundraising account has been set up to help Lisa, and is posted on Eventing Nation. Please consider helping another rider in need this holiday season.

Check out the full article here & have a wonderful Christmas!

On the Way Home from Germany

2011-12-18T18:12:00.002-05:00

I am on the plane home to the USA ! I have Internet on this Lufthansa flight.
It's great!! Here is a pic of my neighbor on the plane!

I am sorry that we have not blogged more about Ash and Mintie's Germany trip.
Overall it was a great experience for Ash, but it was also very disappointing.

Ashlea and Mintie did a nice test on Friday but Mintie was not quite right in the trot. The canter work was great. They had no mistakes and Ash rode very well. After we got the score sheet back and the judges also commented on Mintie being not quite right behind, we decided to scratch him from the freestyle. It was heartbreaking for Ashlea but at the end of the day we have to do what's right for the horse.

Ash and all of us have been working so hard to get to Frankfurt, but horses are
horses and not machines. And that is why we love them so much!!!
Ashlea has learned so much from this whole experience and she has handled the situation amazingly well! There will be many more international competitions for Ashlea and the next time all she learned from this trip will help her.

I am looking forward to getting home and riding again! Only 3 more hours to go....

Silva

Travels in England and an Exciting New Import

2011-12-17T08:04:00.011-05:00

I've had a fantastic couple of months away from the intense eventing competition schedule, which has allowed me to enjoy one of my passions: finding new, exciting young prospects.

Enjoying a pint with Dave

Recently Katie Walker, Dave Leinhauser and I had a wonderful couple of days in England scouring the country for horses.

Brian Hyslop

We were lucky enough to be guided by our new team Chef de Equipe, Brian Hyslop, who was in charge of the heavy social schedule that consisted of dinner parties, fox hunting and many team meetings at the pubs we passed by. We were also very fortunate that Rachael Wakefield from Uptown Eventing lined up around 35 top class young event horses for us to try.

Katie Walker sizing up one of the enormous hedge jumps in the Quorn Hunt field

One of the highlights of our four-day trip was the opportunity to hunt with the very prestigious Quorn Hunt. Dave and I borrowed horses from Irish eventing Olympian Mark Kyle.

Hunting with Mark Kyle

We hunted huge hedge fences, trappy iron gates and ditches that sent shivers down my spine over some of the most beautiful country in Leicestershire County for over four hours. I was very impressed not only by the superb country we rode, but the quality of the horses seen in the hunt.

Finally our horse shopping ventures were a success! Upgrade is a stunning five year old gelding that really stood out from the rest of the bunch. He is seven-eighths English Thoroughbred and one-eighth Irish Sport Horse. He is a very elegant mover which I think the dressage judges will be impressed with. His jump has good technique and scope to spare. All in all, Dave, Katie and I felt this horse showed the potential of a future four-star champion.

I am very fortunate for Katie and Cuyler Walker to purchase this exciting horse. He will fly to America just before the new year and join the other Walker event horse, Brewster. I hope to start eventing him sometime in February. It would also be a real thrill if I could move him up to Preliminary at the Plantation Field Horse Trials in the fall, as the Walkers are the landowners and event organizers of this great event.

-Boyd

A Gift of Art from Bramble Hollow Fine Arts

2011-12-16T10:02:00.000-05:00

The entire crew at Windurra USA would like to thank Angela Deppe for her beautiful gift to Lillian Heard, a sculpture created out of polymer clay from a picture of Lillian on Ariel during one of their dressage tests. I've attached a picture of the piece from Angela, which was mailed to Lillian's parents this past week.

The following is a description of Angela's business and choice in artistic medium for this sculpture. Thanks again to Angela for all of her efforts in creating this beautiful piece!

"My business is called Bramble Hollow Fine Arts, at www.bramblehollow.com or on facebook as Bramble Hollow Fine Arts. I live in Sykesville, Maryland.

Right now my sculptural art is strictly realistic portraiture, with a nod to Eastern and classical influences as far as composition and decorative elements. My art background consists of two semesters of figurative sculpture at Towson State, a summer course at painting at The Mitchell School in Lutherville, MD with Richard House in 2000 - where I learned how to see -and most recently a course of plein air painting with Tim Bell in Easton, MD.

When I was a child, music was the family passion so there was nothing left for other pursuits. I became self taught in anything that caught my fancy - from wood burning and psanky, to watercolor and oils. I listened very, very well at Pony Club, and wore out the how-to books in the public library. In fact, the Pony Club moms used to call me 'Princess Daisy', because I earned my pony's hay with the premiums from my 4-H art contest winnings every year. As an adult I took up carriage driving and was an adept student if I won the occasional spot for a clinic...wore out my volume of Centered Riding and Podhasky's books such that I won the Laurels as my first CDE with a pony I trained myself, as a green driver.

I can't help but bring that same determination to my dream business here, which shows in my ability to capture a resemblance...portrait artists aren't simply recreating beauty or expressing their own interpretation - they have to convince, as well. I work from photos, but a solid understanding of anatomy and biomechanics gives me an edge in creating a image that celebrates the cycle of energy inherent in every pose or stride. The artistry in my work is buried in the bas relief...I can manipulate the viewer to focus on this, lead their eye to that through detail and profile. I want them to marvel at how different it looks from every angle and with every change in the light, so that it appears to be many works of art in one.

So much of our lives is spent in front of a flat screen - a sculpture is two dimensions closer to reality."

If interested in commissioning Angela for your own piece, her contact info is attached!

Boyd 9th in the World in HSBC Rankings

2011-12-16T07:53:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to Boyd on finishing 2011 in the top ten elite event riders in the world! He finishes ranked ninth with 345 points, joining top riders from around the world in the upper echelon of the sport. For complete ranking information click here (be sure to scroll down for the list).

Vote for Neville for USEF Horse of the Year!!!

2011-12-15T17:31:00.001-05:00

Lexington, KY - To reach the highest level of excellence in equestrian sport takes talent, perseverance, a tremendous spirit and often, unwavering courage. In 2011, six horses have shown the world those qualities and more. And on January 13, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will bestow two of them with the prestigious title of Horse of the Year, the highest honor the USEF awards a horse. This year - a change from years past - both a national and international horse will win.

The six champions have earned their place on the elite list as USEF Horses of Honor, and each will be recognized at the USEF Horse of the Year Awards gala and dinner in January - part of the USEF Annual Meeting - at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza in Cincinnati, OH.

It will be up to you to choose the two special horses, selecting from a range of talents and from across the Federation's breeds and disciplines. Your vote will help determine the champions that join the pantheon of past winners including reining horse Gunners Special Nite (2010); dressage horse Ravel (2009); driving horse Jamaica (2008); eventer Theodore O'Connor (2007); show jumper Authentic (2006); and dressage horse Brentina (2005).

Neville Bardos.
StockImageServices.com.

Neville Bardos (Mahayaa x Zambia)

1999 Australian Thoroughbred Gelding

Owner: Neville Bardos Syndicate

2011 marked a year of tragedy for eventing rider Boyd Martin. He lost six horses in a horrific barn fire on Memorial Day but was able to save five. One of those saved was Neville Bardos. The failed Australian racehorse was trapped in the fire for nearly 45 minutes before Martin was able to pull him out. Neville suffered burns and severe smoke inhalation that required extensive rehabilitation. The prognosis was grim, but he fought through it and defied every odd. He made a miraculous recovery to return to competition two months later. Martin lost his father and father-in-law over the summer and he set a big goal for Neville to try to get him through the tragedy.

Neville and Martin went on to not only compete in the CCI4* at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials - but they placed seventh out of 81 entries in September. He jumped only one of nine double-clear cross-country rounds over arguably the world's toughest cross-country track.

Voting Is Now Open!

Two of these six exceptional horses will be honored as the overall 2011 USEF Horse of the Year, a mark of distinction that will last a lifetime. Now, it is up to you to decide who will receive the top tribute in 2011.

Simply visit http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/hoty/Default.aspx and type in your email address to access the voting portal. Voting will end at Midnight [ET] on Monday, January 2, 2012.

For more information regarding the Equestrian of the Year program or any of the six Horses of Honor, contact Trisha Watkins, USEF Awards Manager, at 859.225.6944 or tlwatkins@usef.org.

Three-Year-Olds Finish Marathon Trip from Australia

2011-12-13T19:55:00.013-05:00

A shipment of four three-year-old horses finally arrived at the farm today after a lengthy trip from Australia. Silva and I bred all of these horses in Australia, and with the help of a few investors they made the voyage without too much trouble.

The two dressage horses are:
Hannah Montana (pictured above) - 3-year=old filly by His Highness out of Rosa Cha. Rosa is one of Silva's top up and coming young horses. Thanks to Sarah Reese of Malvern, PA for helping us get her here.
Junno (above) - 3-year-old filly by Jive Magic, who happens to be Jeff the Chef's sire, out of a Wolkenstein II mare, that was also the dam of Fendi, a horse that we sold here in the States two years ago. Thanks to Faye Woolf for getting her here.

The two event horses are:

Wallaroo (photo above) - 3 year gelding by Stacatto, who happens to also be the sire of Stuart Tinney's Adelaide 4-star winner Panamera . He is out of Brilliant Silva, the dam of Waranga, and also by Brilliant Invader who sired Olympic and World Champion Ready Teddy. Wallaroo is 75% Australian Thoroughbred and 25% Dutch Warmblood. Thanks to Amy Lindgren for helping me get this stunning horse on the plane.
Ray Price (above) - 3 year old gelding by Raise A Stanza who has sired many 4-star horses in Australia, out of Fair Fiona, a mare that we sold last year that both evented and did dressage with Silva. Ray Price is the name of a tough Australian Rugby league player. Ray is also 75% thoroughbred and 25% Dutch Warmblood. Big cheers to Amy Lindgren for helping me get this guy here.

All in all, it took 13 days of travel to get these young horses from Lochinvar, NSW in Australia to Sydney airport, then to LAX, then to Kentucky by truck, then up to our place in Cochranville. All of the horses looked exhausted from the trip. They were all glad to see some green grass and a paddock after being locked up for so long. My plan is to leave them here in PA for the winter to recover, then start them up in the spring when we get back from Aiken.

Cheers,
Boyd

The Journey to Germany

2011-12-12T09:16:00.005-05:00

Ashlea , Mintie , Donna and I have arrived in the Mecca of Dressage: GERMANY!

Mintie traveled very well, with Ashlea and Donna on the plane with him. I got here a day earlier and borrowed my sister Laura`s car and trailer and drove to Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam to pick up the three of them.

We then drove back over the border to Germany; Mintie is staying at Laura's barn in Willich, Germany until we leave for Frankfurt on Wednesday or Thursday morning.

Ashlea rode Mintie lightly today and he looks great. Tomorrow we will start working harder and focus on the test that she will ride on Friday morning and the Freestyle that she will ride on Sunday.

We will keep everybody posted. Fingers crossed!!!!

Silva

The Night of Nights at the USEA Convention

2011-12-11T21:00:00.008-05:00

The last leg of the USEA Annual Convention in Nashville, TN featured the awards dinner hosted by eventing legend Jimmy Wofford. While Buck Davidson took home most of the loot, we managed to snag a couple of awards, most notably with super groom Lindsey Taylor walking away with the 2011 USEA Christine E. Stafford Groom of the Year Award last night, along with lucy Beard of Kalispell, MT. There are two winners for this award - a professional and amateur. Lindsey won the jacket, shown in the photo below, and $500.(This is not to be confused with the PRO award, which Lindsey also won!) Jimmy noted in his presentation that Lindsey groomed for me at all 175 of my eventing starts this year.
My good mate and vet, Dr Kev Keane took home the Advanced Amateur Rider of the Year and the Adult Amateur Rider of the Year which landed him a brand new saddle.

I received the Advanced Rider of the Year thanks to a lot of success with a large pool of Advanced horses that I rode throughout the year, including the indomitable Neville Bardos, Otis Barbotiere, Ying Yang Yo, Cold Harbour, Last Monarch and Remington XXV. I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to ride this great group of horses this past year.
I was surprised at the end of the evening to win an award for showing courage and resilience in the past year of eventing. Jimmy spoke very kindly of my ups and downs in 2011 and talked about Neville's comeback to top level competition at Burghley after the fire. It is a magnificent trophy that weighs a lot!

All in all it was a brilliant convention.
Boyd

PRO Salutes Lindsey!

2011-12-10T22:41:00.004-05:00

Myself with Lindsey and Karen O'Connor

Last night my groom Lindsey Taylor was awarded the award for Best Groom in the USA at a cocktail party at the American Eventing Association's annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee. There was a huge turnout for the awards night, at which Karen O'Connor presented Lindsey with a silver cup and a check for $5,000.00. PRO also donated $500 to charity for the occasion. Lindsey made a sensational speech thanking PRO for the award.

A huge thanks Lindsey for all that you do!

-Boyd

Training Solutions from Top Event Riders

2011-12-10T13:40:00.003-05:00

Boyd took part in this popular seminar at the USEA Convention in Nashville, TN this year. Click here to read the audience's questions and answers from the panel of top riders.

H.H. Lancaster arrives from Canada

2011-12-09T20:52:00.005-05:00

A big congratulations must go to Ron & Densey Juvonen and Justina & Art Dodge on their purchase of a very, very impressive 5-year-old gelding: H.H. Lancaster is a Canadian-bred, 17hh Thoroughbred/Hanoverian/French cross gelding that Silva and I found on a tour of horses a couple of weeks ago in Ontario.
.
Silva and I spent a few days cruising around Canada searching for horses. Waylon
Roberts had Lancaster in training at Dreamcrest Equestrian thanks to Sue Ockendon. Lancaster looks to be a super mover and a scopey jumper that has plenty of ability. The plan is to get to know him and start eventing him midway through the season in Aiken next year.

His name was thought up between the two couples of owners: Ron and Densey own Henley House Stables and Art and Justina are from Lancaster....thus H.H. Lancaster. Again, a big thanks to the new supporting sets of owners!

On our way home from looking at around 50 horses
we managed to do a little sightseeing at Niagara Falls.

-Boyd

Boyd Featured in Sports Illustrated Olympic Coverage

2011-12-08T11:25:00.001-05:00

FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:

Boyd Martin's favorite saying, no matter the circumstances, is, "It could always be worse."

But for the U.S. equestrian team member and 2012 Olympic hopeful, that saying was barely applicable when he nearly lost all of his horses and staff when his barn caught fire at the end of May.

"[The saying] just says so much about his attitude," says the head manager of his horses and stables of just over a year, Lindsey Taylor. She pauses to reflect, "He kind of stopped saying that for awhile after the fire. I think it took a lot out of him, everything that we lost."

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/olympics/12/06/Boyd-Martin-Olympic-hopeful/index.html#ixzz1fxegtS6N

Rider Boyd Martin rallies after fire nearly burns Olympic dreams - SI.com - Olympics

Memorial for Horses Lost in Fire

2011-12-03T09:46:00.001-05:00

A big thanks must go to the owners of the six horses that were lost in the Memorial Day fire at True Prospect Farm.

Each owner has purchased a pear tree in memory of their horse, and the trees have been planted along the driveway at our farm in Cochranville, PA. The trees were organized by Charla's owner, Densey Juvonen.

Smartpak Equine were also nice enough to make plaques with each horse's name on it, which are mounted on stones. I think that this is a great way to memorialize the wonderful horses that were lost in the fire. As time goes on the tragedy becomes more distant, however the horses will never be forgotten.

Silva Improving 'The Party Boy'

2011-12-02T07:01:00.002-05:00

There are many 'perks' to be married to Silva, one of them being that she is an amazing dressage trainer. She spends most of her days training and teaching pure dressage horses, but I often manage to get a helping hand .

"Party Boy", otherwise know as Curtis, is owned by Fernanda Kellogg and Nick Meyers of Millbrook, New York. He is a stunning looking American Thoroughbred that oozes with talent and class. He is athletic, bold and gorgeous and looks to be one of my up and coming horses for the future.

This year I managed to take him from Training to Preliminary in eventing. He is a super jumper, but the one phase in the events that he has struggled with has been the dressage: I found him a little stiff, and a little stuck in his body, and I have not had much luck improving his scores over the past six months. This has been heartbreaking as I always have the feeling that this horse could be the real deal. So I have had to call in the dressage trainer to take over the ride....

Silva has been working with him the last month and has improved him hugely. He is moving better, looks more relaxed and "through" and looks like he is now enjoying the work. I plan to leave him with Silva for the next month or two, and really get him up to par in his dressage before I start eventing him again. Check out the above youtube.com video of him working with Silva at home last week.

Let this be a lesson to any up and coming eventing lad looking for a future relationship.....

Boyd

Treat Yourself for the Holidays - Videos on Sale!!!

2011-12-01T10:12:00.001-05:00

It's the beginning of the holiday shopping season and we're all stressed out about sending out Christmas cards and deciding what presents to get for our family and friends. Why not be a little self indulgent and treat yourself to some instructional videos?! Now is the time to snuggle up with a cup of hot chocolate and improve your riding skills!

Come backstage at the Red Hills International Horse Trials to gain understanding into upper level methods for preparing for your competition. Regardless of your level, these tools & strategies can be applied to your pre-game warmup so you can improve your dressage score and conquer the cross country!! So go ahead and treat yourself this season........and the price is right!!

Both Series 2 Videos are on sale for $9.95 throughout the month of December.

1. Preparing for the Dressage Phase
Sell Videos sell videos on demand sell videos online video affiliate program

2. Preparing For A Successful Cross Country Ride!
Sell Videos sell videos on demand sell videos online video affiliate program

Competition Horse: New Cadet

2011-11-30T09:42:00.000-05:00

NAME: New Cadet
SEX: Gelding
COLOUR: Brown
HEIGHT: 16.2hh
DATE OF BIRTH: 4-23-05
COUNTY OF BIRTH: USA
SIRE: Private Terms
DAM: Couloir (by Nepal)
BREED: American Thoroughbred
BREEDER: Jimmy Hawkins
PLACE OF BIRTH: Lexington, KY
OWNER: Mrs Anne Hennesey, VT

Caddy is nothing short of what I would call a 'Raw Athelete'. I believe if we lived in medieval times, I would like to ride this horse to battle. He is bold, powerful and very tough.

I found Caddy in Atlanta Georgia, shortly after the memorial day fire. My coach, Phillip Dutton had spotted him while teaching a jumping clinic at another American Olympian's farm at Julie Richards. He came home and said to me that he had found 'your kind of horse'. I flew down there and liked him from the get go.

Anne Hennesy has been a long time supporter and friend. She has owned some fantastic horses in the past with Benwald and the late Summer Breeze. Both Anne and I were devastated in loosing Summer, and it was a tough job finding a horse to take her place. I knew when I got Caddy she would love this horse.

Even though Caddy is a failed race horse, and originally was discovered at a horse rescue facility, I believe he is the real deal. He has the movement and look for dressage, a serious jump and gallops with ease. I really enjoy training this gelding and have high hopes for him.

Talented Young Horse for Sale - Bacardi!

2011-11-29T09:04:00.000-05:00

NAME: Bacardi
DOB: April 5, 2006
SEX: Gelding
COLOUR: Bay
HEIGHT: 17.0 hh
BREED: Dutch WB
(KPWN-NA 840025 200600417)
SIRE: Sir Sinclair
DAM: Rideau Hall
PLACE OF BIRTH: Pennsylvania
OWNER: Sandy Issler

Bacardi is a handsome 5 year old, 17.0hh registered Dutch Warmblood (KWPN) bay gelding who is blessed with wonderful gaits and the ability to jump. This exciting young horse is loaded with talent, has received excellent training from some of the best trainers in the country and has had a great start to his career.

Bacardi's training began with natural horsemanship where he was desensitized, learned manners, respect, and some cool tricks. As a 4 yo, Bacardi was given a wonderful start in dressage with trainer Dorie Addy-Crow. Bacardi went with Dorie to Florida for further training and for the 2010-2011 dressage show season where he competed in many top prestigious USDF/USEF shows at Training Level with scores into the 70s. Bacardi also competed in dressage shows with his amateur owner and is currently schooling first and second level movements. He also finished 12th in the country at Training Level in the USDF-KWPN-NA 2011 Final Award Standings.

As talented as this elegant fellow is for dressage, Bacardi really wants to jump. Bacardi is currently in training with Boyd Martin to develop him into an eventing horse. With his wonderful dressage background, intelligence, and athletic jumping ability, Bacardi shows great potential as an eventing horse. He has no vices. Bacardi clips, loads, has excellent feet, is good for farrier and vet and enjoys hacking in his spare time.

Please call 610-806-2381 to set up an appointment to see Bacardi!

Congratulations to Lindsey Taylor for Winning PRO Liz Cochran Memorial Groom's Award

2011-11-28T15:28:00.001-05:00

Press Release from PRO

Lindsey Taylor Selected as First Honoree of the PRO Liz Cochran Memorial Groom's Award

Lindsey to be Honored at the PRO Awards Reception on December 9th

Vero Beach, FL - November 28, 2011: The Professional Riders Organization is very pleased to announce that Lindsey Taylor, head groom for Boyd Martin, has been selected as the recipient of the inaugural PRO Liz Cochran Memorial Groom's Award. Lindsey will be honored December 9, 2011 at 6:00 PM at the PRO Awards Reception at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee site of the 2011 USEA Convention. Lindsey will receive an engraved silver bowl, a $5,000 cash award, and PRO will donate $500 to a cancer charity of Lindsey's choice in memory of Liz Cochran.

The PRO Liz Cochran Memorial Groom's award will be offered annually to an outstanding groom of a professional member of PRO who has had a large influence on their rider's career and the health and well-being of the horses under their care. Nominees should epitomize the example set forth by Liz Cochran, who groomed professionally for Abigail Lufkin and sadly lost her life to cancer. The following criteria is used to evaluate the nominees: the groom always puts the horses first; immaculate turnout of horses at home and competitions regardless of level; communicates effectively with owners, riders, students and staff; rallies a positive stable atmosphere both at home and away; has an infectious, positive attitude; shares their knowledge of the job in a effort to educate others; demonstrates that no job is beneath them; is well presented in their attire and courteous in both manners and speech; and enhances their rider's career.

Karen O'Connor spearheaded the award envisioning formal recognition by fellow professionals that would not only honor the outstanding qualities of professional grooms, but also reward them with a significant cash prize. The nominees put forward by riders for the 2011 PRO Liz Cochran Memorial Groom's Award included Emma Ford (Phillip Dutton) and Nate Varcoe-Cocks (Will Faudree). Mark Hart, Chair of the PRO Awards Committee summed up what was a very challenging decision: "All of the nominees are extremely worthy of winning this award and it was very difficult to choose one winner. Given the incredibly trying circumstances that Lindsey faced this year with the fire in Boyd's barn, and the incredible way she has dealt with every situation she has been challenged with, the committee felt that this was her year to be honored in what we know will be a long career." Other members of the PRO Award Committee include: Mary Coldren, Rick Dunkerton, Faye Woolf, Joanie Morris, Evie Dutton, Laura VanderVliet and Sara Kozumplik.

In nominating Lindsey, Boyd expressively described her outstanding qualities: "I believe the events that led up to, during and after the Memorial Day barn fire separates Lindsey from the rest of the list of candidates. This lady was able to deal with the tragedy of the loss of the horses that died, also rehabilitating the injured ones that survived, whilst working out of a number of barns, and was still able to fulfill her energy of the competition horses that were unaffected, all at the same time without complaint, negativity, or fuss, which impressed me more than anything." In 2011 Boyd calculated that he had 175 eventing starts, which Lindsey groomed for, braiding 2,050 braids from the big international-three day events like Rolex, Burghley and Boekelo to horse trials like Sporting Days, Waredaca and Loch Moy. Boyd pointed out that during this time Lindsey worked nine weeks straight without a day off because "her commitment is bordering on the line of obsession."

Thanksgiving Day Hunting

2011-11-26T09:04:00.008-05:00

Thanksgiving day this year was once again a fantastic day out hunting here in Pennsylvania. The Cheshire Hounds Thanksgiving Day Fox Hunt has become a favorite day on my yearly calendar. This year I anticipated a challenging day of jumping, so I came well mounted. I pulled out the seasoned 4-star campaigner and veteran field hunter, Remington XXV to tackle the famous Cheshire country.

Gretchen Wintersteen (left) with Boyd on Remi

Since competing Remi at Boekelo in the Netherlands in late October, he had a few weeks off, then came back in to gentle work. I hunted him alongside his owners, Ron and Densey Juvonen, once a week in the second and third field for him to get the understanding of hunting again during the past month.

We had a fantastic day out, where we got to gallop and jump along with all sorts of members of the community. There were famous huntsmen, jockeys, racing trainers, land owners, businessmen and women and equine enthusiasts among the riders. Legendary race trainer Michael Dickerson chose to join the hunt on foot, a number of times overtaking me with lightning speed!

I have a new level of appreciation and respect for Stuart Malone, who took an almighty crash at a three-railer. I was expecting the hunt to call in the Medics, but Stuart chose to walk it off, re-mounting and continuing the hunt. Gladiatorial stuff!

I spent the majority of the hunt just off the pace, enjoying the action with some friends in the beautiful weather. I stayed with a fun group of riders including Katie Walker and her son Harry, (Brewster's owners), Dave Leinhauser,(fox hunter genius trainer of all time), Neville Bardos Syndicate members Ron & Densey Juvonen, Gretchen Wintersteen, race rider and former Cheshire Whip Nial Malloy and Unionville super vet Peter Blauner.

Silva watching the hounds in action

Without doubt, we are very lucky to have such wonderful open country in this area: a fantastic way to spend Thanksgiving day.

-Boyd

Meet Windurra's Newest Member: Erin Lehman

2011-11-26T07:51:00.002-05:00

We are very happy to announce the newest member of our team, Erin Lehman! Erin is from Ames, IA and will be joining Boyd's crew in Aiken, SC for the three-month winter season.

Erin has an impressive background including extensive experience in Pony Club, a position as a working student for Susan Harris and a riding education with John Staples. She is currently a Senior in high school and will be graduating early, this December, to begin working towards her riding and horse management goals. She hopes to pursue a career in the horse industry, riding event horses and coaching event riders. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic and a desire to learn.

Her horse, Super Fly, will also be joining us in Aiken. Erin and Super Fly have been together for a year and have just successfully completed their third preliminary horse trials together. Erin's riding goals for 2012 include completing a one star and competing at the intermediate level by the end of the year. She also hopes to achieve her HB and B Pony Club ratings during the coming spring or summer.

We are excited to have such a dedicated, enthusiastic, and ambitious new team member joining us in Aiken this winter! Congratulations, and welcome, Erin!

-Lindsey Taylor

Note from blog administrator: Erin is a teenage girl. Considering the tone of previous comments, please think before posting and keep your comments respectful. -AMH

Silva and Aesthete Named to USEF Developing List

2011-11-24T21:37:00.003-05:00

Silva and "Stately"
Photo courtesy Cindy Lawler

Congratulations to Silva and Aesthete, the 6-year-old gelding owned by Faye Woolf, on being named to the USEF Developing Horse/Rider List with an average score of 8.72 (Young Horse Division).

For the complete list please click here

Position Available: Working Student for Boyd Martin

2011-11-22T08:06:00.005-05:00

The Farm in Aiken

Want to spend the winter in Aiken, South Carolina
in the heart of the high-performance eventing scene?
Boyd has an opening for a working student!

This is a temporary position, beginning January 1, 2012 and ending March 25, 2012, with the possibility of an extension for the right individual. The ideal candidate for must be enthusiastic about working extremely long hours, six to seven days per week. The work is hard, and consists of stall cleaning, grooming horses, tacking and untacking horses, and general barn and farm clean-up. However, the hardworking individual will have unlimited opportunities for learning horsemanship and riding of the highest quality from Boyd and his crew.

Boyd trains out of Ilene Boorman's beautiful farm in Aiken, SC, which is part of the prestigious Bridle Creek equestrian development. The farm provides the perfect setting for intense training of horse and rider by boasting amenities such as a brand new jump field, a large riding ring with excellent footing for flat work and nearby cross-country schooling obstacles. The barn is gorgeous and the spacious turn-out fields are second to none. The surrounding development has endless trails for hacking and fitness work.

Barn Interior

The candidate for this position may bring one or two horses at a cost of $35 per day, per horse. Shared housing is available at an affordable cost.

In exchange for hard work, the working student will receive training in the form of dressage lessons from Caitlin Silliman and Boyd Martin and jumping lessons from Boyd Martin. The candidate will also gain valuable knowledge about the highest levels of horsemanship by working day-to-day alongside Boyd and his staff in the barn.

Interested individuals should contact Lindsey Taylor at lindseyktaylor@yahoo.com. Please send a resume or description of previous work and/or riding experience.

Boyd has Three Horses on the USEF High Performance Training Lists

2011-11-21T08:03:00.004-05:00

The USEF Eventing High Performance Training Lists have been revised for the upcoming 2012 season and Boyd is thrilled to own half the A list, with Otis and Neville, and to be part of the B list with Ying Yang Yo.

I spoke with Boyd this morning and all of the upper-level horses are currently back in work, and Remington will be getting back to his roots when he joins the Cheshire Fox Hounds in Unionville, PA for their Thanksgiving Hunt this week. Eventing fans fear not, however: Remi and his talented stable buddy Cold Harbor will both be back in action with the listed horses to show the eventing world what they've got in 2012.

Regarding the training list, according to the USEF, "Athlete/Horse combinations will be invited to participate in training sessions this winter with U.S. Chef d'Equipe and Technical Advisor Capt. Mark Phillips. Preparation for and success at the 2012 Olympic Games were the Eventing Selectors and the High Performance Committee's highest priorities in developing these lists."

A List

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and Bruce Duchossois' Mighty Nice
Mighty Nice is a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding

Sinead Halpin (Oldwick, NJ) and Carriag LLC's Manoir de Carnville
Manoir de Carnville is an 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding

Boyd Martin (West Grove, PA) and the Neville Bardos Syndicate's Neville Bardos
Neville Bardos is a 12-year-old Australian Thoroughbred gelding

Boyd Martin (West Grove, PA) and the Otis Barbotiere Syndicate's Otis Barbotiere
Otis Barbotiere is a 9-year-old Selle Francais gelding

B List
Hannah Sue Burnett (The Plains, VA) and Jacqueline Mars' Harbour Pilot
Harbour Pilot is an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding

Jan Byyny (Purcellville, VA) and her own and Jo and Richard Byyny's Inmidair
Inmidair is a 12-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding

Will Coleman (Gordonsville, VA) and Jim Wildasin's Twizzel
Twizzel is a 15-year-old Westphalian gelding

Tiana Coudray (Ojai, CA) and Jatial Inc.'s Ringwood Magister
Ringwood Magister is a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding

Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Sharon Will's Absolute Liberty
Absolute Liberty an 8-year-old Thoroughbred x Oldenburg Mare

Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Carl and Cassandra Segal's BallyNoe Castle RM
BallyNoe Castle RM is an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding

Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Sherrie Martin's The Apprentice
The Apprentice is a 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and Nina and Tim Gardner's William Penn
William Penn is a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and Team Rebecca LLC's Ben
Ben is a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding

Will Faudree (Hoffman, NC) and Jennifer Mosing's Pawlow
Pawlow is a 12-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding

Will Faudree (Hoffman, NC) and Jennifer Mosing's Fernhill Gloster Rebel
Fernhill Gloster Rebel is a 10-year-old Irish Thoroughbred Gelding

Becky Holder (Palmetto, GA) and Melissa and Phil Town, and Tom Holder's Can't Fire Me
Can't Fire Me is a 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding

Shannon Lilley (Gilroy, CA) and The Lilley Group's Ballingowan Pizazz
Ballingowan Pizazz is an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding

Marilyn Little-Meredith (Frederick, MD) and Raylyn Farm Inc.'s RF Rovano Rex
RF Rovano Rex is a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding

Boyd Martin (West Grove, PA) and Boyd Martin and Faye Woolfe's Ying Yang Yo
Ying Yang Yo is a 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding

Clark Montgomery (Fairburn, GA) and Holly Becker, Kathryn Kraft and Jessica Montgomery's Loughan Glen
Loughan Glen is an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding

Karen O'Connor (The Plains, VA) and The O'Connor Equestrian Syndicate's Mr Medicott
Mr Medicott is a 12-year-old Irish Sport horse gelding

Julian Stiller (Thatcham, Berkshire UK) and her own and Jules Delvecchio's Chapel Amble
Chapel Amble is a 14-year-old Hanoverian mare

Jolie Wentworth (Martinez, CA) and Tracy Bowman's Good Knight
Good Knight is a 9-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding

It is anticipated that training sessions will be held in California, Florida, and South Carolina; dates will be finalized and published in December. Training sessions will be open to the public. Auditors are welcome and asked to please be respectful of lessons and the property on which they will be held.

Boyd and Silva will be heading to Aiken, SC in January, 2012 to train and compete on the winter eventing and dressage circuits, respectively.

-AMH

Sophia Fab Sold!!

2011-11-16T21:01:00.003-05:00

New Jersey Young Rider sensation Adrian Jones has purchased the impressive mare Sophia Fab this week. Sophia will join the ranks of Adrian's team of event horses which she competes in New Jersey & Florida. I have watched this gal ride over the last few years, and she has unbelievable natural talent and skill.

Sophia Fab was bred and formally owned by Laurie Cameron who has placed a number of horses with us over the years. Laurie sent us Sophia for breaking in in May and right from day one we knew this horse was going to be a ripper. She is bred beautifully and was a real pleasure to train. Our assistant rider Caitlin Silliman did a lot of the work with Sophia, which included a number of successful competitive eventing starts.

Cheers to Laurie, Adrian and Caitlin & all the best for Sophia's future!
Boyd

Announcing the Duvent Syndicate

2011-11-15T20:38:00.004-05:00

Boyd and Silva Martin
Windurra USA, LLC
57 Gibble Road
Cochranville, PA 19330
www.boydandsilvamartin.com
slv.martin1@gmail.com
boydmartin007@hotmail.com
Silva 610-806-2721
Boyd 610-806-2381

The Duvent Syndicate

In 2011 Duvent became a rising star at the Prix St. Georges level, capping off a successful year with a win and two seconds at Dressage at Devon. We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to join a syndicate to become part of Duvent’s journey to the Grand Prix level.

Duvent is an eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding by DeNiro out of Heidekind, a Rubinstein mare. He was bred by his current owners, Melinda Walton and T. Larry Smith, who will retain one share of the syndicate. Melinda and Larry generally sell their young stock, but they were excited by Duvent’s potential and wanted to take part in his career. Now they would like to open the door for a select group of individuals to join them in this experience.

While Duvent is currently valued at around USD$120,000, we are offering the five available shares at an affordable $15,000 per share plus an annual fixed maintenance fee of $6,000 per share. As Duvent progresses, his value, and the value of each share, will increase.

As his rider, I would like the opportunity to develop Duvent into a Grand prix horse. He is sensitive and thrives on the relationship that we have built over time. He is a very beautiful horse that spectators follow from the warm-up ring to the arena because he’s brilliant looking and impressive. He is also a hot horse, so we have had our ups and downs, but everything is really coming together and I think he is going to be something special.

This syndicate is an opportunity become part of a group of like-minded individuals working together to achieve a common goal. To join us, please contact me for a copy of the syndicate agreement.

Sincerely,

Silva Martin

Windurra USA, LLC

USEA Announces Partnership with Point Two!

2011-11-15T09:54:00.002-05:00

The USEA is delighted to welcome a new company to our line-up of corporate sponsors. In 2012 Point Two will be the Official Air Jackets of the USEA. Point Two will be supporting many of the USEA’s programs with ProAir vests and PS-RS Hybrid jackets as well as gift certificates and prize money.

“Our passion for increasing safety in eventing underpins everything Point Two is working towards and we can think of no better partner to aid us in this than the USEA,” said Megan Gardiner.” By sponsoring the USEA we hope we can continue to help all eventers be as safe as possible both through use of our jackets and the continuation of USEA initiatives to increase and promote safety throughout the sport.”

Point Two will be the title sponsor of the Pony of the Year Leaderboard and will award a PS-RS Hybrid jacket to the winner at this year’s Annual Meeting and Convention. A PS-RS will also be awarded to the Young Rider of the year.

(Right: The Point Two ProAir comes in handy when you take an unexpected dip in the water jump. Leslie Mintz/USEA Photo.)

At the 2012 Nutrena/USEA American Eventing Championships, Point Two will be providing a slew of prizes. The competitors in the Training Amateur division will have a chance to earn a PS-RS and the winner of the Junior Novice division will be awarded a ProAir Jacket. In addition every other division winner will earn a $200 gift certificate and every second through sixth place winner will receive a $100 gift certificate.

Point Two gift certificates are also going to be given to winners in the SmartPak/USEA Classic Series, Adequan Gold Cup Series, and the USEA Young Event Horse Series.

The USEA is thrilled that Point Two has decided to offer our members a chance to win such a plethora of products and prizes.

About Point Two

Point Two was established in the summer of 2008, based on air vest technology available in the motorcycling industry, and in 2009 Point Two produced the first version of the ever-popular ProAir vest.

(Left: 2010 Preliminary Amateur AEC Champions, Lynne Partridge and El Cid jump the Point Two fence on cross-country at the 2010 AEC. Leslie Threlkeld Photo.)

Over the past two years, the ProAir vest has evolved to inflate even faster and provide the rider with higher levels of comfort, as well as new colors, designs, and sizes.

The Child’s ProAir became available in September 2010, and in the summer of 2011, after 18 months of development, the combination air vest-body protector P2-RS was launched. A child’s version of this hybrid jacket is due in shops shortly.

Point Two is always looking for new and improved ways to help protect all horse riders and carriage drivers, regardless of their discipline or ability, whether in competition or hacking and schooling at home.

Visit the Point Two website to learn more about their products and find a stockist near you.

Interested in sponsoring the USEA? Contact Leslie Mintz for more information or check out the Sponsorship Opportunitiesavailable.

Boyd Speaks About The Positive Effects of Arenus/Equilite Products!

2011-11-14T11:12:00.000-05:00

Boyd has had a long relationship with Arenus, dating back to his endorsement of their original line of Sore No More, Herbal Blends and Flower Essences created by Equilite. Arenus, now the parent company of Equilite, offers a full line of animal products which includes joint, digestive, behavior, respiratory, hoof, muscle, reproductive and immunity support products.

Below he speaks about the positive effects of Arenus Products!

Minotaure du Passior Makes a Comeback

2011-11-14T09:04:00.003-05:00

Min and Lindsey

Minotaure du Passior, owned by Amy Lindgren, made a comeback to competition over the weekend at the Blue Goose dressage schooling show in Cochranville, PA. Following his escape from the Memorial Day barn fire, "Min" had severe complications with colic and underwent colic surgery at New Bolton Center during which a large portion of his intestine was removed. Following this procedure, Min spent several weeks locked up in the ICU at New Bolton, and then spent months on stall rest after returning home, initially only allowed out of his stall to hand graze for 10 minutes per day.

Because Min no longer has a colon, he is on a very restricted diet. He gets small amounts of soaked hay and a mash of watered-down Equine Senior four times per day, but is slowly starting to look less like a skeleton and regain the weight that he lost due to the colic.

My groom, Lindsey Taylor, had taken over the ride on Min this past spring after he had been retired from eventing competition following his win at the Bromont CCI 1* last year. After the fire and his colic surgery, he had several months of recovery time. Lindsey began hacking him again in September and slowly increased his workload to bring him back to fighting form. Although Min's owner, Amy, had decided Min would retire from competition last year after Bromont, she saw Min put in a strong fight for his life following the fire and decided that he needed a new job to focus his energy on. He has found the perfect second career as a dressage horse, as evidenced by his debut yesterday, competing at first level and earning scores of 64.516%, 65.806% and 66.129%.

Silva and the girls also schooled several of the other horses at Blue Goose yesterday, including:

Fernhill Classic, ridden by Silva Martin, owned by Ryan Wood
Crackerjack, ridden by Silva Martin, owned by Lucy Boynton and Colin Davidson
Hidden Promise, ridden by Ashlea Day, owned by Silva Martin
New Cadet, ridden by Caitlin Silliman, owned by Anne Hennesey
Steady Eddie, ridden by Caitlin Silliman, owned by Gretchen and George Wintersteen, Denise Lahey and Pierre Colin
Lux Like Fernhill, ridden and owned by Caitlin Silliman
Waranga, ridden by Sara Gumbiner, owned by Amy Lindgren
Working Draft, ridden by Sara Gumbiner, owned by Susan Ballek
Polaris, ridden and owned by Sara Gumbiner
Canton Center, ridden by Emily van Gemeren, owned by Elenor Smith
Arundel, ridden and owned by Abbie Golden

Cheers,
Boyd

CSW Clinic Nov 19th & 20th!

2011-11-08T21:28:00.000-05:00

We are having Boyd back again before the real snow starts to fly!

We have been lucky two years in a row for doing XC in November and there is no reason why the third time won't be the same. Even if we cannot do XC the October clinic (stadium) was amazing! Boyd was so creative on gymnastic day taking us from the outdoor ring into the indoor, back out to the outdoor and jumping around the dressage ring to finish off in the outdoor jump ring.

What will he come up with this time - don't miss it, this guy is such a great clinician!
Hope to see you! Claudia

Fees:
Semi privates - $225.00 per day (if available)
Groups of 4 - $165.00 per day

Saturday - Flatwork/Gymnastics
Sunday - Cross Country (weather permitting)

Our XC includes Water/Ditches/Banks for levels BN-Prelim
2011 new sunken road complex and additional new jumps

Registration must be received with payments in full prior to clinic to reserve your spot. Any questions call Claudia Winter @ 518-537-4417 or email her to register!

The Last Dance of the Year: Rubicon Horse Trials

2011-11-07T00:47:00.008-05:00

After ten straight hard months of eventing, we finished our season at the Rubicon Horse Trials in Virginia. Our first event of the year was at the end of January in Georgia and we've seen some fantastic events all around the world, which has been exhilarating. As a rider, I myself have competed in 175 starts this year, which by my calculations, is about 5250 cross country jumps jumped and about 2450 braids plaited by the girls at the barn.

Rubicon once again provided a fitting finish to a great year. The organizers and committee of this event always put on a magnificent competition. Throughout the weekend I rode a very high quality group of younger horses that have showed improvement throughout the year. A lot of these horses moved up a level the last start here at Rubicon, and they did not disappoint. The results of the weekend are as follows:

Open Preliminary A
Crackerjack, owned by Lucy Boynton and Colin Davidson, 1st
Partyboy, owned by Fernanda Kellogg and Nick Myers, 9th

Open Preliminary B
Merging, owned by Laurie Cameron, 2nd
Ricochet EDF, owned by Lisa Samoylenko, Retired

Junior Young Riders Open Preliminary
Arundel, owned and ridden by Abbie Golden, 3rd

Open Training A
Steady Eddie, owned by George and Gretchen Wintersteen, Denise Lahey and Pierre Colin, 4th
Brewster, owner by Katie and Cuyler Walker, 5th
Quinn Himself, owned by Bonnie Stedt, 7th

Open Training B
New Cadet, owned by Anne Hennessey, 8th
Krugerrand, owned and ridden by Caitlin Silliman, owned by Manny and Dana Diemer, 9th
Rondo, owned by Densey and Ron Juvonen, 11th
Lux Like Fernhill, ridden and owned by Caitlin Silliman, 19th

Open Novice A
Waranga, (pictured above and at top), owned by Amy Lindgren and Boyd Martin, 3rd

Open Novice C
Canton Center, ridden by Emily van Gemeren, 9th

A big cheers to Laurie Cameron, who captured a number of great picture while cheering her mare on Saturday during the event.

Cheers,
Boyd

Training Video Promotion: Christmas Arrives Early!

2011-11-02T14:20:00.001-04:00

Right on the heels of our early winter storm here in the Northeast, we have decided to offer our dedicated supporters an early Christmas present!! Nothing like a foot of snow and massive power outages in October to put you in the spirit.

During the months of November and December we will be running specials on Boyd's training videos. Normally priced at $12.95 per download, we've lowered the price to $9.95 so everyone can treat themselves to some off season training knowledge!!

For the month of November we're going to run the special on our first series of training videos, which feature solid building blocks in cross country training. All of our videos have been professionally produced by eventing media guru, Josh Walker. Next month we will be offering the same discount on our competition prep videos.......so be sure to prop your feet up on the coffee table, grab your favorite blanket and find some downtime to brush up on your riding skills!

Take a look at one of our featured videos below and view the 3 video series on our website.

Sell Videos sell videos on demand sell videos online video affiliate program

Ashlea is Going to the FEI Young Riders World Cup Final!!!

2011-11-01T09:11:00.002-04:00

After Ashlea was so disappointed about just missing out on the Young Riders World Cup Final, she got a call yesterday from Australia that she is going to get to compete! We are really excited! The competition is December 15-18th in Frankfurt, Germany where she will be representing Australia.

Because it was a last-minute announcement, it actually works in our favor - now we only have to deal with Ashlea’s emotions and nervous breakdowns for a little while!

-Silva

Stuebben Saddlery to Sponsor Silva

2011-10-30T20:01:00.006-04:00

Silva and Aesthete
Winning with the New Stuebben Saddle at 2011 Dressage at Devon

I am very excited to announce a new sponsorship from Stuebben Saddlery! I worked for Rudolf Zeilinger in Germany and that’s all he rode in, so I am very familiar with Stuebben saddles. They have a new model called the Genesis D Special and it’s really comfortable and close-contact so I can feel the horse. I’m really excited that I have a new partnership and the thing I most enjoy is that my horse’s backs are so much better since I started riding them.

The company is old-school and fits the saddle to each horse. Especially for people with back problems or fitting problems, Stuebben has been around for a long time and they really know how to make a saddle fit. I have a bad back like most riders and the Biomex seat really helps my back.

The other thing I find is that their customer service is outstanding; if there’s anything
wrong they’ll come get the saddle, adjust the fit and get it right back. Even when I went to Chicago they picked it up Monday and by Wednesday I had the new saddle in Chicago – that’s really impressive.

I feel like a lot of people kind of decided Stuebben didn’t go with the times, and they are not as popular as they used to be, but with this new saddle I really feel they’ve stepped up their game and it’s very comfortable for horse and rider.

My contact at Stuebben is Keith Brooks – he’s a big help and I’m very impressed with him. He’s amazing with people and very thorough, making sure everybody is happy. To contact Keith about a new saddle for you and your horse please contact him at 804-690-8002.

-Silva

Susan Tuckerman Digital Art

2011-10-29T13:20:00.000-04:00

At a recent Burghley celebration hosted by the Wintersteens, Susie Tuckerman very generously presented Boyd & Silva with one of her inspiring portraits. This digital portrait was based off an original photo that Susie took of Boyd & Neville last year at the WEG, as they were galloping cross country.

I wanted to share this portrait with Boyd's fan base as a Thank You to Susie, and also as an opportunity to announce her new website, www.susantuckerman.com, which we just launched this week. The website presents a cross section of her artwork which focuses on horses in sport, and wonderful portraits of children, dogs and the natural landscapes that inspire her. Her pricing is quite reasonable, so please take a look at her designs & contact Susie directly about creating your own custom portrait!

Vote For Boyd!!! America's Favorite Equestrians To Be Announced at Alltech National Horse Show. Voting closes on October 31st!

2011-10-29T10:35:00.003-04:00

WESTPORT, CT - October 29, 2011 - America's Favorite Equestrian will be selected based on the athletes with the highest number of votes on October 31, 2011 in each of the eight disciplines of Dressage, Driving, Endurance, Eventing, Jumping, Para-Dressage, Reining and Vaulting. The announcement will be made at a Victory Party hosted by the EQUUS Foundation and the United States Equestrian Federation on Friday, November 4, 2011, at 9:30 p.m. during the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky.

Who's in the Lead?
The three equestrians for each discipline are listed in order of the total votes cast as of October 28, 2011.

This is it! Keep Voting! All it takes is a $5 gift to The EQUUS Foundation to insure that your favorite is America's favorite. To vote, click VOTE.

Dressage:
Guenter Seidel
Debbie McDonald
Steffen Peters

Driving:
Rochelle Temple
Chester Weber
Tucker Johnson

Endurance:
Becky Hart
Julie Suhr
Dave Rabe

Eventing:
Tiana Coudray
Boyd Martin
Kimberly Severson

Jumping:
Anne Kursinski
Beezie Madden
McLain Ward

Para Dressage:
Jennifer Baker
Mary Jordan
Jonathan Wentz

Reining:
Andrea Fappani
Shawn Flarida
Tom McCutcheon

Vaulting:
Katharine Wick
Ali Divita
Megan Benjamin

For information on The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., visit the EQUUS website at www.equusfoundation.org or contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at (203) 259-1550 or equus@equusfoundation.org.

About America's Favorite Equestrian
The EQUUS Foundation and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) jointly launched the inaugural America's Favorite Equestrian in celebration of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and the eight international disciplines represented on the field of play. The objective is for America's Favorite Equestrian to be an ongoing program with all equestrian disciplines/breeds represented and the winners recognized in a permanent "Hall of Fame".

About The EQUUS Foundation, Inc.
The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., established in August 2002, as a 501(c)(3) national charitable foundation, is dedicated to improving the quality of life of horses, promoting the use of horses to enrich the lives of those in need, and educating the public about the horse's unique ability to empower, teach and heal.

Thanks to the generosity of its donors, The EQUUS Foundation helps thousands of people and horses each year. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880, Tele: (203) 259-1550 , E-Mail: equus@equusfoundation.org, website: www.equusfoundation.org.

A Note On Waredaca from Laurie Cameron

2011-10-26T09:45:00.000-04:00

Waredaca always runs a nice event and we were particularly lucky with wonderful weather. I am really pleased with how well my mares are coming along. Merging continues to develop physically and is looking more and more like a horse for the future.

As Sophia’s breeder, I am so proud of her! With just five months under saddle, her jumping talent is starting to shine. It is very rewarding to see how much she enjoys her training. Both the girls went fantastically & had clean XC rounds!

Laurie Cameron

Merging Stadium

Merging XC

Sophia Schooling

Sophia XC

Thanks to Devoucoux

2011-10-25T16:47:00.007-04:00

Boyd and Eric at the Devoucoux tent at the Fair Hill International CCI***

There is no question in my mind that a lot of the success we have seen with the event horses here has been thanks to the best saddles in the world, Devoucoux. Each and every member of my eventing team has had their riding enhanced thanks to these saddles. I especially would like to shout out to Eric Leyssalle who is the service and sales rep for Devoucoux saddles here on the East Coast. He does a magnificent job making sure that all the riders' needs are met when it comes to Devoucoux Saddlery. If anyone is interested in having a fitting don't hesitate to get in touch with Eric, who can connect you with your local rep or will bend over backwards to meet with you and help match you up with the right saddle for you.

-Boyd

Eric: 571-233-6606
Devoucoux USA website

Kyymy's Biggest Fans

2011-10-24T21:47:00.001-04:00

Here are Kymmy riding Markie with her wonderful parents CarolAnn and Scott Pullen.
Kymmy's parents are amazing people and are Kymmy's biggest fans.
We had a great weekend at the GAIG championships with both of them!
-Silva

2011 Waredaca Horse Trials

2011-10-23T20:15:00.004-04:00

Waranga

It's been the very rare occasion to go eventing in beautiful weather the last few months, but Waredaca HT in Maryland turned out an especially beautiful event with perfect conditions. At the moment I've got the best group of young up-and-coming horses that I've ever had; all of them progressing well in their training and showing plenty of potential for the future. This weekend, all of the horses jumped well, many of them finishing with strong results.

Open Preliminary A
Crackerjack, owned by Lucy Boynton, 3rd
Merging, owned be Laurie Cameron, 6th

Open Prelimimary B
Partyboy, owned by Fernanda Kellogg and Nick Myers, 6th

Open Training
Steady Eddie, owned by George and Gretchen Wintersteen and Denise Lahey and Pierre Collin, 6th

Training Horse
Krugerrand, owned by Manny and Dana Diemer, 2nd
Rhicochet EDF, owned by Lisa Samoylenko, 9th
New Cadet, owned by Anne Hennesey, 12th

Novice Horse A
Sophia Fab, owned by Laurie Cameron, 5th

Novice Horse B
Brewster, owned by Katie and Cuyler, 2nd
Quinn Himself, owned by Bonnie Stedt, 4th

Beginner Novice Horse
Waranga W, owned by Amy Lindgren and Boyd Martin, 1st

A special mention must go to the beginner novice horse champion, Waranga. This is a horse I bred in Australia and co-own with long term supporter Amy Lindgren. Waranga looks to be a very exciting horse with his first start and it was great to see Amy in the winner's circle again after having a challenging year with her French horse, Minotaure du Passoir, who has had colic surgery due to the Memorial Day barn fire.

Lastly, I want to give the whole Team USA a big thumbs up for ripping it up at the Pan-Am Games in Mexico! It was an awesome performance by every single member of the team!

-Boyd

A Winning Weekend at the GAIG Championships

2011-10-23T16:27:00.004-04:00

Kymmy, Devon and I are just driving home from our last show of the season: the GAIG Championships in Lexington, VA.

First of all I would like to say how proud I am of my girls. Both girls were riding very well. As I was watching the warm-up I thought to myself how much better my girls ride than many of the riders their age. Also thank you Ashlea for staying home and taking care of everything!

Devon had a great weekend and we accomplished what we came here for: Devon and Ballatale won the third level young rider championships! Devon deserved this win more than anybody, she has been working very hard all year and I am so proud of her.
Devon always takes the best care possible of my horses and I could not do any of the things I do without her. This was her weekend! Well done!!!!

Kymmy also rode very well. She and Markie competed in the GAIG championships last year in first and second level and this year they competed in the GAIG championships in PSG. They had a great warm-up. Unfortunately they could not hold the same quality in the ring yet. But they are on the right track! On Sunday they finished sixth in the open PSG. Markie and Kymmy have accomplished a lot this year and there are a lot more awards ceremonies for them to come.

I was competing Sea Lord, owned by Charish Campbell, in the Intermediaire II championships and he was great: We won!

Duvent , owned by Linda Walton and Larry Smith, was fifth in the fourth level championships. He got a little tense in the coliseum, but I am so happy with how far he has come. He is a very special horse and he is going to be spectacular!!

I also rode a new horse for me. His name is Hidden Promise. He is 9 year old gelding. I showed him in second level and was very impressed with him. He did three beautiful tests: we finished second on Friday, third on Saturday and we won today.
I think he is going to be a very nice horse: he is very easy in every way!

Now our season is over. As everybody knows we did have a tough year. I would like to thank everybody again for being there for us and for helping us through this difficult time! Things are looking up now. We had some great successes and we are looking forward to a fantastic 2012!

Silva

Thank You George & Gretchen Wintersteen!

2011-10-22T20:32:00.000-04:00

George and Gretchen Wintersteen, who are owners of Steady Eddie and syndicate partners in Neville, had a great celebration at their farm in Unionville on Thursday, toasting Boyd & Neville's performance at Burghley. Party Photos

Photo Credit Calina - Horse Junkies United!

There was a fun group of supporters who enjoyed watching the videos of all 3 phases of Burghley, as well as the following slideshow of photos. I want to thank Patricia and Calina from Horse Junkies United, Samantha from Eventing Nation and the Wintersteens who all contributed to this great group of photos from the event! Burghley Photos

It was a treat to go back to their farm, where I personally hold many fond memories as a child, riding my pony over to play with their daughter Laura when we were classmates at Upland. Unionville has such an unusual culture, where our communal love for horses has created a landscape like no other. It was a wonderful evening of camaraderie in sport, and a fine example of the people who are proud supporters of Boyd and Neville. Many thanks to the Wintersteens for hosting such a great celebration!

Sales Horse Spotlight: Sophia Fab!

2011-10-21T12:33:00.000-04:00

NAME: Sophia Fab
DOB: June 25, 2007
HEIGHT: 15.3hh
BREED: Hanoverian
SEX: Mare
SIRE: San Brasil (Sao Paulo/Argentinus)
DAM: S. Alcatrina (Alcatraz/Ramiros Bube)
BREEDER: Laurie Cameron, DVM
FARM: Clear Blue Farm, Stockton NJ

Royally bred for performance with famous relatives on the sire's side include Gold Medal GP Dressage horse Satchmo, World Cup Grand Prix Show Jumping champion, Shutterfly and GP Show jumper Arko lll.

Her dam line includes the great names of: Alme, Gotthard, Rinaldo, Ramiro and Pik Bube. Top performers from this dam line include the Advanced Level Event horse "Are you Ready" and USEF 2008 top five Green Conformation Hunter "Fortune Hunter".

Sophia was bred to jump and started with Boyd and Silva on May 1st, 2011. Within thirty days under saddle, this rising four year old mare is showing serious dressage potential or event horse with three lovely, well balanced, uphill gaits. This recent video will also show her athleticism and natural talent over fences as well!

Please call Boyd at 610-806-2381 to set up an appointment to see this fabulous young horse!

PRO Fair Hill Video

2011-10-20T17:58:00.001-04:00

An Update from Caitlin and Hoku!

2011-10-19T17:01:00.000-04:00

I received a recent update from Caitlin on Hoku's (Catch a Star) progress and wanted to share this with Boyd & Silva's supporters. It is so uplifting to see that everyone is continuing to make progress & find optimism in the future.

"I can't begin to put into words the impact that the outpouring of love and support for our loss has had on my ability to move forward following the fire. Our entire team has been overwhelmed by the generosity of friends and strangers, and this amazing response has truly demonstrated how wonderful the equestrian community is. I am forever grateful to everyone who has responded to our tragedy, and wish I could thank everyone individually.

The donations have enabled me to pay all of Hoku's vet bills from New Bolton, and her continuing bills from our vet team at home. I have been able to do everything possible to help her heal the horrific burns she sustained from the fire, and she has gotten through her recovery without any infection or other complications. I have also been able to replace many of my personal belongings as well.

Hoku is doing really well. She still has a long way to go before she can be ridden again, but I am able to let her be a horse again. I keep her at Suzanne Kloud's beautiful farm, right across from Boyd and Silva's new farm where she is allowed to go out all night, and her skin heals a little be more every day. She still has no hair on the top of her back where the saddle goes and on the tops of her shoulders, but her skin gets stronger everyday. She has put on more weight then I ever thought possible as she is naturally very skinny! She is an amazing mare and has been fighting to get better since the second she emerged from the burning barn and I am sure will make her return to eventing some time next season.

Boyd has allowed me to compete a lot of his young horses while he has been in Europe at Burghley and Boekelo, which has been and amazing opportunity. It has been great to be out competing again. I also went to Ireland with Ryan in the beginning of August to visit Lillian at her new job and look at some young horses. My grandparent, Tom and Belle Maher, helped me buy a young horse that seems to have lots of potential and I am very excited about his future!"

Again, thank you to the entire community who has shown such amazing support towards the entire team at Boyd and Silva Martin's. Your efforts have made such an incredible impact!

Great Fair Hill Article & Audio on Equisearch!

2011-10-18T10:51:00.000-04:00

Postcard: 2011 Dansko Fair Hill International

By Nancy Jaffer

Boyd Martin and Kylie Lyman earned top honors to win their CCI3* and CCI2* divisions as well as claim 2011 USEF National Eventing Championships at the Dansko Fair Hill International. Postcard sponsored by Bates Saddles.

October 16, 2011 -- "On any given day, there are so many amazing horses and riders at the top and everybody's got a story. It's good old friend luck that kind of shakes everything up."

That was Becky Holder's accurate assessment following this afternoon's Dansko Fair Hill International 3-star show jumping, where the top three each did indeed have quite a story, and some had more luck than others.

: Boyd Martin and Ying Yang Yo won the 3-star at the Dansko Fair Hill International; © 2011 by Nancy Jaffer

The winner, Boyd Martin, actually has many stories, but for the moment I'll just talk about his clear round, peppered with rails that bounced but didn't come down. The leader in dressage with Ying Yang Yo, who was second after cross-country by 0.2 penalties, returned to the head of the line with equal measures of good riding and good fortune.

Boyd, you'll remember, sadly lost six horses in a barn fire last spring at Phillip Dutton's farm in Pennsylvania and the event world rallied round him to help out.

Everything works two ways. If there had not been a fire, he likely wouldn't have been riding his old pal Ying Yang Yo this fall, and thinking of perhaps pointing him toward the 2012 Olympics.

FULL STORY FEATURING AUDIO INTERVIEW!

Go Boyd Go

2011-10-18T08:44:00.002-04:00

Waiting for Boyd and Thomas to arrive at our fence on cross-country, my 2-year-old daughter Emily got her first lesson in cheer leading.

-AMH

Boyd and Thomas in the News

2011-10-18T08:29:00.003-04:00

A few links from Fair Hill coverage:

The Chronicle of the Horse

EventingNation.com

The New Jersey Star-Ledger

The USEF

HorseCity.com

EventingUSA

Fair Hill Show Jumping Video from EventingNation.com

2011-10-17T17:14:00.000-04:00

Victory for Boyd and Ying Yang Yo at the Fair Hill International CCI* and USEF Fall CCI* Eventing Championship

2011-10-16T16:17:00.009-04:00

Boyd and "Thomas" Lead the Victory Gallop
Photo Copyright Amber Heintzberger 2011

It was a sensational day in the show jumping at the Fair Hill International. My long time partner Ying Yang Yo came through the cross-country without a dent on him and looked fresh as a daisy for the morning jog up. In typical Thomas fashion we jumped Sally Ike’s testing three-star show jumping course with a round that heard lots of “oohs" and "ahhs” from the crowd for the wrong reasons. We managed to bump and tap a number of rails but narrowly escaped with a clear round, which gave Thomas his first CCI*** victory. It was a satisfying victory due to my long history with this great friend.

L-R: Becky Holder (2nd), Boyd Martin (1st) and Jan Byyny (3rd)
Photo Copyright Amber Heintzberger 2011

Two months ago I saw my working student Randall bouncing around on Thomas, trying to get the feel for counter canter and I knew at that moment there was still a bit of juice left in his legs. Faye Woolf had lost her horse Call Me Ollie in the fire at True Prospect Farm on Memorial Day and was kind enough to return Thomas to Silva and me to help keep us afloat financially. From that moment forward we haven’t missed a day of training and it’s been a fantastic preparation for one of the world’s toughest three-stars.

A big cheers to all the connections of Ying Yang Yo who include his part-owner Faye Woolf, Eliza Woolf, who has been his rider for the past two years, Lindsey Taylor, who has catered to all of Thomas’ grooming needs, my assistant rider Caitlin Silliman who rode Thomas while I was in Holland for Boekelo, and to my lovely wife Silva who has played a huge role in getting my personal best dressage score of all time.

Boyd and Cold Harbor
Photo Copyright Amber Heintzberger 2011

In the CCI** Cold Harbor went in and jumped magnificently today; Manny and Dana Diemer’s Canadian Sport Horse is improving with every start and is showing promise for next year’s three-stars. Unfortunately he had to second to last fence down which dropped him from 12th to 15th place which is still pleasing considering there were more than 60 starters in the division. A big Cheers to Manny and Dana for placing a couple of great horses with us this year. They are wonderful owners that are an honor to ride for.

-Boyd

Thomas 2nd After Cross-Country at Fair Hill

2011-10-15T17:06:00.006-04:00

Boyd and Cold Harbor
Photo copyright Amber Heintzberger

The weather turned it on for a fantastic Fair Hill International three-day event cross-country day. First out was Manny and Dana Diemer’s Cold Harbor; he struggled with the heavy footing early in the course but showed plenty of heart and fitness to finish well. He jumped around the course showing style and class and finished one second outside the time to move up to 11th place going in to the show jumping. I’m very encouraged by Bo’s jumping ability and I’m confident that this horse will find his stride at the three-star level next year.

Boyd and Ying Yang Yo
Photo Copyright Amber Heintzberger

My old sparring partner Thomas in enjoying his time back in the limelight; I set out a little bit conservatively on the course, not quite knowing what to expect from Thomas. We were both a little bit rusty at this level and it was the first time he stretched his lungs in two years. He finished strongly and jumped well towards the end of the course but unfortunately was a bit off the time and slipped to second place, which is going to make tomorrow a very exciting day of show jumping. It was enjoyable seeing Thomas’s part-owner Faye Woolf happy and emotional after watching Thomas cross the finish line since she has played a huge part in his illustrious comeback.

Hats off to Jan Byyny, who took the lead in the three-star. Jan has gone through a very lengthy recovery to make this comeback from her accident at Pine Top Horse Trials two years ago. It’s inspiring watching Jan’s determination and I was impressed with her no-quit attitude in getting back to this level.

Both Thomas and Bo look like they’ve come out of the cross-country well, so fingers crossed for the show jumping tomorrow.

Boyd

Thomas Takes the Lead at Fair Hill International CCI3*

2011-10-14T19:05:00.002-04:00

We've had a great start to the Dansko Fair Hill International Three-Day Event in Elkton, Maryland. In the CCI2* yesterday Cold Harbor put in one of his best dressage tests to date on a 58. This is his toughest phase and has been a work in progress all year and I was pleased with the way he went. The two-star cross-country looks tough and technical, and with the heavy ground it will make sure this competition is not a dressage show. I’m expecting Manny and Dana Diemer’s horse to get out there and tackle it well.

The highlight of today was riding my old partner Ying Yang Yo, now owned by Faye and Eliza Woolf, who put in a smoking dressage test in the CCI3*. It’s been a few years since I rode Thomas at the international level and it felt like I was riding my old bike. Tomorrow’s course looks relentless, especially with all the rain they’ve had this week. I feel like I’ve got Thomas very fit but I’ll play it smart and start out slow and see how much horse I’ve got; if he feels good I’ll go for the time but if it feels like he's not at his best then I’ll give him a nice easy run.

-Boyd

EventingNation.com posted a video on YouTube:

Also see the USEF Press Release

Live Scores

At some point the Fair Hill website will have the cross-country times posted.

Thank You SmartPak

2011-10-13T13:45:00.004-04:00

A great big thanks to SmartPak Equine for their fantastic sponsorship! Also thanks to jump builder Eric Bull, who constructed this beautiful fence which will be added to the course at our new farm following the Dansko Fair Hill International Three-Day Event!

Trot-up at Fair Hill

2011-10-13T08:16:00.010-04:00

Boyd and Cold Harbor

Boyd will be competing to horses at the Fair Hill International CCI*** and USEF Fall Eventing Championship: his old partner Ying Yang Yo, ("Thomas"), owned by Faye and Eliza Woolf is in the 3* and and Manny and Dana Diemer's Cold Harbor, ("Bo"), who is a reserve horse for the US Team heading to the Pan-American Games, will compete in the CCI2*. Once again Boyd donned his dapper trot-up outfit sponsored by Bill's Khakis to show his horses off to the Ground Jury.

Cold Harbor at the First Veterinary Inspection

Ying Yang Yo at the First Veterinary Inspection

Video of Otis and Boyd at Boekelo CCI3* in the Netherlands

2011-10-10T20:56:00.000-04:00

Boyd Clinic Featured on HorseJunkiesUnited.com

2011-10-10T08:35:00.004-04:00

Check out this fun blog post from our friends at the Horse Junkies United blog, sponsored by Ecogold, Charles Owen and Five Star Tack. This edition is an account of Emily Oakes' experience riding in Boyd's clinic in Texas shortly after the Burghley three-day event and includes photos and video. Thanks Emily!

Boekelo Final Day with Photos

2011-10-09T14:49:00.008-04:00

The Boekelo CCI three-star in the Netherlands wrapped up with show jumping today and Remington XXV, owned by Ron and Densey Juvonen, had two rails down to finish in 35th. It was a somehwat disappointing finish after he started out in 8th place after dressage, but the wet and heavy going on cross-country did not agree with him. Otis Barbotiere had a fantastic, clear show jumping round and moved all the way up to finish in 14th. He was in 55th after the dressage and moved up 39 places from Friday to Sunday by adding only 4.4 cross-country time penalties to his dressage score. With 110 entries it was a really tough field and challenging weather and footing conditions and Otis truly proved his mettle.

Remington traveled to Boekelo on a Land Rover High Performance grant and now has two international trips under his belt after finishing 7th at Pau in France last year. This may not have been his personal best weekend but he is truly a seasoned International horse now. Otis traveled to Boekelo on a USEF Developing Grant and showed that he has a great future ahead of him. Many thanks to the support from Land Rover and the USEF, and to Ron and Densey Juvonen and the other members of the Otis Syndicate.

Otis Barbotiere Syndicate Members

Chatting with Mike Huber after Show Jumping

Big Smiles

Victory Gallop

Boekelo Cross-country

2011-10-08T19:58:00.003-04:00

Photo from the official Boekelo website. For the complete gallery click here.

Both Remi and Otis galloped around the Boekelo cross-country course clear. Remi had a hard time with the muddy going and copped 16 time penalties to drop from 8th to 32nd place; it's a tight, competitive field and any faults are costly. Otis really stepped up and showed that he's a horse for the future: he added only 4.4 time faults and moved up to 23rd place from 55th after dressage. It was a tough day for Team USA, and both Mike and Tami rode well but are out of the running.

With 110 horses entered and 200,000 spectators Boekelo is a truly awesome event and a showcase for the sport. For complete results click here for the Leaderboard and be sure to check back tomorrow for the news after show jumping. Also have a look at the USEF website to follow the US eventing squad's adventures in Europe, with lots of great photos and videos.

Boekelo Dressage: Remi 8th and Otis 55th out of 110 Horses

2011-10-07T13:21:00.008-04:00

Otis Living the High Life in Holland

After two days of dressage at the Boekelo Three Day Event I am placed 8th on Remi with a 46.8, and 55th on Otis on a 55.6. It was a huge field of 110 horses which saw a fantastic display of competition.

Warming up Otis under the watchful eye of Bettina Hoy

I am happy with both horses' tests. As with most dressage rides there were parts that were great, and parts that could have been better. Otis showed he has got plenty of talent, but is still green at this level. Remington proved he is a champ being in the mix amongst some top combinations.

Remington XXV

Mike and Tami rode great. Both horses oozed with promise, which left our team in 5th place. Team USA gets on well, with a couple of course walks and team dinners to bring everyone together.

Team USA walking the cross-country course
with Capt. Mark Phillips and his daughter Zara Phillips

Tomorrow will be a tough day cross-country with the conditions wet and muddy. I am looking forward to getting out there on both geldings to see how they get on.

For complete, live results click here.

Cheers,

Boyd

More Flying Photos from Lindsey

2011-10-05T22:06:00.005-04:00

A few more photos from Lindsey's travels to Holland with Otis and Remi

Video of Silva and Aesthete at Devon

2011-10-04T14:39:00.001-04:00

Boekelo CIC*** About to Begin...

2011-10-04T14:07:00.009-04:00

After a marathon trip from Morven Park to Amsterdam, which included canceled flights, diversions through Manchester, and a mini-van ride from BWI to Philly, it was great to arrive in Boekelo to meet up with my pair of horses Remington & Otis.

Both horses look in good health after their trip. Head groom Lindsey has got them looking magnificent, and they would definitely be contenders for the best turned out award in tomorrow's trot up. Mike Pollard and Tamra Smith's horses also look the part, and worked well today.

Boyd and Mike Pollard

I chose to gallop Remi and Otis both lightly yesterday afternoon when I arrived. I got the feeling on top that both geldings are about right. Mike and I worked with Bettina Hoy on the flat today and she kept it pretty simple: improving their gaits, working on their flexion, and perfecting a few movements from the test.

Lesson with Bettina Hoy

Captain Mark Phillips gave me the news today that Remington would be the horse I will be riding on the USA team in the Nations Cup. I agree with the call, as he has a few more miles under his belt than Otis. It is also a great feeling to get called up on a US team with Remi, as last year he missed his chance due to Neville's selection for the WEG. Unfortunately the USA will have only three horses on the team due to a few last minute injuries.

Stay tuned for results

Tomorrow, we trot up and check out the course.

-Boyd

Dressage at Devon: WE ARE BACK !!!

2011-10-03T09:35:00.010-04:00

Silva and Duvent

All photos from MidAtlantic Equestrian Services

After a horrible horrible year for Boyd , myself and all our girls things are looking up for us again! After Neville did so amazingly well at Burghley and my dressage crew had such an amazing weekend at Dressage at Devon, we feel like WE ARE BACK FIGHTING AGAIN.

Overall at DAD we had 5 wins, 5 second places and one fifth place, we won two championships and one reserve champion.

I am so happy about this weekend! My horses went so well for me. I know that Stately and Duvent are very good horses a but I have to say they could not have tried harder for me. It was almost like they knew we needed something good to keep me going after all the horrible things that happened this year.

Stately

Stately of course did his best, but that is nothing new to us. He is a truly amazing horse and Faye and I feel so lucky that he has come our way. I know he is going to do a lot more and greater things for us!!

Duvent

Now, Duvent! Duvent really was the star of the show for me this weekend. As everybody knows he has not been the easiest to bring along as a younger horse. I have been working to so hard at getting him stronger but especially to understand the way he thinks. Duvent is a very strong minded horse and he can get worried at times. Day after day after day I have been trying so hard to understand him and step by step he started to trust me and now, finally, we are working as a team!

It was the most amazing feeling getting to the last halt in our first test on Thursday. It was in the big Dixon Oval and I had been worried about Duvent getting worried in there. As we went around the ring I could not believe how confident he felt.

He did such a nice test and listened to me the whole time. As we finished our last extended canter and turned onto the centerline for our final halt, I got goose bumps because I could not believe he did what he did for me. He was so proud of himself as everybody cheered us on! I am so very thankful that Melinda and Larry hung in there with Duvent and me!

Kymmy and Markie also had such a nice test on Thursday; I am so proud of the two of them . They have come a long long way and that they qualified for DAD for a great achievement. They did the best test they could have done for where they are in their training, and they finished in the top 10! The two of them have a lot more great successes to come!

Ashlea and Mintie

Ashlea, Ashlea, Ashlea!!! One thing is for sure: it is never boring with that girl. Mintie and Ash did very well this weekend, but let me start with the first (and probably best award) they won. We took the horses to DAD on Wednesday to school them at the show grounds and Ash and Mintie went to the the arena to have a quick ride. We always have to save Mintie's energy.

People say that dogs look and act like their owners or the other way around. Well, it's like that with Mintie and Ash: they are both beautiful, but they are also both princesses as well. Mintie is very delicate and has to be handled with care, same as the owner!

Anyway, when they came back to the barn, a lady from DAD followed her back and presented her with the "Best foot forward AWARD" . She told Ashlea the committee thought she was the most positive rider in the warmup. I have to say I have never heard of such an award, but I think it's great! So Ash was given great prizes and had her picture taken with a big smile!

On Friday they had they first test. Like all of us after the fire and everything else, Ashlea had fallen into a bit of a hole with her riding and Mintie had problems with his health. On Friday was the first time that Ash and Mintie were back to normal. Ash rode better than I have seen her ride before and Mintie looked great!! They deserved every little bit of that win.

They had a good test on Saturday too. Mintie was not as fresh but they finished second. On Sunday was the big one: the Freestyle. This was the last qualifier for Ash and Mintie to go to the Young Rider World Cup in Germany. They needed to score a 70%.

Mintie warmed up great and Ash rode super. They had a very nice freestyle, the music worked out great, and they looked good. Unfortunately Ash did one three time change in the four's and one two time change in the three's. Those were two very expensive mistakes, and they scored 67%. That was very disappointing for Ash but things happen for a reason and I know she has bigger and better things ahead of her!

I would also like to give a huge thank you to Devon Seery, who took care of the horses at DAD and of course takes care of them every day at home. She did an amazing job and we could not have done what we did without her! Devon will be at DAD competing next year, I know it!!

Now I am off to cheer Boyd, Remi and Otis on at Boekelo! Fingers crossed!

Silva

What A Day at DAD!

2011-09-30T21:52:00.004-04:00

Pam Murphy new puppy Haylee, Silva on Aesthete, Faye Wolf (Aesthete's owner),
Melinda Walten (Duvent's owner), Donna Day (Ashlea's proud Mom) and Ashlea

Silva, Michael Barisone and Ashlea

It was such an exciting experience to spend the day at Dressage at Devon with Silva, Ashlea and their entire team of fans & owners! To have the opportunity to watch Silva ride at this level on two such talented young horses was quite a treat. Add to that the great karma of having her owners present with Michael Barisone coaching both she and Ashlea ringside, rounded out a beautiful fall day.

Aesthete (Stately) sets a high bar with his incredible presence and astonishing gates. He and Silva made such an perfect pair, with his athletic ability being matched by his phenomenal brain. He handily won his 6 year old class (final) this morning with a 10 point margin and a score of 87%, and the judge's remarks reflected their level of being impressed. I think the biggest compliment coming from the European judges included, "Please come to Europe"! Now how often do we here that stateside?!!

The day continued in the same winning fashion with Silva's Australian student Ashlea Day winning her FEI Young Rider team test aboard CP Perolus with a score of 66.6%, and Duvent winning his 4th level test on a score of 70.5%! Now the pressure is on to try to maintain this level of performance.

Please enjoy the slideshow and come out to cheer on our team over the weekend!! The trip to the Devon horse show grounds is well worth the effort.

Smartphone Photo Gallery Link

Off to Holland!

2011-09-30T21:17:00.005-04:00

Otis and Remi have embarked on their journey to Holland to compete at The Boekelo CIC3* Three Day Event next weekend. I saw Boyd off to Morven Park early this morning with Thomas, Bo, and a fully packed trailer, while Otis, Remi and I boarded the semi truck headed for JFK airport.

After battling through a morning of NYC traffic on the semi, the horses arrived at the airport in great shape and spent five hours in the quarantine barn, resting up for the big plane ride. Tamra Smith's Mar de Amor and Michael Pollard's DV8 will join Otis and Remi on the journey.

Following the quarantine period, the horses loaded onto a pallet to then be loaded onto the plane. Otis and Remi were experts at the loading process and settled right into their spots, happily munching on hay. They are sharing a pallet with a miniature stud pony, whom Otis has been eying suspiciously all day, not quite sure what to make of him. The good news is that because of the pony's small size, Otis and Remi get a bit more room on the pallet! Stay tuned for photo updates throughout the flight.

The event will officially begin with the first horse inspection on Wednesday at 1:30 pm local time, which is 7:30 am Eastern time. Otis is number 86 and Remi is number 95, which should mean that both of them will do dressage on Friday.

We will keep you posted throughout the week!

-Lindsey Taylor
Head Groom

Dressage Daily Update

2011-09-30T12:11:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Dressage Daily for yesterday's update on the day at DAD (full article click here), and to Stacy Lynn for this amazing photo! Silva has continued to blaze a trail today in the FEI YH Test for 6 year olds (Final) winning her class by a 10 point margin with an 87!!! I will have more results and
photos later today.

Dressage at Devon Breed Division Wraps Up as Performance Classes Begin on Day 3

Aesthete and Silva MartinThe individual classes showed off the beauty of 20 breeds including the Warmblood Horse of Trakehner Origin, the German Oldenburg Verband, Morgan, Rheinland Pfalz-Saar International, and even Spanish Mustangs. And the day was not over yet as Dressage at Devon moved into the Performance Division.

Aesthete, by Trento B out of Unusual, took home two blues tonight. The first was the FEI Young Horse Test for 6-Year-Olds, where he scored an impressive 87.200. The second win was in the USEF Fourth Level Test 1 Open. Ridden in both classes by Silva Martin, she also rode Duvent, by De Niro out of Heidekind by Rubinstein in the USEF Fourth Level Test 1.

From Martin’s September 11 blog, “I am very much looking forward to showing Duvent at Devon. Duvent has come such a long way in a very short amount of time. He is a very attractive and very talented horse but he gets worried at times. I have been working very hard to understand him and he has been trying very hard to work with me. I really think we are having a breakthrough and he is getting more and more confident.” Her efforts paid off today.

Two Blues For Stately on the First Day at Devon

2011-09-30T08:46:00.002-04:00

Silva and Faye Woolf's Aesthete, by Trento B out of Unusual, took home two blues last night at Dressage at Devon. The first was the FEI Young Horse Test for 6-Year-Olds, where he scored an impressive 87.200. The second win was in the USEF Fourth Level Test 1 Open. Silva also rode Duvent, by De Niro out of Heidekind by Rubinstein in the USEF Fourth Level Test 1.

For a great photo check out DressageDaily.com

Boyd and Neville Awarded Land Rover Grant for Burghley Performance

2011-09-29T21:41:00.001-04:00

PRESS RELEASE
From the USEF

After a hugely successful early fall campaign for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team, six riders will receive Land Rover Performance Grants based on their performance at the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials or the 2011 Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.

Boyd Martin led the American effort with the Neville Bardos Syndicate's Neville Bardos at the Burghley CCI4*. The pair finished seventh, earning a $10,000 Land Rover Performance Grant in addition to the $15,000 base grant which they received prior to their trip to the UK as part of the Land Rover Competition and Training Grant initiative. Their $10,000 Land Rover Performance Grant was based on their top 10% finish at a CCI4*.

"It was fantastic gesture for Land Rover to reward Neville with the $10,000 bonus thanks to his top finish at Burghley," said Martin. "A huge international trip like this amounts to thousands of dollars in expenses, and this performance grant will be going directly toward offsetting a lot of the costs for Neville's trip to England. Land Rover has absolutely made my dream of competing at Burghley a reality with their grants."

Boekelo Preview

2011-09-29T21:30:00.000-04:00

So this is what we have to look forward to at Boekelo...

October & November Clinics with Boyd at CS&W Farm!

2011-09-26T09:22:00.000-04:00

Boyd Martin

CS&W Farm

October 18 and 19, 2011

November 19 and 20, 2011

Clinic with the 2010 Horseman of the Year

Boyd is a 4 star eventing competitor that finished 7th overall on the USEA Rider of the year leader board in 2007. He was shortlisted for the Australian Olympic team on two horses, Yin Yang Yo and Neville Bardos. Since becoming a US citizen, Boyd has had great success competitively. He was named Rider of the year by the Chronicle of the Horse and in 2011 is ranked number one on the Nutrena leader board. For more information go to www.boydandsilvamartin.com.

Boyd Martin is one of the best clinician I have ridden with in a long time. People who ride with him feel they and their horses were challenged mentally and physically without being overfaced. Your confidence reaches a new level. He demonstrates imagination in the exercises he teaches. He explains techniques for both stadium and cross country clearly and logically. Both my horses excelled during the class and I have used many suggestions afterwards. This is someone you don’t want to miss riding with.

Fees:

Semi privates - $225.00 per day

Groups of 4 - $165.00 per day

Tuesday - Flatwork/Gymnastics

Wednesday - Cross Country

Our XC includes Water/Ditches/Banks for levels BN-Prelim

2011 new sunken road complex and additional new jumps

Registration must be received with payments in full prior to clinic to reserve your spot. Any questions call Claudia Winter @ 518-537-4417 or email cswfarms@valstar.net

Visit us on the web at cswfarms.net

Silva's Ride Times for Dressage at Devon

2011-09-25T22:03:00.006-04:00

Silva will be competing at the prestigious Dressage at Devon horse show

September 27th-October 2nd 2011

For complete Day Sheets (with ride times) click here

Thursday Sept. 29

4:00pm Fourth Level Test 1 riding Aesthete

5:27pm Fourth Level Test 1 riding Duvent

6:46om FEI Test for 6 year olds riding Aesthete

Friday Sept. 30

8:39 am FEI Test for 6 year olds (Final) Aesthete

10:10am Ashlea riding in the YR Team Test

Saturday Oct 1

9:32am Fourth Level Test 2 riding Aesthete

11:30am Fourth Level Test 2 riding Duvent

3:45pm Ashlea riding YR Individual Test

Sunday Oct. 2

8:00am Fourth Level Test 2 riding Duvent

9:12am Fourth Level Test 2 riding Aesthete

10:05 Ashlea riding YR Freestyle

10:31am Fourth Level Test 3 (GAIG/USDF Qual) riding Duvent

12:09pm Fourth Level Test 3 (GAIG/USDF Qual) riding Aesthete

PRO Video Interview after Plantation Field

2011-09-20T20:57:00.001-04:00

Plantation Videos: Remi and Otis

2011-09-19T21:20:00.000-04:00

Plantation Field International Wrap Up!

2011-09-19T20:46:00.002-04:00

This year, the Plantation International CIC event went beyond the successes of previous years. The event featured a phenomenal new stadium & dressage ring, as well as the new water complex which undoubtedly turned this event into one of the leading CICs in this country.

My weekend proved to be in the true spirit of eventing, with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. After a spectacular event at the Burghley 4* on Neville, I thought of myself as somewhat of a cross-country expert until the beginning of my day at Plantation.

My first ride of the day was the 1* on Steady Eddie, who was moving along nicely until I put him in a bit wrong at the coffin ditch combination. We cartwheeled over the ditch, deploying my first Point Two air cartridge for the day. Eddie rebounded well, I dusted myself off, deflated my air jacket & hopped on my second ride of the day. Merging was also jumping very well on the early part of course, so I took a different tactic with the approach to the ditch & went in stronger. We jumped well over the A & B elements, but at C we once again reenacted the superman move, flying through the air & deploying my second Point Two cartridge of the day. As I lay in the grass I thought “how could I possibly have fallen off at the same jump twice by 9:15am in the morning!!”

Luckily the cross-country started to improve after that with positive rides on the rest of my horses in the Advanced, Intermediate and 3*, with the highlight of my weekend on the always reliable Remington, who finished 2nd by only one tenth of a point in the CIC 3*.

Again, I must sing the praises of the Plantation Organizers' Committee for putting on a sensational event. All aspects of the competition were brilliant for owners, riders, supporters and spectators, including the wonderful tribute given by Denis during the lunchtime intermission. I’m looking forward to next year whenI plan to improve my performance by .1 of a second!

Complete Event Results

iPhone Gallery Link

Photo Credits Lisa Thomas
Mid-Atlantic Equestrian Services

A Big Weekend at Plantation Field International!

2011-09-18T21:35:00.001-04:00

It was a big weekend at Plantation Field International, with a tremendous effort from our local horse community, an army of volunteers, a tremendous showing of riders and their entire support crew!

Boyd had another stellar weekend upon his CIC 3* mounts, with Remi taking 2nd by a 10th of a point and Otis putting in an impressive effort as well, with a 9th place finish.

For full results please go to live scoring & we'll have a full statement (with plenty of photos) from Boyd tomorrow!! Stay tuned.......

Plantation Video Interview with Boyd

2011-09-18T18:45:00.000-04:00

Lindsey's Burghley Story

2011-09-17T21:02:00.002-04:00

Boyd's groom Lindsey shared a beautifully written account of her favorite moment at Burghley. Take the time to read this, but be sure you grab a box of Kleenex first! The story was reprinted at EventingNation - click here for the link.

Update from Plantation Field

2011-09-17T20:43:00.003-04:00

Things are looking good for Boyd in the CIC3* at Plantation Field. He and Remi are 2nd after cross-country and Otis is in 11th. See the complete results here. Things didn't go as well in the one-star, with two falls from two different horses at the same fence! Stay tuned for the whole story after the completion of the event tomorrow...

Plantation Field This Weekend

2011-09-15T18:28:00.004-04:00

250 horses and 100% perfect weather.....pure bliss!

250 horses and 100% perfect weather.....pure bliss!

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ThE WeekEnD YoU'vE aLL BeeN WaiTiNg FoR!

LOOK AT THE WEATHER FORECAST!!!!
come see what we have in store for you this coming weekend at the Plantation Field !
GREAT SHOPPING - - Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9 - 4 each day! J.McLaughlin, Pomegranate Seeds, Dubarry of Ireland, Bit of Britain, Alexander James Country Clothing here from England!, Plantation Field Merchandise, CWD Saddlery, The Hunt Closet, Bruno Delgrange, WISE Equestrian, Robert Redd Ltd, Precise Builders, Amy Dragoo Photography, Sarro Signs,The Vintage Fox, ECB Jumps, Oxford Marketplace, Outback Trading Co., Herbalife, Silpada Jewelry, Dog and Pet Shops, Alpaca Farm, Course Components, Chasin' for Chalfin, Alex's Lemonade Stand, Root Beer Floats, Gourmet Crepes, Cheesesteaks, Ice Cream and MORE.

KIDS KORNER! Saturday and Sunday be sure to bring all the KIDS! MOON bounce, Crafts and Games, Face Painting and temp Tattoos, Petting Zoo with the farm animals from the Barn at Spring Brook Farm, live ALPACAS, Alex's Lemonade, Root Beer Floats, Ice Cream and more!

FRIDAY - - - The International (CIC) divisions do DRESSAGE in the beautiful new Main Arena - - Approx time are -
CIC 2* = 8:00am - 11:45am
CIC 1* 12:35pm - 4:45pm
and the highest level of the weekend is CIC 3* and these top horses and riders go at approximately 12:38pm - 4:40pm

friday @ NOON! NUNN FINER CIC*** cross country COURSE WALK WITH SHARON WHITE
CIC* cross country COURSE WALK WITH MOLLY ROSIN ! meet at NUNN FINER START BOX - - NOON!
*****NOTE TO SPONSORS/VIP/BADGEHOLDERS/CIC RIDERS & OWNERS- - starting 8 am - Starbucks Coffee and Danish available for you at Stillman Volvo Sponsor Tent. No Lunch Served this day. Cookout Kickoff party starts at 5:30 at the Stillman Volvo Tent! Casual!

SaTuRDaY is Going to be HUGE!
here's the APPROXIMATE line up ...
CIC1* = 8:30 - 9:34am
national divisions also going all day - - -
CIC3* = THIS IS THE BIGGIE!! XTREME! do not MISS! 12:50 - 1:52pm THIS IS THE BIGGIE!! XTREME! do not MISS! 12:50 - 1:52pm BRING ur CAMERA!!!!!!
CIC2* = 3:16 - 4:14pm

****NOTE TO SPONSORS/VIP/BADGEHOLDERS - - - starting 8 am - Starbucks Coffee and Danish available for you at Stillman Volvo Sponsor Tent. Lunch/beverage will be delivered to you in the VIP Hillside Parking area

SUNDAY! the PLACE to be is HERE !
CIC* start jumping at 9:00am
CIC** start jumping at 10:30am
Brunch for Sponsors/VIPs at the STILLMAN VOLVO SPONSORS TENT starts at 11 and
at NOON, we have the "entertainment" portion of our show!!!

--Parade of Mr. Stewarts Cheshire Foxhounds
--A Tribute to the Victims AND survivors of the nearby True Prospect Farm Barn Fire
--BAREBACK jump contest - ok, seriously, you MUST see this to believe it!

then the finale of the weekend.....CIC*** Show Jumping will start just after 1pm and Awards Presentation will be done by 3!

welcome to YOUR event! and thanks to our MANY sponsors!

for the benefit of The Barn at Spring Brook Farm and The Cheshire Land Preservation Fund

$20 Per Car at the Gate ((No matter how many occupants of the car!)) INCLUDES FREE PROGRAM complete with MAPS around the Plantation Field so you will know where you are and what to do! be SURE to visit the PLANTATION FIELD OFFICIAL MERCHANDISE BOOTH

click here for WEBSITE!!!


	SPECTATORS!!!!! GPS address 387 N. Green Valley Road Unionville, PA 19375 ((coatesville pa 19320 if unionville is not recognized on your method))


	PAY ONLINE Fence SPONSOR - $1000 Friend Sponsor $500 - Patron $250 - Daily Fri, Sat or Sunday Grounds/Park Pass $20 -

Plantation Field to Give Three Cheers to Boyd, Neville Bardos, and the Burghley and Blenheim Riders

2011-09-13T09:38:00.002-04:00

Unionville, PA - September 12, 2011 - Neville Bardos was the last horse rescued from the burning building, due to the heroic efforts of Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton. He has made a remarkable recovery, astonishing all those who have cared for him, including his vets. The pair have recently returned home from England where they finished 7th at the Burghley CCI****, traditionally thought of as the largest and most grueling three-day event in the world.

The planned public tribute is in appreciation of the tremendous support Boyd, Ryan Wood, Caitlin Silliman, Lillian Heard and Abbie Golden received from Chester County and the eventing community at large.

In addition, Plantation Field plans to acknowledge the achievements of the riders who competed at the Burghley CCI**** and the Blenheim CCI*** in Great Britain. Riders Sinead Halpin, Philip Dutton, Colleen Rutledge and Michael Pollard will be at Plantation Field International competing other horses this week.

On Sunday, September 18th, Plantation Field International CIC plans to hold a tribute to Neville Bardos and Boyd Martin and a moment of silence in honor for the all the wonderful horses that were lost in the May barn fire at True Prospect Farm.

Young Event Horse Update from Caitlin

2011-09-12T21:19:00.005-04:00

Boyd's assistant riders Caitlin Silliman and Sara Gumbiner took the young horses out to Bucks County horse trials over the weekend. Here's an update from Caitlin:

Sara rode her horse Polaris (Larry) and they won training on their dressage score. This was exciting for Sara because it was her first training on Larry. She also rode Working Draft, one of Boyd’s sales horses, who finished 2nd in Open Novice on his dressage score, which is exciting because it was his first event with us so far.

Caitlin rode Bru (owned by Manny Diemer) and won Novice; with Rondo (owned by Ron and Densey Juvonen) she was third; Sophia Fab (owned by Laurie Cameron) was fourth in her first novice and only her third event.

The event ended up being a combined test because cross-country got rained out. They refunded $20 of the entry fees and gave us a free schooling to make up for XC being canceled. It was actually pretty dry, but if they’d run that many horses the ground would probably have been destroyed!

It was Bru’s first win at Novice and he’s going home to Manny to be a foxhunter soon. Rondo is really quiet and did really well. He’s from Saudi Arabia; he was the king’s horse and he was a really expensive racehorse who’s really well-bred and ran well in two races but then just stopped running, so they gave him away! I don’t know what he did between there and coming here. He’s a tiny little bay horse, sweet as can be, and a really athletic jumper. Between Silva and her dressage girls his dressage has improved and now he’s come to us for some jump training. Boyd’s entered on him at Flora Lea in two weeks.

I'm also excited to have just purchased a young horse by Lux Z that I found through Carol Gee when we visited Lil in Ireland last month. He's done a little bit of intro stuff and will be a nice project for me while Star is growing her hair back.

-Caitlin