Breaking In Waranga

On the other side of the world a horse is getting broken in and is about to make a very large lifestyle change. Waranga is a three-year-old gelding by Copabella Visage (KWPN) out of a Brilliant Invader (Australian Thoroughbred) mare. Brilliant Invader was the sire of Ready Teddy (the horse with which NZ eventer Blyth Tait won both Olympic gold and the World Championships).

My old friend Gordon Bishop is breaking in Waranga before he starts his big trip to America at the end of this month. His early training has been going well according to Gordon and he looks to be a big, strong horse with huge movement.

Congratulations to Amy Lindgren, Minotaure Du Passoir's owner, for coming on board and owning this promising young horse. He may look a little rough in these photos, but I promise you this horse has all the tools to be a champion: movement, size, pedigree and talent.


-Boyd

Steady Eddie Gets Well Deserved Break!

Steady Eddie in Action: Photo Courtesy Mike McNally

Eddie has gone on his first official holiday here in America. Since arriving here in the States in March, the 'Eagle',as he is known around the barn, has been hard in training becoming an event horse and he has done nothing but impress me so far. He has had three starts, with three impressive performances.

My plan is to keep him at his owners', George and Gretchen Wintersteen's (pictured above, photo courtesy Mike McNally) equine retreat for 3-4 weeks, where he will be living the good life with Gretchen's fox hunters. After that he will be back to work with me and Silva. Our plan is to take him slowly, keep working on his dressage, and maybe aim for a training level horse trial towards the end of the year.

George and Gretchen's other horse, Ringwood Murphy, is also starting to find some form. He was narrowly beat (by .01 of a bloody point) on the weekend at the Maryland Horse Trials. Murph has a few more Trainings coming up mixed up with a bit of hound exercising this summer.

-Boyd

Minotaure du Passoir Retires

Minotaure du Passoir has officially been retired after his big win at the Bromont three-day event in Canada. His owner, Amy Lingren, has owned this great French horse for many years now. He has done it all in the world of Preliminary eventing. He has had 53 starts in total, with his last start being his most successful. In June he won the CCI* at Bromont, finishing on his dressage score. His other great moments were being the 2009 USEA Preliminary Horse of the Year, 1st at the Plantation CIC*, 2nd at the Bromont CCI* 2009, as well as 18 Preliminary wins in American Horse Trials.

He will remain in work at our barn with Amy as his main rider. He is still very sound, fit and happy. Both Amy and I agree that he has achieved everything there is to achieve in his eventing career at this level, so it is now time to focus our efforts on a new project...

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Amy for giving me the ride on this wonderful horse when I first arrived in this great country. I was truly unknown, and after his original rider Ryan Wood went back to live in Australia, Amy took a chance and gave me a shot at riding her horse. We have developed a great friendship thanks to this awesome horse, with great memories and fantastic performances.


-Boyd

Eventing Radio Episode 87 – Building a Partnership and Are You Ready for Your First Event

Boyd is featured as a guest on the latest edition of the Eventing Radio show. Click the link below to listen:

Eventing Radio Episode 87 – Building a Partnership and Are You Ready for Your First Event