Belmont Takes the CIC*** Lead after Cross-Country at Jersey Fresh

Photos copyright Amber Heintzberger 2009
Not for reproduction without permission

I’m leading the CIC3* on Belmont (pictured above), in fifth on Rock on Rose in the CIC***, Remi is 6th or 7th in the CCI3* and Shatzi is tied for bronze in the CCI2*. With horses in all three divisions, the courses all took different paths, so it was quite a handful focusing on which course I was on and giving it the best ride.

I rode three Warmbloods and one Thoroughbred today. The ground was a bit sticky and that labored Shatzi and Remi especially – I felt them getting tired about halfway around. I had them fit enough, but the ground sucked them down. Remington is still pretty green – I found it a bit hard to get a rhythm on him because it was a stopping and starting type course on the CCI***.

Belmont did well at Fair Hill and I was eager to ride him at Kentucky, but Kate is trying to get pregnant and married and wants some cash so she asked me to take him to a few horse trials and try to sell him which is why we’re here instead.

I’m still riding for Australia here… I’ve actually been knocked about by the FEI with my nationality. One of the rules is you have to live here for two years, and they had some questions about my tax returns. I think they’re trying to make it a bit tougher to switch nationalities. My mum was born in Springfield, IL and I have dual citizenship. Sara Ike was trying to get it through and I’m hoping by Bromont I’ll be riding for the Stars and Stripes.

Recently I’ve sort of broken away from working for Phillip and now Silva and I are renting the 16-stall upper barn from him; we’ve got a deal where he’s training me and I ride some of his horses when he’s away in exchange for the help. Sometimes it can be awkward when you break away from working for someone - there can be a weird feeling - but we’ve been golden.

Today I rode Rock on Rose wearing Bruce’s colors from the 1978 World Games – his helmet cover and body protector. I’ve been riding a few of his horses and it’s been great fun. I got the rides when a good mate of mine, James Allston, from England was riding the horses and decided to move along, so I got the big call-up from Bruce which was a fantastic honor. It’s been good….and terrifying! He yells at me a bit and puts the jumps up pretty high, but it’s been good. He was chasing me the whole way around cross-country on a golf cart today – I think I heard him yelling a few times.

Sadly Phillip had a fall with Bailey Wick, (pictured at right) and lost the horse today. I think it was an unfortunate thing for Phillip where he got to the fence a bit wrong – nine times out of ten you get away with it but today things didn’t go his way. It was an unfortunate moment, and Bailey Wick was a wonderful horse. I was lucky enough to compete him while Phillip was away last summer and he was a really class horse. I think we’re in a sport where you’re riding a horse at high speeds at a fixed object, and these things are bound to happen occasionally; if you looked at the horse’s history it deserved to be here, it wasn’t as if the horse or rider wasn’t up to the level, it’s just one of those moments in the sport that is dreaded, just one of those things.

-Boyd

More photos coming soon!

Dressage Update From the Jersey Fresh Three-Day Event

Boyd is riding four horses in three divisions at the Jersey Fresh Three-Day Event. After dressage Remington XXV is placed 6th in the CCI*** (51.2) out of 30 starters; Belmont is 8th in the CIC*** (57.7) out of 20 starters; Rock on Roses is 10th in the CIC*** (58.3); and Shatzi W (pictured above, Amber Heintzberger photo), is 8th in the CCI** (53.0) out of 36 starters. Stay tuned for updates following tomorrow's exciting cross-country phase!

For complete results and event information visit the official website of the Horse Park of New Jersey.

Great Blog from ThreeDaysThreeWays!

Get to know Boyd just a bit better in this humorous blog interview with Three Days Three Ways!

Jeff the Chef Wins His First Intermediare 1!

Caitlin and I showed at Morven Park today and yesterday. Jeff was a star!! On Saturday he won the Prix St. Georges with 72 percent and today he did his first Intermediaire 1 and won it with 75 percent!!! I am so excited, not just because Jeff won but because he really felt like an FEI horse. He finally feels strong enough; he has always been a very powerful horse but now he is powerful and collected. I just feel like I have a great partnership with him and I can't wait until he goes Grand Prix!

Caitlin had a fantastic weekend with her new mare, Gabriella Rossellini (photo at right). They won the Second Level Test 1 on Saturday and then won the Second Level Test 2 today.

I also rode Ballatale (photo at left) in Fourth, Test 2 on Saturday and he scored 63.8 and finished third on Sunday. He went great and finished second in the Fourth Level, Test 3 with 67.8.

It was a great weekend!

-Silva

Cross Country Schooling at Fairhill 4/28

Come join Boyd for a cross-country school at Fair Hill tomorrow, Tuesday April 28. Groups are going out at 3:30, 4:30 and 5:30pm. All are welcome - join a group to have some fun and get a good tune-up before your next competition.

Cost is $50 per rider.

Please call 610-806-2381 or email Boyd at boydmartin007@hotmail.com to save your spot!

Big Weekend at Fair Hill

I had a pretty hectic weekend at the Fair Hill International Horse trials with a total of 9 rides over the three days of competition. I rode four horses in the advanced: Remington XXV, Belmont, Rock on Rose and In The Beat; one in the CIC**: Schatzi W; two in the preliminary: Minotaure du Passoir and Aberjoy, (pictured below left, Kellie Wright photo); and two in the training: Vidalia and This is Houston.

All of the horses jumped well in show jumping and cross country. The highlight of the weekend was a second place finish in the top class with Belmont (pictured above, Steve Berk photo). His show jumping is getting better and better, with only the one rail. Remington was close to his best as well, finishing sixth. This was the final run for these horses until their big outing at the Jersey Fresh CCI***.

It was my first outing with Bruce Davidson's two advanced mares, In The Beat and Rock on Rose. Both horses are fantastic jumpers but a little green on the flat. In the Beat gave me some trouble at the corner half way around the course, so I decided to retire her. Rose was great, finishing in the top ten.

Schatzi W (pictured right, Steve Berk photo), stepped up to her first FEI event in this country and showed her class. It was my first time pushing her along for speed in the cross country, which was a bit of an eye opener for her. She finished a creditable sixth overall and will do the CCI** three-day at Jersey Fresh next month.

It was a bit sad watching everyone pack up to travel down to Kentucky today. Phillip has his two hot shots, Connaught and Woodburn, primed up. It looks like a red hot field and I wish everyone well.

- Boyd

Hopefully results will be posted on the official website.

A Word From Our Sponsor: Choice of Champions

A word from our sponsor:

Phoebe Ingram of Choice of Champions International writes, “Choice of Champions is now sponsoring Boyd because he is a very successful event rider with a bright future and likes using our products but there was a lot more than that that went into the decision to sponsor him.

“I met Boyd in Aiken this winter. I spent time watching him doing some coaching with a young friend of mine and also training a young horse. I liked not only his style, with his easy, Australian, laid-back attitude but his obvious knowledge of how to teach both person and horse. How do get the best out of the person by pushing them to have more confidence in their own abilities, and how to get the best out of the horse by not giving in to any antics, which could be a funny process to watch, and equally giving it confidence in its own abilities. Boyd also came out to the farm I was staying on and taught people and horses from beginner novice up and they all really enjoyed his approach.

“Boyd is fun to spend time with. We had one memorable evening where he joined a group of us “oldies” for dinner and we all laughed and drank and ate a great deal and I think he probably went away rather bemused. It shows he relates to all types of people and is a great ambassador for his chosen sport and we are very happy to be sponsoring him.”