Good bye Rossco!

Boyd is home from Australia and wrote this tribute to his late father, Ross Martin:

As you have heard, my father Ross Martin passed away last Saturday afternoon in the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney. A week earlier, he was in a bike road race where he had a collision with a truck, breaking the C3 and C4 vertebrae in his neck, leaving him paralyzed from his chin down.

I feel very lucky that I had the opportunity to fly home and be with him for his final two days. He was happy to see me, told me that this 'was no big deal', and 'such is life mate' before dying in his sleep.

My Dad had an amazing life. He was born in Bega hospital in 1943, son of a school teacher. At the age of 4 his mother disappeared, never to be seen again. Dad's grandmother looked after him and his two sisters. Dad never attended school until the the 4th grade; by the 6th grade he had won a scholarship at the exclusive Sydney Grammar School.

After finishing high school, he decided to ride his bicycle 400 miles to get a job as a farm hand with sheep and cattle in Cooma. His boss, Bruce Haslingden, was one of Australia's first ever winter Olympians. He saw talent and work ethic in my dad, and encouraged him to start seriously Cross Country Ski racing.

In 1968, Dad represented Australia in the Olympics in the 15 km and the 30 km cross country races in Grenoble, France. He met my mother there, where she was representing the US in the 3000 metre speed skating race.

He married Toy in 1971 in Sydney, had Brook in 1977, and me in 1979.

He was a great father to his kids. Our family holidays included hiking trips to the base camp of Mt. Everest and 1000 km bike rides across Outback Australia. To the end he stayed a true competitive athlete, competing in ocean swim races, cycle racing and multi-day mountain bike trips.

It was unlikely that he was ever going to retire to an old age nursing home. He was a workaholic, loved his dog Cathy, and hated buldgers (anyone that did not work hard). He was a classless man who had friends from all walks of life. He was generous to a fault, but hated to be thanked.

I must say he was very proud of my eventing career. He encouraged me to stay away from university and instead chase my true passion of training horses. He was very supportive of my move to the US, and my change of nationality. It was a great feeling riding in front of him at the WEG last year.

He had a wonderful sense of humor and made many friends in the American eventing community. I was lucky that he came to the Fork Horse Trials this year. He had a great time as he watched me ride and enjoyed a few beers with the riders in the tent on Saturday night.

He was buried in a paddock next to Bruce Haslingden, overlooking the Snowy Mountains where he worked as a jackaroo as a young man in Cooma. I will miss him greatly, and truly believe his life has been so much a part of my success.

-Boyd

Remembering Ross Martin

Ross Martin watching Boyd and Remington XXV win the CIC*** at The Fork in April, 2011

In yet another tragic turn of events, Ross Martin, Boyd's father, passed away this weekend after having been hit by a truck during a cycling race and sustaining severe injuries. Boyd was able to travel to Australia to see Ross before he died, and is there with his family now.

I had the great fortune to meet Ross several times when he came to watch Boyd ride in the USA, and always enjoyed his enthusiastic e-mails about Boyd's riding career here in the States. He was able to attend The Fork three-day event this spring and had the joy of seeing Boyd and Remington win the CIC***, where I caught this photo of him ringside.

The support for Boyd and Silva following the barn fire at True Prospect Farm has been truly overwhelming, and Ross was so impressed with how the horse community here stood behind them during this tough time.

Especially in the tough times it is the horses that give Boyd hope for the future, and he is excited that Neville did his first gallop since the fire at the Fair Hill training track today (see video below). Boyd is still considering taking his partner in crime to the Burghley CCI**** in England this fall if Neville's health and fitness continue to improve. Let's all keep cheering them on.

-Amber Heintzberger

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy & Helping the TPF Fire Victims, part 1 on EN

By Samantha L Clark on July 2, 2011 5:20 PM, Filed Under Classroom

The Hyperbaric Chamber at Fair Hill

I think everyone knows about the tragic fire at True Prospect Farm by now, that claimed the lives of six horses and left five severely injured. At Eventing Nation, we've been providing regular updates on the recovery of those five, and in the latest installment, Caitlin had mainly good news, as well as telling us that her horse, Hoku (Catch A Star), and Boyd's WEG horse, Neville Bardos had been making daily visits to the Fair Hill Training Center to use the Hyperbaric Chamber there.  Today in part 1 we speak with Dr Slovis from Hagyard about the therapy.  Tomorrow we will hear from Caitlin about how the True Prospect horses are doing and from Bruce Jackson about his Fair Hill facility.

This is on of the ongoing expenses that effects the full recovery of Hoku and Neville.  The PRO online auction will help directly pay for these expenses.  For the full article & video interview with  please visit Eventing Nation!

Thank you Samantha!!

Round 2 of The PRO/SCES Online Auction!

Please help us continue to raise funds for the whole crew at Boyd's and True Prospect Farm!
Through the hard work & volunteer efforts of many people and many donors, we are launching the 2nd leg of the PRO/SCES online ebay auction!!

This auction features a variety of items including some great lesson packages from Buck Davidson, Ange Bean, Stephie Baer.....as well as several amazing vacation homes, tack, a Point Two Air Jacket, photography, art, etc.

Please continue to spread the word & support the fundraising efforts.  Everyone at Windurra USA and True Prospect Farm is so appreciative of the outpouring of support from our riding community!

Click Here to Bid!!

Welcome William!

On June 22nd, 2011 Amber Heintzberger and Juergen Grosserhode welcomed William Henry Grosserhode into the world. He was born at St. Lukes Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, weighing 9 lbs. 2 oz. and measuring 22" and joins big sister Emily Katharina, who will be two years old at the end of July. We are so excited to welcome him to our family!

Read Amber's blog for You & Your Family magazine here.

Thanks Horse Junkies!!

Great Dressage Tips From Boyd Martin!

June 25, 2011 6:30 pm

Posted by Carrie under Product Reviews, Riding & Horse Show Tips

No Comments

Boyd looking cheeky and Remmy looking realxed as they warm up for Rolex Kentucky, 2011. Photo by the awesome Calina.

Recently, Boyd and Silva Martin have released a series of training videos. Guess What!? We have completed the first series in their videos and we are on to the next one, as one of my hero’s Jay-Z would say.

I just about did a backflip when I saw which video was up next:  Managing a Nervous Horse in their Dressage Test.  Been there done that, got the ribbon for a ‘completion’.   Part 1 of series 2 takes us through the motions of attempting to get it together before entering at A. Yes, breathing is important.

First of all, this video shows Boyd and his horse at an actual Horse Trial warming up for their actual dressage test.  Ummm, COOL!  That was something I wasn’t expecting at all. As we all know, our biggest challenge as a rider is getting our super fit event horses who would much rather be running around a cross country course, relaxed and supple for what we all consider to be the longest 6 minutes of our lives.

Here are some of the tips:

1. Familiarization. If you can get there the day before, PERFECT! If not, get there bright and early and ride around the area where you know your test is going to be.

2. Nutrition. Boyd avoids certain hay and feeds. I’m not going to tell you which ones though!  A calming supplement is also a good recommendation.  However – ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR VET FIRST to be certain nothing will be a surprise on drug test.

3. The Warm Up. This is KEY to relaxation.  As much as possible, stick to the same program as you would when warming up at home.  Stretch a LOT, don’t create any pressure and just cruise around until you can feel your horse relax.  As Boyd says, “Make them think it is just another day at the office.”

4. Introduce Movements From The Test. Once your horse is relaxed, slowly work them through some of the movements they are going to be required to do.

BREAK TIME!! Make sure you allow your horse to take a break, walk, stretch and reassure them that everything is okay.

5. Move Closer To The Ring. About 12-15 minutes out, Boyd makes his way closer to the actual arena that the test will be ridden at.  Because you took to time to familiarize your horse to the ring, this change in scenery, shouldn’t be a problem.  Boyd suggests keeping your horse’s mind entertained’ and ask him to always keep working.

6. The Test. As soon as the competitor before you salutes, Boyd suggests getting your butt going around the ring ASAP.  This will allow as much time as possible in the test area before the bell rings.  SMILE AND NOD at the judge.  In Boyd’s opinion, that is always good for an extra mark or two…then again, it is also Boyd who is tall, good looking and speaks with an accent.  I’ll try it next time anyway.

What was awesome about this video – is that you literally get to see each and every phase of the steps as mentioned. INCLUDING his actual dressage test.  Which was a nice surprise!

I did mention which tip Boyd thinks is most important for achieving that state of relaxation above, but, well, you’re all going to have to watch the video yourself to find out what that is!

Thanks for the awesome tips Boyd! Can’t wait for my next Dressage test!!

Foxhill Eventing Fund Raiser!

Mogie Bearden-Muller is holding a summer eventing lecture series at her farm, Foxhill Eventing, in Centreville, MD. 

The first one is Weds. evening, July 6 - 7:30 p.m. No horses necessary! Topic is Walking Courses for Competition, and how to set lines for schooling at home. Mogie is a USEF "r" course designer (Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy), an Advanced level rider, H-A Pony Club, USEA ICP Level III instructor and walking a course with her is quite eye-opening -- a great learning experience. This is a great opportunity to fill in the holes in your competition skills without worrying about riding or caring for the horse! 

The fee is $25 per person, with $5 of every fee donated to the Boyd Martin barn Fire Recovery Relief Fund!  Thank you ladies!! 

RSVP to foxhill10@gmail.com, www.foxhilleventing.com for directions and more information. These are open to everyone, all levels. Further ones will include the use of studs, walking a cross country course, and more! Check the website for dates.