Yeeeeehaaaaaaa Neville!!!!!!!!!

Neville Bardos takes the lead at Millbrook

By John on August 4, 2011 5:30 PM, Filed Under Eventing Competition Coverage

If Neville's recovery from fighting to his life after the True Prospect fire just two months ago to kicking ass at the Millbrook horse trials today doesn't bring a smile to your face then I don't know what will.  Neville Bardos went up against one of the best advanced horse trials fields you will find in the United States in the Millbrook advanced-A division Thursday afternoon and seized the lead by 3.5 points.  Let's show a bit of love to Boyd as well, who also happens to have ridden the second placed horse--Remington.  As we all know, Neville was one of 5 surviving horses from the May 31st fire that burned a barn to the ground at True Prospect farm and claimed the lives of 6 horses.  

I spoke with Boyd several times in the days after the True Prospect fire and the vets were uncertain whether or not Neville would live, much less compete again.  He suffered from severe smoke inhalation and his blood counts were the worst of any of the surviving True Prospect horses.  Now, after meticulous veterinary care, regular hyperbaric chamber therapy, a big dose of love, and surely a bit of luck, Neville has one prelim under his belt from two weekends ago at Fitch's corner and he's going into the advanced cross-country at Millbrook with the lead, and Burghley is just around the corner.

As if that isn't enough, there is another, and perhaps just as special comeback story in the same division as Jan Byyny is returning to advanced for the first time since her severe fall at Pine Top in the spring of 2010.  Jan suffered numerous broken bones and a stroke, and her recovery has progressed at a remarkable pace.  Jan is 9th in the advanced dressage with Inmidair.  

Millbrook advanced division A dressage results:

1. Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos  27.8
2. Boyd Martin and Remington 31.3
3. Leslie Law and Rehy Lux  31.6
4. Phillip Dutton and Ben  33.4
5T. Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen  33.8
5T. Colleen Rutledge and Dillon  33.8
7. Doug Payne and Running Order  34.1
8. Michael Pollard and Icarus  34.1

[Full Millbrook Thursday Scores]

As another note from Millbrook, Phillip is back competing just two days after losing his incredible partner Woodburn.  It must be hard for Phillip, but Phillip belongs in the saddle and he had a great day, finishing in 4th with Ben.

Oh, wait, there's another big comeback story in the works at Millbrook.  Peter Atkins and HJ Hampton are competing in the open intermediate B division in their first horse trials since the WEGs.  Dressage continues Friday at Millbrook. 

Boom goes the dynamite. 

Lesson/Clinic Series at Barbara Weinbrecht's, Earlville, Md.

Lesson/Clinic Series at Barbara Weinbrecht's, Earlville, Md.

Wednesday September 21
Wednesday September 7
Tuesday August 16
Thursday August 11
Saturday August 6
Saturday April 16
Saturday April 23
Thursday May 5
Monday May 16

Starting times: Weekdays, 1 p.m. & Weekends, 10 a.m.
Auditing is complimentary ; please bring a chair.
Location: 330 Sandy Bottom Road, Earleville, Md.
Cost: $115/45 minute session.
Please make checks payable to: Barbara Weinbrecht and mail to:
330 Sandy Bottom Road, Earleville, Md. 21919.

Contact Barbara Weinbrecht's

Millbrook Horse Trials

Millbrook Horse Trials, the fourth PRO Tour event in the 2011 series, kicks off this week with a very large field of competitors and lots of activities!

• The Wine & Cheese Competitor's Party is Thursday at 6:30 PM in the hospitality tent at stabling.
• Friday night at 6:00 PM is the Kids' Horseless Jumping & Welcome Party, sponsored by friends of MHT. The PRO - Area I YR Teams will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Area I YR Program.
• The Area I Young Riders will also be teaming up with PRO for a PRO Rider scavenger hunt throughout the weekend. The kids need to answer questions about the riders on the list in order to win prizes, so help them out and make yourselves available!
• Saturday night features the Competitor and Volunteer Party at 6:30 PM in the Patron's Tent, sponsored by MHT.
• On Sunday, the PRO - Area I YR Rider Relay Race will take place prior to the advanced show jumping, which will be sure to be amusing for all. Kerry Millikin will be hosting a show jumping course walk for patrons and Marcia Kulak will be providing colorful commentary in the patron 's tent.

Goodbye and Good Luck Lil

We are both very sad to see Lillian Heard leave our program as she progresses in her career and moves on to take a job with Carol Gee as a rider in the Fernhill Stable in Ireland. Even though it was heartbreaking to watch Lil depart, it’s a fantastic move for her to gain valuable international experience in her career. The timing is perfect, with her top horse Share Option recovering from an injury and the recent loss of her prelim horse Ariel in the barn fire. Now is the time to make a break and get a taste of European eventing.

Lil’s been a fantastic worker and rider for both of us lf over the last three years. We’ve watched her produce horse after horse and enjoyed watching her riding abilities get better and better. She’ll be sorely missed at the barn and at the shows and we wish her all the best for this exciting new chapter in her life.

Boyd and Silva

Tribute to Silva's Father

Farewell Christoph Stigler

Ross and Christoph

After leaving Dressage at Lexington so suddenly to go to Germany to be with my sick dad, he passed away last Wednesday. Boyd and I can not believe that after losing Ross on July 2, we are also losing my dad Christoph 18 days later.


My dad was an amazing person and amazing father to me and my two sisters, Nina and Laura, and my brother Julian. He also was my Mum's best friend and partner for many many years. I always thought how lucky my parents were to have found each other. There are not many people who have such a close bond and great relationship as my parents had. They respected each other in every way. It was so great and important for us children to be around; we learned so much good out of my parents marriage.

When my dad was diagnosed with Plasmacytoma in early 2006, we were devastated. We could not believe that my dad, who in our eyes lived the healthiest life that you
could possibly live. My dad ran marathons, did triathlons, did not eat meat or drink alcohol or smoke, and he out of all people had to be diagnosed with such a horrible cancer.

Not long before he was diagnosed, my dad, Ross and Boyd rode their bicycles through the middle of Australia for 7 days from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock. That was one of my dad's favorite trips. Ross and my dad were very much alike: very sporty and just great men. They became good friends on that trip.

My dad was the most positive and brave person I know. He started with a very aggressive chemotherapy right away and even through this horrible treatment with so much pain he stayed positive and kept telling us not to worry; that he has to go through this and he is not going to be beaten down by this.

Boyd and I got married in Australia in December 2006. Because my dad was in the middle of the therapy at that time my parents could not make the long trip to Australia. That was devastating for me and my parents not to be there when I got married. My dad put on his suit in our living room in Germany and my mum videoed his speech for our wedding. He could not walk me down the aisle but he was not going to miss his speech.We played his speech on a big screen at our reception and it was like he was there!

For the next five years my dad kept fighting this horrible illness. He had to go through terrible, painful treatments, but in between treatments my parents went on great trips together and spent as much time together as they could. On their last trip my parents came to help us move to our new farm. My parents moved our whole house by themselves.

My dad died on July 20, 2011.

We so wished for for more time! It was not enough time for him and not enough time for us. My dad still had so many plans.

We will miss him forever!!

Silva

Boyd and Cold Harbor Named to Pan-Am Games Short List

Brant Gamma Photo

The USEF have announced the short list for the 2011 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the Pan-American Games.
Boyd has been named to the list riding Cold Harbor, owned by Dana and Manny Diemer.

Congratulations!

Links: EventingNation.com
USEA