A Bit of Education at the AEC, Sponsored by Bit of Britain

Even though the upper-level cross-country got rained out at the AEC, Boyd and an intrepid group of eventers slogged around the preliminary cross-country course on Friday in a course walk sponsored by Bit of Britain Saddlery, sponsors of Boyd and Silva Martin. Company owner John Nunn joined the group and after a rousing introduction we set off through the mud, dodging training-level competitors as Boyd offered advice for how to ride the course.

I joined the group with camera and notebook in hand, but it's hard to take notes in the pouring rain - paper gets soggy and ink tends to run, so the notes end up looking more like a Rorschach inkblot test. I managed to copy down a few of Boyd's comments from key fences and will share them here:

Fence 3, a hanging log in the trees. "A green or spooky horse will look here because it's in the dark and on a slight uphill. I'd set up a bit and then move up to it, but you don't want a long, flat gallop."

The next two fences were straightforward and Boyd commented, "The object of the first five fences is to get going forward and feel how the horse is going. After that it's down to business."

Fence 10, the bank complex. "This is a test of your horse's courage and boldness. You don't want to get waiting and quiet to this one or he'll do a cat leap - encourage him forwrad and strong. I think it's a tough fence for prelim."

11. The Coffin. "Don't waste time after the bank, because here you want to balance the horse up a bit. Hopefully it will ride as a one-stride to a one-stride (the coffin consisted of a standard-width vertical to a reveted ditch and out over a skinny arrowhead). The danger is if the horse looks in the ditch - that's when you get one catching a knee on the jump in. Realize the horse might hesitate and stay behind with your position, shoulders back. After the ditch don't give up - do everything you can to get over that skinny."

Water complex: a big drop in, then a bending line to a corner in the water (black flag option to go past the corner, make a right-hand turn back over a log into the water and then out again). "A corner in the water is a big call...The quieter you jump in to the water, the more rideable the horse will be for the turn to the corner in the water."

17-18 was a skinny to a skinny on a wide right-hand turn. "I'd take the turn out of the line a bit by jumping in left-to-right; if you have a problem here it would be a run out to the left at 18 because the horse drops its shoulder. You have to hold the horse on the line and react quickly to what the horse does.

A word on pace: "At preliminary you have to go faster than at the lower levels. The first thing you want to achieve is to get around - do all you can not to stop or fall off. Then you want to go clear. Then you want to go fast. Making the time is not just for crazy people, it's for those who are economical. If you can land and get away from each fence a second faster than everyone else, that puts you ahead of the game."

Even though the competitors who participated in Boyd's course walk at the AEC did not have a chance to put his advice into practice, it was a fun and educational opportunity for all. Look for more of these sponsored course walks at future events!

Record Rains Wash Out 2008 AEC

Record-setting rain (6.59" today)continued to fall in Illinois as Hurricane Ike pounded Texas, and Lamplight Equestrian Center was in the heart of the flood zone. After rescheduling the AEC to run show jumping on Saturday and cross-country on Sunday, the organizers decided to scrap cross-country for the upper levels altogether and completed the competition a day early as a combined test. The footing in the arenas held up well considering the ongoing rain, and except for a few short holds for lightning the competition ran nearly to schedule.

In the Intermediate Championship Boyd and Remington XXV, owned by Densey Juvonen, had two rails down to finish on 42.4 penalties in eleventh place. Becky Holder on Ann Bower's Rejuvenate won this division followed by Boyd's student, Jennie Brannigan riding Cooper in second.

Boyd also finished eleventh in the Advanced Championship riding Benwald, owned by Anne Hennessey, on a score of 51.2. British rider Leslie Law won this division riding Beatrice and Guy ReyHerme's Mystere Du Val.

In the Preliminary Horse Championship Boyd's student Kate Chadderton finished 20th riding Canyonleigh's Sir Echo, a horse that along with Boyd's two would likely have benefited from a cross-country run in a bid to move up the placings.

Boyd, Kate and Jennie had already packed up the trailer and quickly got on the road back to Pennsylvania as soon as the competition came to a close, hoping for drier weather at Plantation Field next weekend.

Photo of Boyd and Remington XXV Copyright Amber Heintzberger 2008

Dressage Day at the AEC

A message from Boyd:

"I'm here at my second AEC and it's bigger and better than last year. Remington did a fantastic dressage test - the best I've had on him. He showed enthusiasm and excitement all in a controlled test, so I was over the moon with him. He scored 34.1 which left us tied for seventh, not too far off the lead.

"The Intermediate Championships cross-country course looks tough and challenging but after a great run at the Richland CIC**, I know he's up to it.

"In the Advanced, Benwald did really well in the torrential rain. It was a bit of a waste of time him washing today: by the time I got through the test he was covered in the footing from the arena. I was happy enough with the quality of the test, but he fumbled both lead changes. That was a shame, because he's been doing them well at home.

"The Advanced Championship cross-country is a big call for Benwald, but he also ran well around Richland Park in the advanced division."

Note: Due to ongoing rain at the AEC, the event organizers have decided to alter the schedule: show jumping will now take place on Saturday afternoon while cross-country has been postponed until Sunday.

Photo of Boyd riding Benwald copyright Amber Heintzberger

Gearing up for the American Eventing Championships

The Wellpride American Eventing Championships have become a major destination for eventing competitors and enthusiasts from across the country. Last year Boyd competed an impressive seven horses at the AEC, mostly young ones. This year he will return to the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois with two upper level horses, taking a shot at fame and fortune (oh yeah, the sponsorship is fantastic!)

In the Advanced Championship Boyd will compete Benwald, owned by Anne Hennessey.

"It's gonna be a big course for Benwald, but he's up to it," says Boyd. "He recently ran well around Richland."

In the Intermediate Championship Boyd will be riding Remington XXV, owned by Ron and Densev Juvonen. Boyd says, "This is one of my favorite horses in the barn - he's an unassuming dressage horse from Germany that's now a two-star eventer. I'm having a great time with him at the moment."

Looking forward, Boyd plans on competing Remington XXV at the new two-star event at the Fair Hill International in Maryland this fall.

Good luck at the AEC, Boyd - kick on!

Successful End of Summer for Boyd and Silva

As Lisa and I put the finishing touches on Boyd and Silva’s website, it was an exciting and successful past couple of weekends for them at their respective competitions.

In New Jersey Silva was busy competing at Dressage at Stone Tavern at the New Jersey Horse Park. FS Tiger Lily, owned by Meg Williams, was a real superstar and was First Level champion both days that she competed. Silva’s young horse Fendi, brought over from Australia not too long ago, was Reserve Champion in the breed show.

Moving up the levels, it was a lucky day for Silva’s Irish Sport Horses: Ballatale, a 12-year-old gelding owned by (Tale Quale xx X Punaballa, by Ballinamona Boy), owned by Sara Sanz De Acedo, placed second in Third level, while Felix, (breeding unknown), owned by Cayla Kitayama, placed fourth in Fourth level.

Up at the Seneca Valley Horse Trials, Boyd said he saw the opportunity to pick up a few ribbons since everyone was packing up and heading home due to Hurricane Hannah sweeping through. In spite of 5” of rain falling in 24 hours, Boyd jumped clear around cross-country on all three of his intermediate entries, winning Intermediate B2 riding August Vettorino’s Clifton Imperial and bringing his own homebred mare Shatzi W, also a recent import from Australia, home in third place.

“Shatzi is still quite green and it was a lot to ask of her, so I’m very pleased,” said Boyd.

In Open Intermediate A1 Boyd finished fourth Falcon Splash, another good Aussie-bred horse. Kudos to Boyd’s mate Ryan Wood from Australia who finished second in Intermediate B1 riding Wynella Wolverine.

Boyd also cleaned up in the preliminary divisions, winning open prelim A4 riding Minotaure du Passoir, who is just back in competition after undergoing colic surgery at New Bolton Center earlier this year, and also winning open prelim B3 riding Bellaney Destiny, an Irish gelding imported by Darren Chiacchia and now owned by Deborah Kuhn.

Boyd said, “This is a new horse I just started riding and I really feel he’s super talented on the flat and a good jumper.”

This weekend Boyd heads to the Wellpride American Eventing Championships in Chicago…more to come about the horses he will ride there as he attempts to bring home a pile of prize money and prizes.

We Are Live!!

Boyd and Silva Martin , both internationally accomplished riders, came to the United States in early 2007 to further pursue their careers at Phillip & Evie Dutton’s True Prospect Farm. Boyd, currently standing third overall in points on the USEF’s Leaderboard, has joined on as Phillip’s assistant trainer. Silva, a Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer, or “Bereiter”, is running a successful training business at the barn as well. Both can be seen at the top competitions throughout the United States .It has been a fabulous experience working with Boyd and Silva. New to this country, they are already making their mark on the riding community. They are well accomplished, hard working & committed to their horses. I have first hand had the opportunity to take a lesson with both of them. My dressage leaves much to be desired (how long do you want my stirrups?!), and my x-country jumping is far from polished……but they were both patient, encouraging and fun. I can’t wait to get on board for their clinics. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to work with them & think they are both going to make a huge imprint on the equestrian world!

I want to extend my thanks to the other individuals, also top professionals within the equestrian community, who have been so helpful on this project. Their photography, ad copy, and technical knowledge are the reason this project came together so successfully. Many thanks to Amber Heintzberger, Paul Ciccone, Mike McNally, Emily Daily, Sue Stickle, the horse owners, working students, Bit of Britain and Devoucoux Saddles for all of your help and support.I hope that you enjoy the site & spread the word about Boyd and Silva’s flourishing business. Please peruse the site and inform all of your friends and associates about their sales horses, clinics and competition schedules. You will become as big a fan as I am.

We're Getting Closer

Construction is still underway, but we are getting close to the launch of Boyd and Silva's new website www.BoydandSilvaMartin.com
Contributions to the website are welcomed & can be emailed to Lisa@MidAtlanticEqServices.com
Please check back frequently for updates on the site!