Boyd has three horses aiming for the Rolex Kentucky three-day event this April. Click here to visit the official website to purchase tickets so that you can cheer them on!
Boyd has just imported a 6-year-old, 16.2hh off-the-track Thoroughbred gelding named Steady Eddie from Australia. Here’s the fascinating story about how this horse came to be part of Boyd’s string of prospects:
While I was visiting friends and family in Australia over Christmas I ended up on the North Coast visiting my good mate Kevin McNabb, who’s one of Australia’s leading three-day riders. Between swimming on the Great Barrier Reef we paid a visit to Evan Parker at his place about an hour west of Townsville, way out in the countryside, (see map) to look at future event horses. I wasn’t planning on looking at horses and was wearing a singlet, shorts and flip-flops, but Evan brought out this magnificent bay gelding. He’s actually skin and bones right now because they’ve had a drought, but he has a genuine “A” trot. Evan has done a good job of producing him straight from the track, and he jumped him over a few fences.
The horse has got a super jump in him and I just had to sit on him, so I kicked off my flip-flops and hopped on barefoot and in shorts and he gave me a wonderful ride. He reminded me of Ying Yang Yo (pictured left, photo by Josh Walker for the USEA) when I first looked at him. Being a good mate, Kevin let me buy this one even though he had the first shot at him, which was déjà vu again because he also had the first opportunity with Ying Yang Yo – but Kevin bought 16 other horses on this trip so I should think he’s got a couple of winners in the lot.
Steady Eddie (pictured at right with Caitlin Silliman) made it to the US last week, after the tough trip across the country from Lost Angeles to Pennsylvania in a lorry. The poor guy had never seen snow in his life! We’re feeding him up and getting him used to the good life after his days of drought. After he gets some weight on, Silva and Caitlin will do some light dressage work with him and I’ll start competing him in a few months.
This horse has some of the best Thoroughbred bloodlines, including Marscay, Northern Dancer, Star Kingdom and last but not least Secretariat. At the moment I own him outright and I’m very excited about his look and ability: my gut feeling after seeing him in Australia is that he’s a tough sort of horse, and I hope he’ll be a good one for the future.
Well folks, I finally received the main prize for winning the Fair Hill CCI*** last fall: Susan Sponenberg painted this fine portrait for me, of Neville Bardos at his best: wind sucking on a post! When I talked to Susan she said that it was important to show Neville's true colors, and my strongest impression of this horse is of him gnawing away. I'll hang this one over the fireplace!
Eventing legend Bruce Davidson owns Rock On Rose, one of three horses that Boyd is preparing for the Rolex Kentucky three-day event. Davidson is profiled on the website, and "Lusty", as the mare is known at home, is featured in the latest installment. Be sure to check out the official website for this and more information about the only four-star event in the United States, coming up in April at the Kentucky Horse Park. Don't forget that the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will also take place this year and team selectors will be busy during Rolex figuring out who to pick for their teams!
We are hanging in there in the cold at home in Pennsylvania. Caitlin and I are starting to regret staying home this winter because it is so bitter cold, but the horses are doing well and I am very excited for the new show season.
Here is a YouTube video of Sea Lord training at home. I think he has come a long way since last year: he is getting stronger and stronger. Since he is a Thoroughbred it really took me two and a half years to make him strong enough for his work, and he still has a long way to go, but I am so exited to be riding this amazing horse!
Yang Yo (pictured left, photo by Josh Walker for the USEA) when I first looked at him. Being a good mate, Kevin let me buy this one even though he had the first shot at him, which was déjà vu again because he also had the first opportunity with Ying Yang Yo – but Kevin bought 16 other horses on this trip so I should think he’s got a couple of winners in the lot.
Pennsylvania in a lorry. The poor guy had never seen snow in his life! We’re feeding him up and getting him used to the good life after his days of drought. After he gets some weight on, Silva and Caitlin will do some light dressage work with him and I’ll start competing him in a few months.
Photo of Boyd riding Rock on Rose: Kat Netzler for The Chronicle of the Horse
