New Heights
Rich Fellers
& Flexible
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W
Big Surprise in a Small Package
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E
Flexible, ridden by Rich Fellers and owned by
Harry and Mollie Chapman, sort of “upset the apple
I cart”, so to say, at the World Cup Finals in Sweden.
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This 16 hand stallion bounced his way around the
classes to cross the finish timers into a second place
H
finish, right behind Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum
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and her own wonderful Shutterfly. With two clear
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rounds on the final Sunday, Flexible moved up the
charts in these Finals.
Flexible finished just two points off the lead after
one of the most difficult World Cup competitions
in the history of the Finals. Big, difficult courses
took a toll on the most seasoned riders and most
experienced horses, but someone forgot to tell
Flexible it was hard.
The miracle of the feat happened on the heels of
two career ending injuries that most people thought
would keep this small chestnut out of the ‘big’ rings.
The first was a blocked vein in a leg that had to be
corrected by angioplasty surgery followed by a year
and a half layup.
Then he took a fall in his paddock and broke his scapula
(shoulder). “They said he was definitely finished after
that,” said Rich.
The best way to sum up the feelings of Rich and the
Chapman’s is to quote interviews done early this year on
the heels of victories at the Thermal Desert Circuit shows.
Their feelings and beliefs in this marvelous, little horse are
said best by the people who know him best and certainly
foretold the success of the trip to Europe.
“This horse has a will to win,” said Fellers after a win in
one Grand Prix class. “Some athletes are just born winners,
and he is definitely one of those. He simply just loves to
win, and I believe he knows when it is an opportunity
to do so. When he walked in the ring I kind of felt him
This Page Top to Bottom: Fellers at Thermal; Flexible and his belly guard; Rich Fellers & Flexible
Opposite Page Top to Bottom: Rich Fellers at the gate.
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