The World
According to Garth
Text and Photos by Alden Corrigan
Meet Garth, a 15 year
my horse Gallihop. It was clear very great vehicle for advancement. Her
early on that I better start saving daughter Abby is a great example of
old half Gypsy Vanner
my pennies, because I knew she’d that. “The WCAR program is awe-
and half Irish Thorough-
be hooked having ridden Galli.” some for everyone, all ages and skill
bred who got his show
Referring to Galli as the bus, Sara levels. It gives them a sense of Team,
continues, "Because I used to pick as well as a goal, and the chance to go
name “Wildest Dreams” her up at kindergarten by putting her to the best place on earth with your
from the unusual events
up on him, and walking her home. horse….to Spruce Meadows. For
Abby started on her riding path the more developed riders, it gives
leading up to his birth.
from Galli….to Millennium Farm’s them the opportunity to realistically
As luck would have it, one of
legendary Stepping Stone (aka go after big goals, to compete in oth-
the Thoroughbred mares on an
Brownie) to Carly Bechtel's wonder- er countries, and to represent their
Irish stud farm died while giving
ful pony No-No and then to Garth.” own country, it truly opens doors.”
birth, leaving behind a foal need-
“The Willow Tree staff has taken “When I was Abby's age, if
ing a mother. A Gypsy Vanner mare
her under their wings, and she has someone from California rode on
named Tina Turner, owned by a
thrived there. She has not figured the east coast, it was news. When
groom who worked at the farm,
out yet that Butch is supposed to be Gary Ryman went to Europe, he
stepped in as a surrogate mother
scary! The last year they held the In- became a legend. I was talking to
to the orphaned foal. As a reward,
dio show, Abby started on Garth in a young girl here at Pebble Beach,
the groom was given one breed-
the short stirrup division, and is just who is in contention to go to Spruce
ing for Tina Turner to any stal-
starting to crack the 3' 7" jumpers Meadows on the children's team.
lion on the farm, and he wisely
now. For the past three years, she ….She's never ridden at Spruce
chose a Thoroughbred steeple-
has gone up the jumper ranks with Meadows, and you could hear the
chase champion named Broussard.
quite a bit of success, thanks to ef- ‘dreams might come true’ part in
When the colt was born, he was
fective training, a lot of natural tal- her voice. It gave me goose bumps!”
given the barn name Garth (af-
ent, and a wonderful horse in Garth.” Abby’s trainer Butch Thomas
ter Garth Brooks) and the show
Abby and Garth could be the comments on the value of WCAR
name Wildest Dreams because the
poster horse and rider combination programs. “WCAR is working to
groom would never have imag-
for the WCAR programs. It wasn’t create something other than just
ined, in his wildest dreams, that he
long ago that Abby was competing riding in California. The qualifica-
would own a horse of this caliber.
in the Short Stirrup division and yet, tions to go to Spruce Meadows
Several years later, Garth was
recently, Abby and
imported to the United States as a
Garth were Cham-
breeding horse. Purchased by Signe
pion in the both the
Ostby for her daughter Annie Laurie
1.00M Jumpers and
Cook as one of her very first jump-
Children’s Jump-
ers, he was then passed on to Abby
ers, and also Re-
Jorgensen, a second generation rider
serve Champion in
with Butch and Lu Thomas’ Willow
1.05M Jumpers. Next
Tree Farm in Woodside, California.
they want to go to
Abby’s mother Sara Jorgensen tells
"Spruce" on a Team.
us about this rising star. “Abby is
Speaking about the
12, and started riding when she was
WCAR Spruce Mead-
three. She always loved grooming,
ows Team Trials,
caring for her horse, and riding bare-
Sara believes that the
back, just as much as loves jumping.
WCAR program, and
The first horse Abby ever sat on was
classes offered, are a
Opposite Page: Abby on Garth
This Page: Guy Thomas, Abby & Garth
53
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