Stallions, Sponsors and Success
By Patti Schofler A Not What You Might Expect
t Country Club Stables in South Florida the nine resident stallions can sniff noses with each other through the bars that form the upper half of the
stall dividers. The barn vibe is contentment. Absent is the chaos of posturing, squealing and striking expected in a barn reeking with hormones. Oddly enough, the human side of the barn is in tune with the same sense of satisfaction. The owner/sponsor— trainer/manager relationship that prizes the nine stallions is without chaos, posturing and squealing. Instead of an iron clad, attorney-scripted, written agreement, so like the solid walls dividing stalls in some barns, this relationship has survived seventeen years based on trust, respect, conversations, compromise and common priorities not always found in the horse world. Dressage trainers Gary Lane and Dean Camp live in a
charming house on the grounds of Country Club Stables in Village of Golf, Florida, where they manage, train and care for the dressage horses owned by Carlene Blunt. As a one- time competitive Grand Prix jumper, Carlene lives a quarter mile from her equestrian property that lies 20 minutes from the scene of Wellington dressage and jumping.
STALLIONS AND MORE STALLIONS
This rock solid relationship recently took a turn in its evolution. Over the past two years Carlene has purchased nine Lusitano stallions for Gary and Dean to train and show in the competitive South Florida circuit. With an introduction to
Interagro Lusitanos from the Brazilian breeder’s U.S. trainer Heather Bender, a trip to Brazil for Gary, Dean and
Carlene ended in the purchase of three stallions. Last year Interagro’s Florida Lusitano Collection auction added three more to the barn. In June 2010 Gary and Dean returned to Brazil to buy a horse for Dean and returned with two stallions. “In November we went to Brazil for a friendly visit and
I fell in love with a four-year old. He screamed that he had to go home with me, and now we have nine,” says Gary.
WARMBLOODS AND LUSITANOS A FEI competitor, Gary has been won over by the Lusitanos, though he also trains and shows two Dutch Warmblood geldings owned by Carlene, Urquin and Olivier with whom he won the Third Level Region 3 Championship in 2006. After a three year recovery from a pulled check ligament, Olivier returns this season with Gary to the show arena at Prix St. Georges. Gary works regularly with Jan Brons and Betsy Steiner. “I won’t say I’d never have
another Warmblood,” Gary remarks, “but I would be hard pressed to look past a Lusitano. They are trainable, sweet, polite and sensitive. They like attention, but they know their place. They’re bright. They like routine, but if things change, they can handle it. Generally they are more of a partner.” “There are good and bad in
every breed, but the Lusitano stallions are definitely very different than working with Warmblood stallions, especially the young ones. These are very solid in their minds.” While praise is often given
to the Lusitano temperament, accompanying comments at times downplay the quality of the gaits. On this subject
Gary Lane showing Urquin, a Dutch Warmblood by Junior. (Horse Sports Photography ) Warmbloods Today 37
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84