By Pat Payne
Four Star Rewards B
For Pennsylvania-based eventer Kate Hicks, April was a milestone month. After eight years together, she and her three-day partner Belmont moved up to compete at the four-star level at the Rolex Kentucky **** Three-Day Event, held at The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington from April 24-27. Not only was this year’s Rolex their first four- star event, they finished a very respectable fifteenth, and at seventeen, Belmont was one of the two oldest horses to complete all three phases. It was, Kate says, an unforgettable weekend.
elmont is a Dutch-Thoroughbred cross bred in Virginia, sired by Boeskool Boy. Kate’s parents purchased him for her in 2004 after Phenomenon, the mare she was
competing, became injured. (On a happy note, Kate’s mare made a full recovery and is now competing successfully with one of her students.) They purchased the then nine-year–old Belmont from well-known competitor Susie Beale through Phillip Dutton, with whom she was boarding at the time. Before she purchased him, Belmont had only fox hunted and done a few events, she says.
Developing a Partnership The pair jumped into the competitive world, even as Kate worked to finish her college degree. “I did a couple of prelims and was just getting to know him. He just loved cross- country but the flat work was difficult for him. He would tuck his head down and just get really nervous,” she explains. Fortunately for Belmont, Kate had spent a great deal of time on her flat work when she was a teenager and truly enjoyed
it. She happily spent the necessary time slowly improving his dressage. At their first event, Kate continues, they had
a runout at a corner. It was an experience that taught her what to expect from her new horse. “He’s so brave and will never stop at anything. It’s the turning and slowing down that was a little harder, especially at first.” The pair quickly moved up to two-star events in 2005 but
the year did not go well from a competitive perspective. Kate made the decision to scratch Belmont from the Virginia Horse Trials because she was concerned he was sore. Later in the year, she scratched again at the Radnor Hunt Horse Trials because the conditions were so muddy. Fortunately, 2006 was a better competitive year. Kate and
Belmont won the two-star at the Jersey Fresh Three-Day Event. It was also a time when their partnership blossomed. “Belmont can be strong and rush at his fences,” she says. “I had to learn to adjust my eye and plan ahead. I always have to remember that, with Belmont, turning can take time!”
Warmbloods Today 25
Both photos, Allen MacMillan / MacMillan Photography
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