POV
their energy. When they learn their job, they figure out a way to do it with as little energy as is required. I have heard it said by other professionals that a stallion is always holding some- thing back.” About such discrimination, he compares eventing with
show jumping and dressage, where stallions excel. “Those are non-threatening sports, comparatively. Professional event riders sometimes feel like it is costing them something to be on a stallion.” He says that such prejudice is a generalization. “Occasionally maybe a judge will expect a little more from
a stallion. It’s a little difference of opinion,” Connie remarks. At the showgrounds, Andrew says, “Stabling usually has
a short ‘get to know you’ period but then everything settles down. I think keeping them in a social environment at home helps.” Connie describes when stall assignments can be a prob- lem, such as when a mare is behind a stallion on the other side of the wall. “We always check before we take him out of the trailer, and then we go to the office to make adjustments. Other times, people on the other side shift their horses and all of a sudden there’s a problem.” Stallions can be “quirky,” says Connie. She finds that Liam
can be “a little noisy” when he first arrives. “He’s a red-headed Irishman and he will tell everybody he’s there. Then it’s, ‘Oh, nobody cares, okay.’” The warm-up ring is another challenge, which Andrew says can sometimes be exciting. “Other horses with riders are
usually not that distracting. The most distracting element that is completely out of your control is when someone graz- es their horse right outside the arena. That is ‘out of place’ to a stallion and that triggers the imagination.” When riding a stallion at shows, one must be hyper-
alert. “It’s rule number one,” says Andrew. “Always be more aware than everyone else, because your stallion already is. You cannot expect everyone to know and respect that you are on a stallion. It is your responsibility to be aware of the environment.” Dana would like to see more stallions competing in the
sport, and comments, “It’s a great way to show off your horse, to show he can move out and do dressage.” As for the lack of stallions at higher levels, she says, “I often see people take a stallion to maybe Preliminary and then pull out. Maybe they don’t want to risk the horse.” “Give it a try!” Andrew advises stallion owners. “Get to
know a trainer who has worked with stallions, whether they will be training and competing yours or not, because you will need their input at some point. Give the horse time to under- stand the sport and get comfortable before you evaluate.” “And be realistic and understand that your horse, however
talented, may not take to the sport,” he adds. “But on the oth- er hand, he may, and thrive in it, in which case you are in for an exciting ride!”
Eventing Stallions of the Past
FIVE NOTABLE STALLIONS, all Trakehners, competed in previ- ous decades. Windfall (Habicht x Madruzzo), owned by Tim and
Cheryl Holekamp of New Spring Farm, is the top eventing stallion who competed at the 2004 Olympic Games. He won the gold medal at 2003 Pan-American Games. He has sired Trakehners competing in every sport: eventing, dres- sage, hunters, and jumpers. See his story in the March/ April 2010 issue of Warmbloods Today. Stiletto (Martini x Abdullah) owned by Valhalla Farm,
competed through Intermediate and at the CIC 2-star lev- el. He’s also a winner in jumping and recently showed at Grand Prix in dressage. Amiego (Handel x Maharadscha) owned by John
Krenger, competed at the top levels of eventing, winning a bronze medal at the Pan-American Games. He was out of the same dam, Abiza, as the legendary Abdullah. Amiego sired three approved sons. Samurai II (Mack-
ensen x Ibikus) owned by Leo Whinery, com-
peted at Intermediate with Olympic rider Mike Huber. His offspring compete in eventing and dressage. Amethyst (Amor II x
Schabernack) a Wurttem- berg of Trakehner breed- ing, competed at Advanced with co-owner/trainer Darren Chiacchia. Like Windfall, he sired performers in all disci- plines. His daughter Amarna won the 2008 Young Event Horse (YEH) national championship (four-year-old). Recently, the U.S. Eventing Association’s Future Event Horse (FEH) and Young Event Horse (YEH) series have at- tracted more young stallions. These events promote the breeding of event horses. Two U.S.-bred winners in the YEH series include Accolade (Amiral x His Majesty xx) a Swedish Warmblood and Holsteiner/BWP Clair de Lune SE (Contendor x Largo Z). Clair de Lune has racked up many wins at Preliminary since the YEH and has sired winners of the FEH.
Left: Windfall and Darren Chiacchia at Malmo Sweden in 2006 at the FEI World Cup. Above: Clair de Lune SE and Marilyn Little win at Preliminary at Plantation Horse Trials in fall 2012.
Warmbloods Today 73
Amy Dragoo
Timothy Holekamp
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