when Fantasy was just seven years old. “The festival was can- celled though,” Heather remembers, “so I bred her instead, as she was already so far ahead in her training.” In 1996 Fantasy gave birth to Integrity, who was by the
Dutch Warmblood stallion Incognito. It may have been fate that Fantasy was bred to Incognito, because Heather first tried breeding to INSPO’s other stallion Calimero. “She reab- sorbed three times, so I switched to Incognito and she took the first time,” she recalls. Integrity was the first horse Heather bred specifically for
herself. “Integrity was born the friendliest foal ever and is the sweetest, kindest horse I’ve ever known,” says Heather. “I call her my ’golden retriever horse.’” Fantasy resumed her training, and once Integrity was old enough, she was started under saddle as well. Heather was confident both would become Grand Prix horses for her. “They were both naturally strong mares with good active hind legs,” she explains. “Both were a little heavier type-wise, but they had three solid gaits and there was nothing to say they couldn’t go all the way to Grand Prix.” Fantasy made her Grand Prix debut as a ten-year-old. In 2002 the pair won the BLM Championships at Intermediate II, Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle. In 2004 they won USDF All-Breeds awards at both Grand Prix and Grand Prix Free- style, and they won the Grand Prix Freestyle at the Region I Championships. Together Heather and Fantasy enjoyed a competitive ca-
reer spanning fourteen years and 86 competitions. Fantasy also had three foals—Integrity and Fantom, both of whom Heather still owns, and the colt Eskapade, who was sold as a hunter. Sadly at the age of 19, Fantasy died in 2008 from complications following surgery for mastitis. Meanwhile, young Integrity and Heather were forming a
strong partnership. They debuted at Training Level in 2000 scoring a 67%, and they won three BLM Championships as they moved up the levels together. In 2008 they debuted at Grand Prix. “Integrity was my steady reliable campaigner, but she was a little heavier type, so I never did the high perfor- mance shows with her, although I did finish her at Grand Prix,” Heather recalls. One of Heather’s students is now showing Integrity, earning her USDF Silver performance medal on her in 2013. They are aiming for their Gold medal in 2014. Heather never had any doubts about keeping either mare
as a Grand Prix prospect. “Once I decide to keep them, I train them all the way,” she says.
For both Janne and Heather, that determination to keep
moving forward has served them well. Their dedication to their horses and their sport, coupled with their versatility as breeders, trainers and competitors, has brought them to the highest levels of dressage. Admirably, they are in a special league of their own.
Back on Track’s Mesh Sheet helps your horse feel loose, supple and comfortable.
Back on Track products can be used to warm muscles before exercise, thereby reducing the risk of strains or injury. Most importantly, they can also help expedite recovery from established injuries.
Day 0:
Heat and inflammation in red & yellow
Day 7: Reduced
Study by Joanna Robson DVM, Napa CA
7 Weeks:
inflammation; disappearing red
Significant reduction of inflammation
Back on Track makes no veterinarian claims.
“When using the Back on Track blankets, we’ve noticed a great difference in the horses’ backs. We can go longer between the chiropractic treatments. This is a wonderful product that keeps our horses in great shape.”
McLain Ward: Olympic rider, two-time Olympic gold team medalist; Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008
Used by veterinarians to treat and relieve muscle and joint pain.
In USA: Web:
www.backontrackproducts.com Call: 1-888-758-9836 Email:
info@backontrackproducts.com
BOT-WbT-JanFeb-14-HALF.indd 1
In Canada: Web:
www.backontrack.com/ca Call: 403-601-6491 Email:
canada@backontrack.com
Warmbloods Today 39 12/9/13 10:47 AM
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 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100