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$30,000 Smart- Pak Grand Prix, he placed first of 62 entries. His second double clear was in the $34,000 HITS Desert Grand Prix CSI-W**. The Dude, who is 16.2 hands, looks taller when he is
”
...coming out of the triple, you have a handful of horse. Now it’s like, ‘Yeah, I gotcha.’ That’s why his name is The Dude! ”
competing, Will says with a laugh. “He gets all pumped up in the ring. He’s a super mover. We think the world of him.”
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Wrapping Up the Winter Circuit But on the day of Thermal’s signature event, the $1 Million Grand Prix at the 1.60 height, The Dude hung out in his stall while Will rode another one of his winning jumpers, S.F. Ariantha, to finish ninth. “He’s too young. He’s just getting started. This is his first season, so we’re not going to milk him dry,” Will says, explaining why The Dude did not enter the arena that day. “I never had any intention of going in the Million with him. Now that he’s won five, we’re still sticking to our original plan.” The gelding’s ‘Dudeness’ surfaced late in the Thermal
circuit, as the temperature hit 90 degrees and horses started tiring of the same arenas. “He’s a little bored,” says Will. “He’s a little bit lackadaisical. He feels like he’s almost falling asleep around a course.” In his last Grand Prix in the Desert Circuit VIII, he had a
rail down. Will’s comment? “A lot of times, coming out of the triple, you have a handful of horse. Now it’s like, ‘Yeah, I gotcha.’ That’s why his name is The Dude!” By the end of the 2015 HITS Thermal Desert Circuit,
Will won an amazing nine Grands Prix. Along with The Dude, he rode two gray mares, Katie Riddle (three wins) and
S.F.Ariantha (one win). What’s next for this talented youngster? “It will be nice
to take him home, freshen him up, do some training, and get to a different venue,” says Will. “This has been a long time for a horse to be here. Usually they struggle at the beginning and then come together.” He says The Dude was the opposite of most horses, jumping very well in earlier weeks and then losing his enthusiasm by the end of the circuit. The Dude’s fans can watch him this spring and summer in Canada at Thunderbird and Spruce Mead- ows. This laidback character has earned quite a following, including the woman who helped import him. Natascha Gates says the horse whose potential she
© shannon brinkman
www.cheshirehorse.com 1-877-358-3001 *Source: Survey conducted in February 2014 of equine veterinarians who recommended oral joint health supplements. 30 May/June 2015
saw as a four-year-old back in 2010 has truly blossomed. “I think he has a bright future. I think he has the charac- ter. The Dude thinks [competition] is a game. He’s playful and he likes to jump. He likes to be fast and jump high.” She is likely to be just one of many fans cheering The Dude on as he makes his Canadian debut.
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