plenty of mileage left and would not be content to stand in a field grazing for the rest of his years. Partnered together since 2006, Will and Twizzel completed at Barbury CCI3*, Luhm- uehlen CCI4*, Rolex CCI4* and Fair Hill CCI3*, in addition to the Olympic Games. Morgan had been helping out at Will’s Tivoli Farm since age 11, but in 2012 became more serious about eventing and started training with him consistently. She was struggling with her previous horse last year, and the solution became obvious: she was given the opportunity to sit on Twizzel for some lessons and the pair developed into a partnership. They competed in Training level at Millbrook Horse Trials in August 2014, the horse’s first event since the 2012 Olympic Games.
“Things just come naturally riding him and he has such a good brain; even on days he doesn’t feel great he’s never going to give up, he’s such a trier.”
Twizzel hadn’t competed at the CCI* level since 2005, but in the spring of 2015 Morgan took him back to that level at the Virginia Horse Trials. It was the horse’s forty-first FEI competition, and the pair placed third overall in the CCI*, while Morgan won the award for the highest placed Young Rider. Twizzel isn’t getting any younger, but if he’s sound and
going well in the spring, Morgan plans to compete him at Intermediate. She’s now a student at the University of Virginia and continues to enjoy riding Twizzel as she delves into her studies. She’s currently studying psychology and econom- ics, but hasn’t settled on a major. She’s not ruling out horses. “I’m definitely considering horses as a career; I know it’s a hard lifestyle, but Will has always said if that’s what I want to do he’ll help me,” she says. “I just got a four-year-old to bring along. Whether I do horses professionally or as a hobby is still a decision I need to make.” She also rides her mom’s homebred four-year-old, and
Morgan Booth and Twizzel also competed at the NAJYRC this year. Sadly, after a few minor injuries, the pair had to withdraw from the competition before show jumping.
“Morgan is a very deserving, very wonderful kid, and Twiz-
zel loves his new job,” Will told
EventingNation.com. “He has always considered himself to be the focal point of attention, and he couldn’t be luckier to be around the Booth family, as they love him dearly and take exceptional care of him. I couldn’t be happier.” It took some time for Twizzel to learn that he wasn’t supposed to gallop on like a four-star horse anymore. With slow and steady training, however, he learned to relax and maintain a steady pace around a smaller course. When Will headed to Florida last winter, Morgan kept Twizzel home in Virginia and developed her relationship with the horse. She has also spent time training with Will’s wife Katie, who has been especially helpful in the dressage, where Morgan has struggled to contain Twizzel’s powerful gaits.
R K
aren O’Connor and Joan Goswell’s Irish Thoroughbred Mandiba (by Master Imp), purchased from William Micklem in Ireland, represented the United States
at the 2008 Olympic Games. It was Karen’s fourth and final time on the U.S. Olympic team. She had purchased Mandiba in 2004, and they quickly formed a strong team, winning numerous events on their way to the top, and eventually competed at most of the biggest events in the world. In 2012 Karen broke her back in a fall with the mare Veronica (who is now ridden by Lauren Kieffer) at Morven Park, and retired from competitive riding.
Warmbloods Today 23
finds her experience with Twizzel invaluable when she’s riding youngsters. “The babies throw you everywhere but Twizzel is a very steady ride,” she says. “Things just come naturally riding him and he has such a good brain; even on days he doesn’t feel great he’s never going to give up. He’s such a trier.” While she hasn’t competed since Young Riders, Morgan has been training steadily, focusing on her basics as a rider, especially in the dressage. “Will’s often traveling so I’ve been working with Caitlin Silliman, who worked for Boyd Martin for a long time but started working for Will recently, and really focusing on my riding. Twizzel is kind of my lesson horse right now. There’s no way I could be where I am without him. He’s tough in that it’s hard to get the best out of him, but he wakes up every day with a great attitude. Instead of the ornery Irish pony I took to my first Young Rider championships, who was always trying to get out of everything, Twizzel is always trying to figure things out. Every day with him is enjoyable even though I haven’t been competing and I’m very goal oriented. Will is like, ‘Just enjoy the horse.’ If he comes out in spring and can’t do an Intermediate, that’s okay, too. We just do what Twizzel wants every day.”
Brant Gamma
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