“Boyd said the view through Neville’s ears was ‘the best in the world’.”
He and Neville Bardos, a scrappy Australian Thoroughbred that Boyd purchased off the track for $850, led the U.S. eventing contingent at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. After the fire, the vets at New Bolton Center could
not give Boyd a prognosis for Neville, because there is little research into recovery times from smoke inhalation. After resting for a couple of weeks Neville started walk- ing out with Boyd—therapy for horse and rider—as Boyd said the view through Neville’s ears was “the best in the world.”
Neville and Hoku both underwent 20 treatments
in the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber at the Fair Hill Training Center. It seems to have helped tremendously with the healing process. Boyd started walking and then trotting Neville, and gradually worked him up to competing at the advanced level at Millbrook Horse Trials in New York in early August, placing fourth in his division. Otis placed second, and Boyd also placed sixth riding Ying Yang Yo, his old four-star partner owned by Faye Woolf, who returned the horse to Boyd to lift his spirits after the fire. The successful finish at
Millbrook gave Boyd hope that Neville would return to four-star competition, and he once again set his sights on competing at the Burghley CCI**** in England at the beginning of September. “Neville inspired me with a shot of confidence at
Millbrook,” recalls Boyd. “This was the first time I’d put pressure on his condition since the fire; we finished strong and I’m glad to say his breathing sounded good, especially after the last steep climb on the cross-country course.”
From Burghley to Bubble Wrap Paying close attention to his horse’s health and fitness, Boyd brought Neville back to peak fitness in only eight weeks time and made the decision to compete at the world’s toughest four-star competition. Horse and rider received a Land Rover Competition and Training Grant and flew to England to take on the best in the world. They flew over a week in advance and acclimated at U.S. rider Julian Stiller’s Headley Stud, preparing for the big event
alongside legendary eventer Mark Todd. The stakes were high for Boyd: if anything happened to
Neville, it would be yet another tragedy. But if the event was a success, it would be just the comeback that he needed. He scored 49.7 in the dressage, flew around the cross-
country course clear and under the time, then moved up to seventh on the strength of a show-jumping round in which he added one rail in very difficult conditions. The sheer bravery and tenacity of one little horse lifted the hearts of the eventing community and gave Martin everything to look forward to. The story is nothing short of amazing. In a year that William Fox-Pitt secured his record sixth Burghley win,
the story of Neville Bardos rising from the ashes to place seventh in the world’s toughest four-star, under difficult, muddy conditions no less, was the story that brought tears to the eyes of eventing fans. With the London 2012 Olympic Games on the horizon, it has been suggested that Boyd wrap Neville in bubble wrap and put him away until next year. “It was a very satisfying event at Burghley,” says Boyd.
“After the hectic preparation and the stress of the fire and the passing of family members, it was great to get out and compete. I always felt if I kept trying and working away that things would come good for me; it was also something I could focus on to get through the hard times of disappointment and tragedy.”
Above: Boyd and Neville at Burghley in September placing 7th. Photo © Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials/Kit Houghton
Warmbloods Today 21
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