internationally in show jumping, winning in Europe and America. I once rode him in his retirement after a hiatus of nearly ten years. He made little jumps of fun and per- formed like a six-year-old. He eventually died at 30, end- ing an exceptional life peacefully in a field with his favor- ite mare. Gurgle The
Greek was one of the greatest event- ing horses of all time. I didn’t own him and our rela- tionship began as a Promethean contest of wills. After that day, in spite of an extremely grumpy attitude, he gave all he had every time we asked, and we asked him some pretty big questions, like jumping over some of the big- gest courses in the world as fast as his legs could take him. He never, ever made even the hint of a mistake. He ran around Badminton, was second at Burghley, won Boekelo (all international events) and crowned his career with a silver medal at the European Championships, only losing by a hair to a horse six years his junior. His owner-rider Rachel Bayliss simply called him “Child.” He was a king who would rise to the challenge of any course, any horse or any person, but somehow we got along. To this day I still cry when I think of him. Okzident (Oxi)
Gurgle the Greek, ridden by his own- er Rachel Bayliss, winning the silver medal at the European Champion- ships in Luhmuhlen in 1979. The pre- vious year, he was thirteenth at Bad- minton, second at Burghley and won Boekelo in front of his stablemate Burnt Oaks. At that time, he was the winningest event horse in the world and a creditable Prix St. Georges competitor. He retired completely sound from a long eventing career. He was a great character, excessive- ly cautious and amazingly generous. He never fell his entire career.
was a great show horse who always appeared to love his job in front of the judges, even when training had been difficult. After his right front lost nearly
My own Okzident, an Oldenburg gelding who was very successful competing in California and Texas. Sometimes argumentative in train- ing, he was the consummate show horse and always looked his best in the ring. He loved to go to the awards ceremonies. At the end of his career (curtailed by a paddock accident) he did a serpentine of 250 one-tempi changes without any apparent effort.
all flexibility due to scar tissue build-up after an accident, he still scored 69 percent at Grand Prix. I have owned Hipogrifo for over twenty years. I
bought this black Lusitano stallion based on love at first sight and everyone with us on our trip to Portugal that year (except for Shelley, my wife) thought I had lost my mind to want this horse. Hipogrifo was very thin, incredibly nervous, wouldn’t eat, unseated the rider who showed him and tried to attack people he didn’t like. But he has a magnificent soul that shone through in spite of his (at the time) mis- erable life. He and his stable friend/ri- val Istoso were my equine soul mates for a long time. Nearly 30 years old today, Hipogrifo will piaffe on a verbal cue and passage in hand with the ener- gy of a young horse. Today I ride JP
Orion, son of Hipog- rifo and JP Zuper- star, son of Istoso. They are brilliant horses because they want to do their job and express their bored frustration with me when I lack time to ride them. I enjoy just being in their stall, watching them munch hay and yawn and nuz- zle me, just as much as I love to ride them. v
Orion working in hand at the Ken- tucky Horse Park. He is a calm and hardworking horse who never says no to my demands but is very jeal- ous if I pass by his stall with another horse. I think he believes I should live in his stall and read him a book.
Pure Veiga Lusitano stallion Hipo- grifo. I found him thin and nervous in a Portuguese farm but it was love at first sight. He has an enormous per- sonality and, at nearly 30, will still challenge any young stallion passing by. He has endless energy and gen- erosity, but I had to prove worthy of his attention to convince him to work with me. He is the sire of Orion and Zorro (and many others).
JP Zuperstar, very supple and always eager to be trained.
Warmbloods Today 77
Shelley Giacomini
Shelley Giacomini
Kim Taylor
Kit Houghton
Fran Giacomini
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