The Chronicle's Salute to Eagle Lion!

Many thanks to The Chronicle for this lovely tribute to Eagle Lion in the January 14th edition.  He will be truly missed.

Photo Credit Corbis Images

Compliments of The Chronicle of The Horse, January 14th, page 35.

Eagle Lion, the horse Bruce Davidson rode to the first US win at the Badminton CCI****, was euthanized on Dec. 18.  He was 27.

Davidson began training Eagle Lion (Gipfel - Stream Lion, Ideal Water) when the Irish-bred gelding was 3.  In 1992, Eagle Lion won the Fair Hill CCI*** (Md.) at the age of 7, and in 1995, he and Davidson won England's most famous four-star: Badminton.  They also placed in the top five at Badminton in 1994 and 1998, as well as placing fourth at the Burghley CCI **** (England) in 1993.  He was named the Chronicle's Eventing Horse of the YEar in 1997 after finishing 8th at Badminton and 11th at teh Open European Eventing Championships (England).  He was also chosen as one the The Chronicle's 50 Most Influential Horses of the 20th Century.

" He wrote the book on how to jump", said Davidson in a Feb. 2, 1996 article in the Chronicle. "All you have to do is stay on.  He has jumped me off three times in competition.  One was Kentucky in 1992 - I clucked, and he jumped me right over his head.  I'll never do that again."

Davidson often mentioned that he wished there was a five-star three day to really test "Eagle's" jumping.

In 2007, Eagle was immortalized in a statue by artist Jean Clagett at the Kentucky Horse Park.  The sculpture epicts Eagle and Davidson jumping into the Head of the Lake at the Rolex Ky Three-Day Event.

Eagle, who was purchased by George Strawbridge in 1994, retired to Davidson's Chesterland Farm in Unionville, Pa., where he lived until he died.  "I appreciate George as an owner.  He came through at a time that was helpful for me to be able to keep the horse," said Davidson.  "If we had horse like him now, we'd be winning medals.  He had character, he was an athlete, he was a competitor, he was intelligent, and he was tough.  We were a wonderful team, and he'll be sorely missed."

International appreciation of this legendary horse was also apparent in this article written by Horse Talk NZ

FALL 2012 UPDATE!

It's been another busy season at Chesterland North, with a full competition schedule for Bruce Sr., the placement of several young sales horses into new homes and a new string of young talented home breds in work!

Here's Lola Winning the Open Prelim at Plantation Field!

Bruce made good work of this season with his young competition horses, as well as showing off the talents of Keltic Lion and Here's Lola.  Lola had a phenomenal season, finishing always in the top ribbons at every event....culminating with a solid win in the Open Prelim at Plantation, finishing on her dressage score of 26.1!   Bruce also capped off the Plantation weekend with a 26.8 win on Copernicus (owned by Anna Kjellstrom) in the Open Intermediate division!

Zack, Bruce and Copernicus at Plantation

Slideshow link to photos at Plantation

We said good bye to a few of our younger home breds: Congratulations go out to Gillian Clissold on the purchase of Kiss Me Good, to Christine Pitcairn on the purchase of Please Sir Oliver and to Lauren Wylde on the purchase of Fiona, half sister to Petite Flower (by Keltic Lion).   Buck decided to that he wasn't going to let Bojangles get away, so he will continue to take the ride on Bojangles, who is out of Memorial Cap and a full brother to Chesterland's Image!  We're always happy to see our home breds move on to their new homes, but we also enjoy watching Buck take our young and talented horses up the levels as well!!  There is nothing more rewarding than producing your next upper level horse, as Buck has proven with Reggie over and over again.

Since so many of our young competition horses have moved onto new homes, Bruce has shifted his focus to several of Charlie's 3 year olds, who are under tack and showing early signs of great talent.  Charlie's babies are imprinted with his amazing mind and a willingness to learn.  Keep your eyes peeled  for his string of 3 year olds in the competition field next season!!

Bruce and Susie are off to France to support Buck, as he and Reggie take on the Pau 4*!
Good luck to Buck, Carl and Cassandra Segal's BallyNoe Castle RM (Reggie) who are competing at the Pau CCI4* in France this week. Follow the event at http://www.event-pau.fr/en/homepage

USEA ARTICLE

I recently received the PDF of Bruce's interview for the pre-Rolex edition of the USEA magazine.  I realize this is "old news" but well worth the read!!

CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE PDF

FROM CALIFORNIA TO BURGHLEY

From the Burghley Website!!

FROM CALIFORNIA TO BURGHLEY

American Kristi Nunnink will be making her debut at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials this afternoon with her mare R-Star - just one of five mares competing here this year. The pair has made their first trip across the Atlantic specifically to compete at Burghley. 

Kristi (50) grew up and still lives in California. In her earlier years she ran a busy livery and training yard and was a regular competitor up to three-star level. 

In 2004 having lost her top horse Kirsti never imagined that in less then ten years she would be back at top level. But that was before ‘Rosie’ arrived in the yard. The 11-year-old grey mare has taken Kristi back to the top of her game – although the journey has not been without it’s setbacks. 

At the beginning of 2011 whilst competing at Lexington the pair suffered a rotational fall. Kristi broke her ribs and elbow and three days later, was in hospital for a planned hip replacement meaning the pair was out of competition for the summer. 

During this time Kristi met up with former Burghley winner Bruce Davidson (1974 –Irish Cap) who offered to help the pair get back on their feet. Kristi drove Rosie the 3,000 miles to Bruce’s East coast yard where they stayed for two months before competing at Lexington in April where after a glance-off they were 23rd. They then won their next event the CIC3* at Kalispell and has been based back with Bruce for the four months prior to travelling over to the UK. 

“Everything has come together for us both,” says Kristi. “I am super excited to be here and a little nervous but we really felt this was the right course for Rosie as she is super bold and this is a super bold course.”

Rosie who is now described as a ‘horse of a lifetime’ is an American-bred mare of Holstein descent. Her sire is the German-bred Riverman who was exported to the US as was her dam Marisol who is by Corofino. “Rosie is a lovely mover and loves to jump and to me is very special,” said Kristi. 

CAROLINE & PETITE FLOWER INTERVIEWED ON EN!

Let’s get to know Caroline Martin

By Samantha L Clark on August 27, 2012 12:00 PM

Caroline Martin may be US Eventing’s answer to Reed Kessler, the seventeen year old darling of the show-jumping world; she’s  young, talented and absolutely charming to boot. I met her at Richland and found out a little bit more about her horses, her plans for the future, and yes, she has been practicing hard for the bareback puissance at Plantation!

Many thanks to Caroline for her time, and congratulations on a successful weekend – Go Eventing!

LATEST NEWS FROM CHESTERLAND!

Everyone is excited for the Olympics, and we're hoping that at Chesterland we're bringing along the next crop of Olympic caliber horses and riders!!  Our newest string of 4 year olds are really proving to be quality athletes, and we're having fun taking them to the horse shows.

Kiss Me Good & Andrea Looking In Good Form!!

Andrea, Buck and Jan were all on hand at the Horse Park of NJ to ride and prep the group of 4 year olds in the Novice division.  Andrea rode Oliver and Kiss Me Good, while Buck rode Mr. Bojangles and Sugarfoot.  Here's Buck feeling pretty confident over the bank aboard Bojangles, who finished 2nd on his dressage score of an 18!

Buck making faces at his Dad coming off the bank!

Working student Zack Leamer rode his mare Say You Do in the Prelim and continues to have solid results at that level.  Bruce rode Anna Kjellstrom's KER Marvin, aka Everest, in the Prelim and had an impressive 4th place finish aboard this horse.

KER Marvin, aka Everest!

Check out all our photos from the NJHP!


Coaching Update:

Bruce hit the road to Rebecca Farm's great event in Montana to see his student Kristi Nunnink win the CIC 3* on her gorgeous mare, R-Star.  Hearing rumors that Kristi had her eyes set on Burghley, I called her this morning to get an update & confirmed that indeed she has entered.  It's always great to catch up with Kristi because she has such a huge appreciation for the support that she has received from Bruce and how he has brought back all of her confidence since her hip surgery.....and her dream would be to have him there at Burghley with her.  There are over 100 entries and now she must wait until Monday to hear if she's been accepted, but we will be one of the first to know!!

Kristi & R-Star Winning the Rebecca Farm CIC 3*!!!

While at the event Bruce also got to see Bee Hive,  one of Chesterland's homebreds by High Scope out of Queen Bee (a 1/2 sister to Jam) who was sold out west to a student of Kelly Prather's.  This young horse has come up the levels perfectly for his Jr rider, who finished 4th in the JTR division.  Congratulations!

Bruce also has 2 other students in town prepping for Millbrook.   He'll be traveling with Jennifer Taxay-Kelley, an advanced level rider from Ca., who will be going Intermediate this wknd at HPNJ on her horse Taboo.   Maddie Blackman is also here getting ready for Millbrook on Gordonstown, and both ladies will be going advanced at that event.  The barn is hopping!!

We're going back to NJHP this weekend with the whole crew.  Stay tuned for those results.

VARIOUS TIDBITS:

Dancing Queen was featured in the US Eventing magazine, winning the 4 year old YEH class at GMHA.

Jane Tuckerman (Susie's sister) was competing Summer (out of Windsor Bonnett and by high Scope) at HITS this summer & won great ribbons in every one of her Amateur jumper classes at HITS, capping off the show with a 2nd in a class of 80 horses!! 

Caroline Martin owns a broodmare bred by Bruce (by Babomist) who's in foal to Charlie!  Can't wait to see that baby.

Good luck to all of Team USA at the Olympics and to Nina Ligon & Butts Leon, Susie's favorite!

Kristi Nunnink and R-Star Win Rebecca Farms CIC 3*

Geriann Henderson and Kingslee took home the win in the PRO Tour Series Advanced Division at the Event at Rebecca Farm. They took three rails in the round, but were given plenty of breathing room by Heather DuBois in second place who also had three rails down. Geriann capped off what she described as an "unreal" weekend with Kingslee who jumped his heart out for her. As both are fairly new to this level Geriann plans to get more experience over the course of the summer and fall.

Kristi Nunnink led from start to finish to capture the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series with her very talented Holsteiner mare R-Star. Kristie credits Bruce Davidson, with whom she has been training over the past winter, with giving her the confidence to really perform well at this level. Florence Miller and Tuscan Sun won the CCI** and Emilee Libby and Nonsensical captured the CIC**.  For full results from Rebecca Farm follow the link.