Winter Update from Chesterland South

We had a great first run at Rocking Horse I, and all the young horses are more than outstanding this year.  We’ve brought down a whole string of exceptional horses and 5 of them are out of our own Windsor Bonnett (Sal, HRH Patricia, Dancing Queen, Spike and Queen Wannabe).

Keltic Lion went Training & was 3rd.  This was Lola’s first event & I knocked a poll in show jumping which bumped us down to 5th when we were in contention for the blue. HRH Patricia completed all 3 phases well & we had really fun weekend at Rocking Horse.

Our students & clients also had a stellar weekend!  David Koss, who is working & training with me this winter in Florida, comes to us from Sun Valley Idaho & is from a talented riding family.  His mother Vicky and I competed at Badminton a number of times together, and it’s great to have her son in our barn.  David, who is 23, rode Look Sweet at Rocking Horse & was 6th in Intermediate.  He is an aspiring young rider & this mare has done one Advanced.  This was his first competition on the east coast and he plans to go advanced at the next event, and he also has a young horse who is starting out at training level.

Of course I’m proud of Buck who cleaned up this past weekend, and congratulate Randy was second to Buck on his horse James.  Clarissa Wilmerding won the other Intermediate Division with Buck in second & Fanny Lee was 4th on Hadley Harbor.  The whole crew made an impression this weekend.

There is another new face in our barn this winter.  Joanna Dorin, who is from Ireland, is a real gem, a enthusiastic & cheerful addition to the Chesterland effort. She’s a tremendous help at the competitions as well as a big help exercising the horses back at the farm & in the early mornings at the track.  Don’t forget that we brought 6 of our young 3 year olds down to Florida this winter, and 2 of them are headed to the track.  David & Joanna are gaining the experience of working with young race horses in training at the race track by doing their morning gallops!

Enjoy the attached slideshow of photos & we will send out another update about Keltic Lion shortly.

Happy New Years From Ocala!

I had the opportunity to catch up with Bruce tonight, after he had finished a day of training down at Chesterland South, in Ocala.


Everyone has settled into the southern way of life, with a barn full of horses & top level riders.  Bruce made the decision this year to bring down his younger horses, so there are 6 two year olds & 6 of the three year olds enjoying the milder climate in Florida.  


One of Bruce's exciting young horses is a mare by the name of Here's Lola (the striking grey mare in our photo album).  Lola is out of Our Staple (out of JJ Babu’s full sister) by the NZ stallion Heroisity, one of the few TB stallions that stood at Hilltop and was approved for warmblood stud book.  Owned in partnership with their friend & client Christina Watkins,  Here's Lola remains in training with Bruce in Ocala Fl.  They plan to show her at HITS in the hunter/jumper ring this winter in preparation for the eventing season.  The grand plan is   to send her to Lyon D’Anges in France for their 2* for 6 &  7 year old event horses.  There is an in-hand portion of this event, which adds an interesting element to the development of these top level prospects.  The best event  trainers and riders in Europe send their best prospects to this event, and Bruce is looking forward to attending with HRH Patricia as well.

This year Gerd Zuther & Fanny Lee have returned, as well as Buck and Randy.   Top young rider Nina Ligon, who has 5 of her own horses in the barn this year,  perfects her dressage skills with Gerd, and is also calling Chesterland South home base for the winter.  So the barn is definitely a busy scene each day.


At 6, Keltic Lion is proving himself to be one to watch, with a fabulous work ethic on the flat & tremendous form over fences (please see the striking bay in the slideshow).  The plan is to get him into the jumper ring at HITS, then start out the eventing season at Rocking Horse, going Training Level.  He has produced some wonderful foals over the past 2 seasons & we are all anxious to see how he performs out in competition!


It is always fascinating to pick Bruce's brain on his training goals with his home bred youngsters.  Among the horses that he has bred for the sport horse world, he has also produced several young thoroughbreds for the track.  They have 2 coming 3 year olds (a colt & a filly) in the barn who will be leaving shortly for formal race preparation at the track down in Florida.  Bruce wisely states that having race horses in training teaches everyone in the barn so much about the conditioning of horses & makes them better event riders! 

We also want to mention that Petite Flower was recently purchased by Caroline Martin, a young rider from NJ who trains with Buck.   She goes to the George school in Newtown Square, but goes down to Ocala on her breaks to work and train with Buck.   Petite Flower has gone with Buck to Florida to prepare for the event season, but Caroline will fly down for certain events & will kick off her event season this weekend at the Horse Park!  Bruce had only high praises for this young lady and for her bright future as an upper level event rider.

We're hoping to get new pictures and videos to you throughout the winter season, so please check back soon for updates.  Keep warm & safe riding!!  

Boyd's New Upper Level Prospect!

New Horse from Bruce Davidson

I am the proud new rider of a very fancy looking 3-year-old gelding by Salute The Truth out of Eagle Lion's full sister! The gelding was purchased from a local breeder/Olympic & World champion, Bruce Davidson.

Being born at Chesterland Farm, his current name around the barn is 'Chester'. He is a perfect mix of 15/16 thoroughbred, 1/16 Irish Sport Horse. He is a beautiful mover, and should be a wonderful jumper considering his uncle, (Eagle Lion).

I plan to spend the next few months gently teaching Chester the basics. Standing proud at 16.3hh tall, he looks mature enough to start eventing early next year.

I would like to thank Bruce and Susie for giving me a great deal on such a promising looking horse. Below is a video of me having my test drive on him.

Boyd

Pre-WEG Update!

There continues to be a lot of activity around Chesterland these days.  Bruce has bounced back well from his back surgery and continues to keep his horses in regular training and has been out at the events competing as well.  Expensive Playmate (aka Phoebe) is proving to be a great young horse, winning at Fair Hill on her second start at the Prelim. level.

Richland was another positive event, with both Flower and Cruise having 2 fabulous dressage tests.....setting both up very well for their performances this past weekend at Plantation Field International where Flower was 3rd at Intermediate & Cruise took 3rd in the Advanced!

There's also been quite a bit of activity with our sales horses.  Bruce is quite happy to see two of his young homebreds, a 3 year old 1/2 brother to Petite Flower, and a 4 year old out of Memorial Cap, go to a top West Coast rider, Kelly Prather.  Notably, Kelly has been a two time winner of the Rebecca Farm CIC World Cup Qualifier in 2007 & 2009 on Ballinakill Glory.

Of course the ultimate news around the farm is Buck's naming to the US Team for the World Equestrian Games.  This is certainly the biggest excitement around Chesterland & we are anticipating great things for the whole team down in Kentucky.  Check back next week for live coverage from Lexington!

We hope you enjoy this slideshow of photos, taken by Susie, at several competitions and around the farm. Cheers!!

Rock on Rose has Sold!

A note from Boyd:

Lusty has found a new home with a young professional rider, Whitney Weston, out in Portland Oregon. Thanks to Hawley Bennett and Buck Davidson for acting as agents on the sale of this talented mare.

It has been an honor and pleasure working with Lusty and Bruce over the past 12 months……and I have gained invaluable knowledge and wisdom regarding the art of training horses through both of these characters! Although I am saddened to see this mare move on to a new career and rider, the goal from the beginning was to put her on the market.

Lusty and I had some wonderful rides and top finishes over the past year at the Jersey Fresh CIC 3*, Bromont CCI 3*, Richland CIC 3*……finally culminating with our remarkable 11th place finish at the Rolex 4*! In fact, Lusty’s recent finishes were so impressive that we were contacted within the past few weeks by the American selectors to discuss putting her on the short list.

I must say that she is one of the most talented horses I have ever ridden. She had all the right ingredients; guts and stamina in XC, style and class in the show jumping and plenty of character and finesse in dressage.

I wish her new owner all the best and look forward to seeing her compete at the upper levels for years to come. Again, I’d like to say a big thank you to Bruce and Susie for allowing me to train one of their own. Their experience and wisdom on how to prepare for a 3 day event will stay with me throughout my entire career!

Boyd

Top photo credit Mike McNally
Bottom photo credit Lisa Thomas

Keltic Lion's Fabulous Foals!!

We have 7 beautiful & correct babies on the ground at Chesterland!  The new crop of foals are out of our own Irish Sporthorse stallion, Keltic Lion, who is out of the renowned stallion Lux Z, the world's leading show jumping sire.  

We are extremely proud of the young stock that we produce here at Chesterland.  As foals, they  grow up in an environment of rolling hills & fertile soil which helps develop strong bones,  correct confirmation and wonderful temperaments.   Our young prospects go on to do very well in multiple disciplines beyond the eventing world, due to their superb movement & jumping ability.

We hope you enjoy the photos of our new youngsters & we invite you to come see our young stock to consider an affordable investment in a top level sport horse.  Create your next future champion!

Spring 2010 Slideshow.

Update From Chesterland!

Everyone is back in good form at Chesterland. Bruce is feeling great after his surgery and is currently working 6 to 8 horses a day getting fit and ready for the Fall season. The plan is to compete Cruise and Petite Flower at Intermediate, and Expensive Playmate at Preliminary.

Buck had a great ride on Sal at Bromont finishing 6th in the 1*.  Sal is one of Bruce’s top homebreds and he is only 6!!
 He will step up to Intermediate at Richland, then the 2* at Plantation to qualify for Fair Hill in October. 

Thus far this has been a fabulous pairing!!

Here is our planned schedule for the remainder of the summer/fall season:

Fair Hill August 7th/8th

Richland Park, Mi. , August 26th - 29th
The AEC’s September 9 - 12th

Plantation

Fair Hill 2nd weekend Oct

Even though we’re having record breaking heat, don't hesitate to think about your winter plans! Bruce will be taking a limited # of clients for training at Chesterland South......and once again Gerd Zuther will be joining him in Ocala. Gerd will be available on a limited, private basis and this is an exceptional opportunity to have access to two top international talents in the eventing and dressage communities!

For more information, please email Bruce and Susie.