Sharon White: "You Can't Beat Something that Makes Your Heart Pound".

We're lucky that fate would bring Sharon White from Alaska to horse-country Virginia.  Lucky because who knows if she would have ridden had she stayed in America's last frontier?  And if she had never ridden maybe she never would have evented.  Which would have been a pity as we never would have seen her win the 2008 Bromont Concours Complet  CCI***, or place 21st out of the Top 50 2008 Leading Riders, or take her mare, The King's Spirit, in 2008 to the Top 10 Leading Mares.  Sharon White has been selected for the USET Developing Rider Program six different times.  She has trained with the top talent in eventing including Bruce Davidson, Torrance Watkins, and Jimmy Wofford.  She's sweet, smart, quick to laugh and wholly devoted to her students and her horses.  Not to mention a gifted eventer.  Yes, it's a good thing that fate is on our side. 

photo credit to Mike McNally

Q.  How did you start riding?

A.  I started riding as one of the many things your mom made you do when you're trying to find out what your kid wants to do.  Ballet, piano, flute lessons.  And then came riding lessons and that was it.  My mom had always wanted a horse and never had one.  I started at the Great Falls Horse Center when I was twelve.

Q.  Where are you from originally?

A.  I actually grew up in Alaska.  I did not ride in Alaska and I didn't really know it existed.  It's not a good place to be an active event rider!  I came to Virginia when I was ten or eleven.

photo courtesy of Last Frontier Farm

Q.  What was the name of your first horse?

A.  The first horse I owned was Sprite--the epitome of the wrong horse!  Green horse and green rider combination.  She was a four-year-old horse off the track and I knew nothing.  I think I fell off her every day but I loved her to death.  I think in our first event we had about 300 penalties because it was before you got eliminated for having four stops.  For everyone out there struggling through some phase in eventing--I've struggled through all of them, with Sprite.  I remember when she first moved up to Training:  I couldn't get her through a triple to save my life.  Like I would fall down, pull her over...It was a complete nightmare!

Q.  What's your favorite thing about being an eventer?

A.  That would have to be cross-country!  That's definitely why you do it but then it becomes so much more than that.  You end up learning so much about your horse and I think that's so special.

Q.  How did you decide on orange and white as your colors?

A.  I decided on orange because it was a happy color.

photo courtesy of Kendall Church

Q. Tell me about your farm.

A.  I love my farm.  I feel very lucky every day.  It's called Last Frontier Farm, named after the State of Alaska which is the last frontier.  Not after Star Trek which some people think!

Q.  Do you have any pets?

A.  Oh yes.  I have two dogs: Butter and Theodore.  Butter is a Lurcher who I got from the Davidson's and Theodore is a hairy terrier who I got from the Murray's.  The Murray's event as well, so they're eventing-bred dogs.  And I have numerous stray cats that sort of move into the house because I'm not home often and I leave the door open and animals just move in. It cracks me up.

Q.  Do you have a favorite horse?

A.  Oh, my favorite horse would definitely, well, the most special one would be my first Advanced horse.  She was my first Advanced horse, first 4-star horse.  Ready About was her name.  She just taught me a lot.  She taught me a lot and there's something about your first Advanced horse.  I made lots and lots of mistakes on her and she always came through for me.  We were atrocious in the dressage!  It was before you had to get a qualifying score.  I had to retire her when you had to get a qualifying dressage score even though we had already gone around Rolex!

Sharon White on Ready About

Q.  How would your friends describe you?

A.  I don't know.  My best guess would be some version of out of her mind for how much she tries to do.  But I would hope, also, hope they would think very willing to help everybody.

Q.  Are you in a relationship?

A.  I am.  I have a fabulous, Swedish boyfriend.  It's been almost two years together.  And he does nothing with horses.  And, in fact, I think I scared him off of it completely.  He wanted to ride a little bit and he had done a little riding in Sweden.  I had this fancy six-year old that was so tall and beautiful.  I figured I'll put Henrik on him since they're both so tall and beautiful.  But it was a green rider and a six-year old horse...not my best idea!  I think he said he was never going to ride again!

photo credit to Mike McNally

Q.  Have you ever had any challenging moments that made you reconsider eventing?

A.  Every day.  It's a labor intensive sport.  It's a labor of love.  You're certainly not doing it for the money!

Q.  How did you know you were going to be good enough to make this your career path?

A.  Oh, I don't know.  I always thought I would be a great groom.  And it turned out that I could do more than that.  Another super thing I feel lucky about.

Q.  What would you have done if you didn't event?

A.  I did have other plans because my mother is very successful and I always thought I would follow in her footsteps--like a doctor or lawyer or something like that.

Q.  What are you proud of in your riding?

A.  I am proud of the hard work I've put into it and what I have managed to achieve.  I hope I'm a long way from being as good as I could be.  That's what I think is such a special thing, too, that it's a process and I feel like I get better every day.  I never stop working at it.  The longer you do it the better you get.  That's really nice.  You have a moment where you learn something new.  You can't beat that.  You can't beat that, and you can't beat the competition.  You can't beat something that makes your heart pound.

Q.  What is your schedule like?

A.  (Laughter).  Oh.  We've got about twenty-five horses in work.  We compete pretty much every weekend and I teach a lot, which I enjoy immensely.

Q.  Where do you compete?

A.  Everywhere on the East Coast.

Q.  What are your career hopes?

A.  Oh, I would like to have done Burghley and Badminton a bunch of times before I die.  I would really like to produce lots of nice advanced horses. I breed horses and also train young horses.  I bred Ready About, my mare, and she has had two foals.  I've bred a couple other three-star mares.  I've home bred five.  And I also produce the young horses; people will send me horses or I'll find a young horse.  I have some wonderful owners who are more friends in my life who have a passion for the horses like I do.

Sharon White fans show their support

Q.  Tell me about the Professional Rider's Organization (PRO).

PRO is an organization that we're starting to give more of a voice to the riders in eventing and to get the passion for the sport and the love of the sport out there, especially when there has been negative publicity.  People have focused more on the negative than the positive.  We have a fabulous sport.  I don't think there's a more well-cared for horse than the event horse.  The sport is fun and there's a great group of people that do it.  We'd just like the world to know and, in particular, the United States.

Q.  Is there anything you would like to add?

A.  The owners are what makes it possible.  The owners are so important, my staff is so important. I have the world's best groom now.  My owners are my friends and it takes a lot of synergy to give it the time to get the horses to the advanced level and stick with it because it is a labor of love for everybody involved.  

A Small Stand, Bad English and a Dream: Eric Leyssalle and The Devoucoux Family

Eric Leysalle represents Devoucoux Saddles, a French custom-saddle company.  Their saddles are exquisite, fit to the rider and horse and rely on the handiwork of the French craftsmen in Biarritz.  Representatives come directly to you and your horse (you'll meet Eric if you're in the Southeast) for a fitting.  If you need changes or anything else then they'll come back, no charge.  Brilliant.  Eric knows what he's talking about and he does it in a French accent.  What could be any better than that?  www.devoucoux.com

image used with permission of Devoucoux

Q.  Describe Devoucoux.

A. Good question.  It's a classy company making sports saddles for almost twenty years.  Jean-Michel Devoucoux is the owner and the beginning of the story.  He started it in 1994 and it was a small family; like a dream.  Now it's more professional because Devoucoux works with the best riders and the saddles has changed.  Every saddle is custom made for the horse and rider.

Q.  How long have you been working for Devoucoux?

A.  I've been working since 1994 with Jean-Michel, and he wanted me to know everything.  I saw the factories and in the office and learned everything before going out on the road.  That was a great experience and that was very good to know every part of the business.  I left for a little bit for PG saddles (French jumping saddles).  I wanted to come to the US and three years ago left again PG.  I started in Ocala which is funny because my English was so bad.  I started with a small stand and bad English.  In one month I sold 50 saddles.  The owner asked me to stay.  

Q.  How did you get involved with Devoucoux?

A.  I was working in a tack shop close to Versaille.  It was a big tack shop and Jean-Michel started selling saddles there.  I think it was not a good way to sell the saddle because you are not close to the customer and you don't see the horse.  If you like a saddle in tack shop you don't see the horse and the balance is different and every horse is different.  I started to sell Devoucoux in this tack shop and when I left Jean-Michel said hey would you like to come with us and do it on the road?  I was one of the first to sell the saddles in France on the road and be with the professional and the horse.  It's much better.   They asked me to come and I remember it was at a big event, Le Lion d'Angers.  I came very early in the morning and sat with Jean-Michel and a friend.  It started like this.  It was a lot of fun.  They say you want to go with us and I say okay.  So come to Biarritz and stay two or three months to learn everything.  After a month and a half I say I want to go on the road.  Jean-Michel said okay.  I went back to Paris and Normandy.  I was so busy.  It was the beginning of the story.

Biarritz, France.  

Used with curator's permission from www.old-picture.com

Q. What is your role there?

A.  I'm here to help the rider find a good saddle for him and the horse.  You have to listen to the rider and you have to know the horse.  Some want to be straight on their feet some want to be more comfortable.  For the horse of course you have to do the perfect fit.  The horse has to be comfortable.  You can hurt him so you have to be careful and to do the right saddle.  I listen first to what they're looking for and I try to find a good model first.  You have a wide seat, flat seat, narrow seat and after a size of flap and balance of horse.  It's easy to do with Boyd [Martin] and Phillip [Dutton] because they know what they want.  But an amateur, they are listening and need your help.  This is my role.

Phillip Dutton in his Blue Devoucoux

photo used with permission of Devoucoux

Q. Where are you from originally?

A.  I was born close to Paris, and after in a big horse area between Normandy and West of Paris.

Q.  Do you find you miss France?

A.  Yeah of course!  I miss my country but I love your country, I love to be here.  My brother and sister and parents are in Paris.  I come back every year to visit and stay a little in the South of France.  But I'm very happy to be in this country.  I love there's a lot of horse shows everywhere.  I go in the winter to Ocala.  I love to move, I don't want to stay in one place.  That's the great part for me: My area is from Pennsylvania to Aiken, South Carolina.

Q.  Do you see a difference in the sport of eventing in France vs. America?

A.  There is more eventing in the US.  A lot more.  Some in France, they have good riders too but there are a lot more competitions in the US.  It's easy to find some.  In France you have to drive four or five hours.  A lot of people are coming form Europe to compete in the US because there are more events in the US of course.

photo used with permission of Devoucoux

Q.  Why are Devoucoux saddles so good?

A.  I think the best part of Devoucoux is the fit for the horse.  Jean-Michel is the first guy to say we don't want to sell these standard panels.  Everything is for the rider and we really take care of the horse.  After of course great quality and service.  We really take care of the customer.  If the customer doesn't like it we change the panels.  We do it directly in the stables.  This is a very important point.  If you don't like your saddle we give you all your money back.  I love this product.  We have a wide range: dressage, jumping and Chiberta and cross-country saddles.  It's easy to work with different people.

From Karl Baedeker's  Southern France, Including Corisca (1914)

Q.  Where are the saddles made?

A.  The factory in Biarritz; you can go and visit.  It's a beautiful city; it's one of my favorites.  It's so close to the sea and close to Spain.  There are mountains and it's beautiful.  The factory is there and there's 50 person working there, maybe more with people in the office.  Everything is made in France.  Which is important because not everybody makes it in France!

Q.  Any fun stories from being on the road to fit saddles?

A.  One time I was on a big highway and the traffic was so bad like in Washington.  I'm used to being in traffic--and I remember a girl saw the saddles and asked me for a card.  And I go the day after and I sold a saddle.  A funny way to sell a saddle.  Every day I have fun!

Q.  What kinds of barns or farms to you go to mostly?

A.  I go everywhere where people want Devoucoux.  Professional farms, amateurs, big and small farms.  Sometimes I work with foxhunters because they need very comfortable saddles.  It's very different every day.

Q.  Are you in a relationship?

A.  I'm married with an American girl named Tammie.

Q.  Do you ride yourself?

A.  I rode jumpers for a long time.  But now I don't have too much time.  But the last time I rode, that's a funny story.  I rode with a friend in Ocala and she said Eric you should come and have fun with me.  I packed everything and was happy to come and jump.  She gave me a Chiberta and I rode an hour and a half over pretty big fences.  I really had fun.  I was sore but I hadn't ridden.  Everything was perfect.  We went out until about 2:00 am and I was still in pain.  My friend said you have to go and see a doctor.  So we went.  The doctor called me back and said you have go to the hospital you have very bad appendicitis. I went to the emergency room and did surgery.  I thought I was sore because I hadn't ridden in so long!  I was so in pain.  It took fifteen days to recover.  It's okay now, I'm fine.

Q.  What kind of things do you like outside Devoucoux?

A.  I like classic rock like Radio Head. Jazz.  French food like fish and oysters.  I like Citronelle in Washington, a French Bistro.  The Ice House Cafe.  Friday and Saturday night they have jazz bands.  Dan, the bartender, is my friend and everyone says he's the best bartender in Virginia.  It's just like home.  When I'm home I can walk everywhere.  I love D.C.  I'm a country guy and I like to be in the city.  You can be in Middelburg in 40 minutes and you can be in a museum or restaurants.  It's not a big city, it's big enough. I love this place.

Q.  Do you have a favorite wine?

A.  Burgandy wine and Bordeaux.  I love it.  I love white wine.  Bordeaux is classy. I like Burgandy because it's more delicate.  And I love champagne.  When it's good.  I prefer to have Coke than bad champagne!

Q.  Who are some of the riders you sponsor at Devoucoux?

A.  I love my customers and am close to them.  The legend Bruce Davidson, Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin is lovely and funny and a great rider.  Leslie Law is from Great Britan but I think will ride for the US; he wants to be American.  I'm very close to Sharon White.  I want to thank these riders and Devoucoux for working with me.  Without these riders we are nothing.  It's a team.  

Sharon White in her Orange Devoucoux

photo used with permission from Mike McNally

Boyd Martin: How He Proposed to his Wife, Getting Fit Without Going Fast, and an Olympic Legacy

Boyd Martin brings Aussie style to America along with his wife Silva Martin, a German Grand Prix Dressage rider.  He placed 9th at Rolex in 2008 with Neville Bardos as well as 11th with Ying Yang Yo in 2006.  Back in Australia he placed 8th at the Adeleide CCI**** with Orchard End Winston and smoked it in 2003 placing first on True Blue Toozac.  He's cheeky, talented and handsome.  Quite the one to watch out for.

Copyright Amber Heintzberger 2009

Q.  Where are you from originally? 

A.  I was born at Manly Hospital in Sydney, Australia.

Q.  What do you love about Australia? 

A.  The biggest thing I miss is the lifestyle.  It's a very relaxed lifestyle and I was brought up in it.  It's the one and only thing I miss about Australia.   You know, you go to a pub to have a beer and don't have to wear shoes.   On the eventing side:  the events are a lot more like weekend camping.   There are no stables; you build your own pens.  There are no hotels so everyone camps out for the horse trials which puts everyone in the same spot.  There's a big barbque at night.   It's a lot more social.   That's basically the only things I miss.  America is way ahead in every other department.

Q.  How did you come to ride in the States? 

A.  I rode Advanced since I was about 16 in Australia.   I was doing it for eight or nine years and did every three and four-star event in Australia and New Zealand.  I got a bit bored.  I had a young horse due for a 4-star so brought him over and did [Rolex] Kentucky with another Australian named Phillip Dutton.  Ever since I set foot in the Promised Land I've loved it.

Boyd receiving the Caramati Cup, Rolex 2008

Copyright Amber Heintzberger, 2009

Q.  Are there any places you've visited that you've particularly liked?  I like Unionville [Pennsylvania] where I'm living.   With the competing I've been to Chicago down to Florida and up to New York.  But there's no place like home.  I enjoy Pennsylvania and Unionville with the countryside; the feel of the whole place is fantastic.

photo by Mike McNally

Q.  How was your family involved in sports? 

A.  Both of my parents were very sporty.  My father was a  cross-country skier and went to the Olympics.  My Mom was a speed skater and went to the Olympics for America.   I have a sporting background and was pushed very hard to accomplish sporting goals as a young person--and advised to stay well away from college and university--to have a view of life as a sportsman.

Q.  How did you get into riding?

A.  I grew up outside the city on five or ten acres and we had horses we raced around on.  I was intrigued with riding horses.  Actually my sister was more into it than I was.  But when I turned fifteen and did 3-Day eventing I got the thrill cross-country and went for it.

Q.  Did you ever try sports other than riding?

A.  I was actually was a very good middle-distance runner and still hold the record for the Australian School-Boy 1500 meter.  I've run some half marathons in my time.

Q.  How did you meet your wife? 

A.  I met Silva when she came to Australia as a German dressage rider and she didn't know much English.   She's the good-looking sort and everyone was chasing after her.  For one reason or another I out-manouvered my competitors.   I was able to seduce her at the Newcastle Races one day and run around with her.   We had the same interest in horses and stuff and for some reason she stuck around longer than I thought she would.  I ended up signing her up.

Silva Martin. Copyright Hoofprints Photography, Video & Web Design.

Q.  How did you ask her to marry you? 

A.  I thought I had the feeling I was about to get dumped.  I thought, right, getting engaged buys me some more time.  So we went to Ayers Rock in the center of Australia.  I had a plastic ring so I wouldn't have spent too much money in case she said no.  I asked her, you know, and she said yes.  I figured if she said no I could push her off the rock.

We married at the end of 2006.  After [Rolex] Kentucky I went back home and signed the bride up and moved directly back [to America].   When we got married I thought that would make her a resident of America but, unfortunately, it didn't.  We didn't see each other for four months while she was waiting for approval.  

Photo by Mike McNally

Q.  If you were to give her flowers what kind would they be? 

A.  I would probably steal some from the neighbor's yard.

Q.  Do you have any pets? 

A.  No.  When I first came over I had cat called Mick.   She [Silva] made me get rid of him because he was always on the bed and he dribbled.  One of the only regrets I have about our relationship is losing my pet cat.

Q.  Who are the horses you have going right now? 

A.  My 4-star horse Neville Bardof: he got hurt earlier this year so hasn't gone out yet.  I have a ride on Remington and Benwald, Belmont and Bruce Davidson's Rock on Roses.  That's my group of horses.  One of my homebreds is about to go out.

Q.  Who's your favorite horse of all time?  

A.  A horse called Flying Doctor had a huge heart.  I bought him as nine year old and he had never evented.   I tried him out and fell off but he didn't run away; so I thought he was nice natured.  He carried me around for years and years and was pretty special.  We had no idea what we were doing; it was a matter of natural talent on his part and I had a bit of natural feel.  There wasn't much training or education but we had a connection and I suppose we both taught each other a lot through trial and error.   I gave him to young kid in Australia and they evented the lower levels. He died last year. 

Q.  How do you think Phillip Dutton would describe you as a person? 

A.  We're pretty opposite people.  He's old and wrinkly, he doesn't talk much and I talk a lot.  I don't know what he'd say, probably not too much.  I think we get along pretty well together even though we're quite opposite personalities.  That's probably why we've gotten along for so long.

Photo by Emily Daily, US Eventing

Q.  How do you think Silva would describe you as a person? 

A.  Fantastic lover.

Q.  What are you most proud of in your riding style? 

A.  I'm a very good competitor. For some reason I go better under a bit of pressure at a competition.  I also have a good ability to accept all sorts of instruction and information from all types of people. 

Q.  What are your goals? 

A.  To get on this American team eventually.  Winning 4-stars I suppose.

Q.  What characteristics are necessary in a successful 4-star horse? 

A.  They need to be good at dressage, cross country and show jumping.  And they need to be pretty sound.

Q.  How do you like to condition a horse for an event? 

A.  Moving to Pennsylvania and working under Phillip--we train on hills so that has helped a lot. Getting fit without going fast.

Q.  What's your style around the barn?

A.  Silva is a German dressage rider so I struggle a bit with the cleanliness and order.  I could pay a bit more attention to detail.  The horses are all looked after and taken care of.  I like to stay busy.  I don't like it when there's not enough work.

Copyright Amber Heintzberger 2009

Q.  When you're not on a horse or in the barn do you have any hobbies? 

A.  Not really.  I like to take it easy since our lifestyle is so active.  When we actually get time away from horses I do yoga.  I've been doing yoga once a week for a couple years now.  With all the riding and falling off a lot it's good.  I quite like the mental side of it.  I adapt it to competition--staying relaxed and focused and stuff like that.

Q.  What kind of music do you listen to? 

A.  Australian hip hop like the Hilltop Hoods.

Hilltop Hoods

Q.  Do you have a favorite book? 

A.  Not fiction.   I like autobiographies of infamous criminals or famous horsemen.  Like The Damage Done: Twelve Years of Hell in a Bangkok Prison.  It's a  story about an Aussie footballer [Warren Fellows].  He spent 20 years in a Bangkok prison for smuggling drugs out of the country.  He was a top class sportsman who made a few bad decisions.

Q.  Is there any food that you just hate? 

A.  Not really, I'm not that into food.  The pickles and cheeseburgers at McDonalds.  They're no good.

Q.  What 3-Day eventer do you most look up to? 

A.  Bruce Davidson or Ralph Hill.  They both evented back in the 70's and were both characters and fantastic horse trainers and horse men.

photo by Kelsey Sherman

Buck Davidson Takes 3rd at Rolex and: The Horse that Broke His Heart, That "It" Thing, and Fierce Friendships.

Currently the number one rider in the United States, Buck Davidson, Jr. is the son of Bruce Davidson, one of eventing’s greats.  Buck was a three-time Markham Trophy recipient as the highest placing Young Rider in a United States Equestrian Team Championship.  He was the 2008 Olympic alternate in Hong Kong.  Buck won the recent Fork CIC***, won two Advanced divisions at the Rocking Horse Winter Horse Trials and just placed 3rd this past weekend at Rolex on My Boy Bobby.

Q. When did you start riding? 

A. When I was four.

Q. What was your first horse or pony’s name? 

A. Bucket.  He was a  furry, bay pony with a white face about size of a dog.  The first time I rode mom and dad put Nancy and me on Bucket and held us there.  Then they simulataneously let go and Nancy fell off on way and I fell off the other way.  It was day one: learning how to fall off.    

photo by Stu Forster/ Getty Images

Q. How old are you now? 

A. 33

Q. How is your family involved in eventing? 

A. Obviously my Dad has done everything in the sport: won two world championships, Olympic gold, silver, bronze, Pan Am gold, Badminton, Kentucky, Burghley.  He's won everything there is to win.  Mom has done Burghley, Badminton, and she was the leading rider in the country one year.  My sister rode up to 2-star level and then went on to other things. I grew up with it.

Q. What did your path to eventing look like? 

A. Because it was so easy and so right there--you always want what you can’t have.  A million horses around and the only thing I wanted to do was anything without horses. I did what I call "guy sports" like football, basketball, ice hockey.  I had to work at the farm and pay rent so-to-speak.  But then I tore up my knee and had to get knee surgery so missed a soccer season.  I played hockey and had another surgery and missed another soccer season.  So then I rode and as I got better I thought maybe I could make living at it.  And after high school I jumped into the family business and here we are today.  It's not the easiest way to make a living but there may not be a better way.  I work for myself.  I couldn’t sit behind a desk. 

Q. What are your colors? 

A. Red and yellow.  And that came from Dad and that came from the guy that taught him to ride and his name was Bayard Tuckerman.

Q. Are you in a relationship? 

A. I am not for the first time.  I've been single for 6 or 7 months and it’s good.

Q. Do you have any kids or hope to? 

A. I don’t have any kids that’s for sure.  I definitely want to get married and have kids and a family and live a life that’s not just for me.  It's definitely something I want to do.  The right thing will come around I’m sure about it.

photo by Emily Daily

Q. Who’s your favorite horse of all time? 

A. There's been a bunch. Diffferent horses for different times.  Pajama Game was a  half-Morgan, half-Thoroughbred that got me the jacket so to speak.  We didn’t know anything but we believed in each other and got the stuff done.  

Trans Am A flirt took me to my first 4-star.  Not the world’s best mover but an unbelievable jumper.  He got me my first top 5 in a 3-star and 4-star.  Mystic Mike got me the National Championship at Kentucky.  The best horse I've ever ridden is Reggie.  But there's been so many.  

Glad Touch...all he ever seemed to do was break me: my back, my leg.  But he was probably most talented horse I've ever ridden.  He died of some weird liver disease.  It was a train wreck from day one.  We thought I needed "real" horse so we got a syndicate together.  He came lame off the plane from Ireland.  But he looked like the real thing.  So a week after one of my horses went lame in Australia I came home and rode him at Menfelt.  He turned over and broke my leg.  We got things righted and got on the list for World Games.  Then we went to Burghley and fell on steeplechase and he broke my back and neck.  For all the horses that aren’t good enough the worst things that happened were on the best horse.  

One day he laid down in the field and that was weird for him.  He had a temperature of 105 so we took him to the vet.   When we got him home I walked past his stall and he was laying down.  He stood up when I walked past. I walked away and he laid back down.  I walked back to his stall again and he stood up. I couldn’t take it anymore.  It still makes me sad to think about it now.  He made my dad so angry because he cribbed so bad and tore up the place!  It was the first horse that was for me and didn’t have some problem.  He was a special horse.  Thinking back he’d be older now but would still be going.  He was as talented or more talented than Reggie. He jumped around Kentucky like it was a joke.  But sometimes it doesn’t work out.  I wish things could have been different--that was a good horse.    I wish we could do it over.   

Q. Who are your current Advanced Horses? 

A. I'm lucky right now have six of them. Ballynoecastle (Reggie), might be the most famous of them all; My Boy Bobby (we call Bobby)--those go to [Rolex] Kentucky.  May I Tell Ya (Ben) goes to Jersey Fresh 3-star; Titanium (Ty)also goes to Jersey Fresh 3-star; LA Albert (Albert) goes to Bromont; Donald also goes to Bromont.

Q. How do you decide which competitions to take them to? 

A.  Reggie and Bobby are both at the 3-star level and ready to go to a 4-star.  Ben and Ty go to the Jersey Fresh 3-star because it's maybe a little easier and the emphasis is more on dressage and show jumping.  Donald will go to Bromont since he's still a bit weak on dressage and the show jumping is not as technical as Jersey Fresh.  The best cross country horses go to Bromont.  And then you pick which one could be most competitive:  at that level you go to win.   I'm lucky for the first time to have the number of horses at this level.  At the end of the day on their day they could all be really competitive.

photo by Emily Daily

Q. Who's your best/ favorite right now? 

A.  They’re all good unique in their own way.  Reggie is so talented and so young and we trust each other.  Albert is the greenest one and the most unreliable but I love him.  He’s beautiful and sweet.  Ty is a beautiful grey horse with a beautiful eye.  He's just a baby and actually and I own him.  That’s fun since I can do exactly what I want, when I want, and if do something wrong no one can get mad at me.  I paid nothing for him and think he will be very very good.  He gives you everything.  Bobby I don’t know very well.  I just started riding him last year so this winter he's staying with me and I ride him every day.  He has won every Advanced he’s gone in [three so far] and won the CIC*** [at The Fork].  He's a sweet horse though he doesn’t have tons of personality and character.  May I Tell Ya (Ben) looks like a pony.  He's so cute and it's exciting to have him back after two years off.  He's dead, dead quiet and then out of no where he bucks you off --and he’ll buck you off right proper.  Then he’ll look at you on the ground and think “I got ya”.  He’s the sweetest in stall.  He’ll pick up all the halters and throw them around aisle.  He has a mini pony that lives with him to try and keep him under wraps.  He's been hurt a couple times in field.  I'm happy to have him back.  

Q.  Do you have any superstitions? 

A.  A lot.  Like unbelievably a lot.  Everything starts with left.  Left sock first, left pant leg first, left shoe first.  Also, at every event I would know exactly what I did the first three times in warm up.  If I jumped the x three times in a row and it goes well then I jump the next horse over the x three times in a row.  If it goes badly then I definitely don't jump the x three times in a row the next time.  Once I had a run out at a competition and I changed everything: boots, britches, underwear, socks--everything.  The next one had a run out and I changed everything again: socks, boots, britches, underwear.  Then the third one went well.  I'm a bit crazy like that.  I once marked pair of britches that went really well.  I wore them the next week and that didn’t work out so I don’t do that anymore!  Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.  You put in the work and you should be good but then it doesn’t hurt to have a little luck.

Q.  What are you known for or proud of in your riding style?  

A.  I'm proud of the work I put in and my development and improvement from the beginning to now.  Everyone thought I was the person that could ride any horse and since I can ride bad horses people send bad horses.  I earned my stripes riding horses no one else could ride.  As they say:  good horses allow you to ride well, bad horses make you ride bad. As I've gotten older and hopefully smarter (hence, broken) I don’t ride just anything anymore.  If it’s not good enough it’s not good enough. 

Q. How would your friends describe you? 

A.  I hope they would say first and foremost that I’m a good friend. My friends have been my friends for a long time.  I don’t have a lot of friends but the friends I have would do anything for me and I would do anything for them.  Wendy and Rob [Lewis] are friends like that.  

 I would do anything for them.  If I was in real trouble I could call them up and they would drop everything and I would do the same for them.  Wins and losses don’t mean anything without that.  My friends would tell you I’m nothing like what everyone thinks I am.  The public side of me is not at all me.  I’m basically a boring person.  I don’t drink, don't smoke, don't go out. I go home, watch tv, and go to bed.  I'm not that exciting.  I'm shy, then maybe once you know me you can’t get me to shut up.  

Q.  What do you look for in a successful four-star horse? 

A.  It's doing it.  You don’t know until you do it.  I'm not sure that Bobby is 4-star horse.  He's a 3-star winner.  Not to say that he’s not a 4-star horse.  He was having trouble going prelim last year and with a change of pilot in a year he's going to a  4-star.  That’s a big step.  He's done everything I've ever asked him to do.  He's a fantastic jumper, the best.  The same with Reggie.  Neither are throughbred horses.  They're Irish and not clean bred for sure.  I try to give them a nice time.  I look for minds.  You can’t train horse that doesn’t have good mind.   You watch American Idol and think that guy has it or he doesn’t.  You'll turn and look at a 4-star horse a second time.  Even if you don’t’ know it’s a 4-star horse.  It has that “it” thing.  It takes a special horse. 

Q.  What is the highlight of your career so far?  

A.  It’s still gonna happen.  I don’t look back on anything I’ve done.  It doesn’t really matter.  It’s:  Where are you gonna go?  We live in sally-come-lately-society.  Last weekend I won the 3-star with Bobby and then had to go back and ride Reggie Advanced and people said "smile!".  Maybe I need to take a step back.  I'm more proud of the person that I am and the friends that I have.  At the end of day it's all about the people in your life.  Nobody in 30 years is gonna remember what Buck Davidson did as a rider.  Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking that we’re important.  And it is important to me. But it’s not the only thing.

Q.  What are your ultimate goals and hopes? 

A.  Short term I would really love to win the World Championships next year.

Q.  Who’s been most influential in your riding career? 

A.  My mom and my Dad. Taught me everything I know, basically.  It would have to be them.  No question.

photo by Kelsey Sherman

It's a Groom's Life: Emma Ford in the Streets of Rio, about Phillip Dutton, and Her Favorite Horse. (Psst, it's Connaught!)

Emma Ford was born and raised in England.  She came to the US in 1998 to work for top eventer Adrienne Iorio.  She currently grooms for Phillip Dutton, winner of Rolex 2008 and 10-time USEA Rider-of-the-Year.  She keeps his True Prospect Farm going as well as speaking at the Dutton Eventing Academy.   In 2007 she won the US Eventing's Professional Groom's Award.  She knows her stuffs and shares that and more below.

Q.  How did you come to the US?

A.  It was March '98 and I had finished my degree in England and had never traveled.  Well, I had been to France for two days.  I wanted to go and travel and not go to the real world right away.  I went through an exchange agency and they hooked me up with Adrienne [Iorio].  Basically I filled out an application with what I had done and what I wanted to do.  They had employers on the other end with what they could offer.  I interviewd over the phone and ended up with Adrienne.  After eight months she checked in and was like, " Do you want to extend your visa?"  Yup!  Eighteen months in, "Do you want to extend your visa?"  Hell yeah!  Now I'm here with a Green Card.  Still not in the real world.  I don't see myself going back to England to work in the event circuit.  The weather is way better here!

Emma Ford with Connaught (right)--photo credit to www.equinature.com

Q.  Who have you worked for since being here?

A.  Adrienne and Phillip [Dutton].  I have been with Phillip since August 2005.

Q.  What made you make that switch?

A.  I sort of got the bug.  Me and Adrienne went to the Blenheim 3-star.  I thought it was pretty cool and thought it was very neat.  I just wanted to do more of the international stuff.  I knew Phillip was looking for a groom so went that way.  it expanded from there.

Blenheim Palace--photo credit to www. blenheim-horse.co.uk

Q.  What does your daily life look like?

A.  95% is with the competition horses.  Turning out, tacking up, medical needs, grooming.  It's the same at any barn.  It's all the same.  Everyone has to take care of every horse.  No amazing difference.  I hardly ride.  I'm pretty much on the ground all the time.

Q.  What's your favorite thing about the job?

A. I enjoy being on the road.  Going to the big competitions and seeing the horses run, especially the upper level horses.  The barn is so busy we joke that being on the road is my downtime.  The actual competing is what I enjoy seeing.

Emma Ford (far right) on the road in Hong Kong

photo credit to Mark Hart

Q.  What's the hardest thing?

A.  Keeping it all together!  Keeping the barn going and keeping on top of things.  One of the things different from Adrienne to Phillip is that there's so many more people involved like working students, farriers, etc.  I have to delegate to make sure everything works smoothly.  That's definitely what I find the most difficult.

Q.  How would you describe Phillip Dutton as a person?

A.  Anyone who knows him would say "quiet" comes first hand.  He's very quiet but all observing.  He definitely sees everything and is one for a good story.  He loves a good story.  Adrienne was very hard working too.  I've worked for two people that are so hard working.  How he juggles everything including his family is amazing.  His wife is a big part of the famr keeping the office running.

Phillip Dutton  aboard Connaught in Hong Kong

photo credit to Mark Hart

Q.  How would you describe his work style?

A.  He is always on the go.  If he's not riding he's on a conference call.  If he's not on a call he's teaching.  It's unreal how he fits it all in.  He's one of these people that wants you to work hard but you take away what you put in.  If you don't make an effort why should he bother?

Q.  What is the atmosphere like at his farm?

A.  People are coming and going whether it's farriers, vets, students, boarders--it's very busy.  Work needs to be fun but it can get stressful.  Especially with this run up to Rolex.  We've got four horses going so it's the final gallops...There are days when you think you'll pull your hair out but we all pull together.  We make it fun but it can be high stress.

Q.  Who is there from day to day?

A.  Me; Phillip; his wife; three riders: Jenny, Boyd [Martin], and Ryan; 2 working students: Nate and Charlotte.  Then Bea who rides and is learning and helping me to manage the barn.

Q.  How many horses do you work with?

A.  From anytime we can vary between 35-40 horses on the property.  We oversee all of them and work together to take care of them.  Coming up to big competitions my priority is the upper level horses (off the top of my head we've probably got, including student's horses, at least 12 Intermediate through Advanced horses on the farm).  But you can't just not take care of the others either!

Q.  Do you have any favorite horses you work with?

A.  I do, though I probably shouldn't!  Connaught, he is extremely quirky.  When I first started he hadn't really come into himself.  I am drawn to quirky horses.  If you asked anyone they'd be like, "Yup, he's her favorite!".  I love the way he tries.  At competitions he wants to please.  If he was a child, he'd be the nerd in the class.  He always comes out on top.

Q.  Where have you traveled with Phillip?

A.  We went to Germany for the Worlds in 2006; 2007 to Rio in Brazil for the Pan Ams.  Obviously England.  Last year to Hong Kong.

Emma Ford (first row, center) at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong

photo credit to Mark Hart

Q.  What does your to-do list look like to travel internationally?

A.  Once you're on the road it's everything to do with making sure the horse is happy within himself.  Simon [Connaught] is the main one I've traveled with.  It's individual care of the horse.  He's a finicky eater so you want to keep his stress level down so you're forever hand grazing him.  Just keeping them happy.  Extreme care of their legs and knowing what they're looking like.  You've got time to do that.  You've got to know your horses.  Simon does best when you're not at him all day.  If you can leave him alone then that's when he eats.  He doesn't want you grooming and massaging and putting on the magnetic blanket.  He can't stand that!  You have the time to take the proper individual care of them.

Q.  Do you have any grooming tips?

A.  For me it's time management.  If Phillip has seven horses at an event then time management is key.  I have them ready 5-10 minutes before he needs to get on.  If I haven't had time to go over tack again then I put babby oil on my hands and go over the bridle to bring out the shine.  We use lots of oil sprays for African American hair.  We put it in their tails and make them shiny.  A product called Super Grow is good for blanket rubs.  Another good one is, especially with the economy, witch hazel.  If you can't afford Sore-No-More use witch hazel to tighten up legs.  It's less hard on their skin than rubbing alcohol but has the same benefits.

Q.  What are your favorite products for grooming or tack cleaning?

A.  Equinature products are a must for my grooming kit.  The antifungal shampoo is a must for any horse with a skin condition.  It rebalances the pH of the skin therefore improving the overall health of a horse's coat.  Devoucoux tack cleaning cream for saddles is amazing.  You can put one or two layers of cream on it and it's back to normal after a downpour.  I also like Leather Therapy products for bridles.

Q.  When you have time off what do you like to do?

A.  I ballroom and Latin dance.  I'm looking for a new [studio] in Pennsylvania.  Any weekend we're home they tend to have socials and stuff.  I've done it for nine years.  A good friend of mine used to work for Adrienne's sister and took me to a place down in Wellington she used to go to and I got hooked.

Q.  Who's better: American or British eventers?

A.  I'm not going to say!  I do think for the Americans to know how good they are they need to be competing with European riders.  Because the Europeans can travel more to more competitions.  We need to be up against them to knew where we're at.

Q.  Any crazy, wild stories?

A.  I'm not the biggest party groom but one that sticks with me is when we were in Rio [for the Pan Ams].  The base of the venue was an hour from where the riders were staying.  The riders had a van to take them back and forth.  They had that van take us into the city for dinner and we had to take a taxi back.  The driver said they knew where he was going but he didn't.  They guy pulls up outside this army barracks and one of the girls jumps out.  The guard was like, "Who are you?!" and pulls a gun on her. Everyone is like, "get back in the car!"  All is well but looking back on it, it was a funny moment in our lives.  Luckily the driver did eventually sort it out.  The funny thing is that we were literally one street away from where we wanted to be.  One of our more entertaining evenings.

Q.  Do you have a favorite competition?

A.  I love Stuart Horse Trials. One: it's a beautiful area and, two: they have good parties!  But Rolex is on its own, really.

Q.  What are your future goals?

A.  Grooming-wise I wanted to do the Olympics, Burghley, Pan Ams and the World Games.  So I've just got to get to Badminton.  I would like to go to another Worlds.  [The World Games] in Kentucky next year will be amazing.  Hopefully the stars will align and we'll make it.  I would like to get into sport horse rehabilitation when I move on.  I would like to hang in there for the Olympics in London but that's still three years away.