Featured Rider - Bruce Davidson |
| Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 |
Bruce Davidson (Part 1 of a 4 Part Series)
In July 2009, in the CIC*** division, Bruce and Jam finished 3rd at the Maui Jim Horse Trials (IL) and in September they won the Advanced division at the Plantation Field Horse Trials (PA).
In 2009, Cruise Lion & Bruce were 7th in the CIC*** division at the Maui Jim Horse Trials (IL). They followed that result with a 17th place finish at the Richland Park CIC*** (MI).
In 2009, Boyd and "Lusty" finished 4th at the Jersey Fresh CIC***, 11th at the June Bromont CCI*** (ONT), 5th in Michigan at Richland Park in the CIC*** division, and concluded their season with a 6th place showing in Pennsylvania at Plantation Field Advanced.
JAM
Jam is an extremely talented home bred from Chesterland who has had a stellar career. She placed 10th at Burghley in 2007, making her the highest placed American horse & highest placed mare overall. She has been awarded the USEA mare of the year 2 times, won the advanced divisions at Rocking Horse & Popler in 07, and claimed the top prize in the advanced division at Plantation Field 09 as well. Jam is currently in training for Rolex & the WEG 2010.
Jam was coming back from a year in Europe & has returned home so I can bring back to her former performance level and to ultimately sell her to a rider who will continue with her at the 4* level. I ran her at Rolex this past year, with a good dressage test, being a vast improvement since her return. I felt that I let her down a bit on XC on the second of the two corners, which cost us 20 points……but she was fast & phenomenal, a fantastic galloper, and always clean in show jumping.
She’s had to be brought back slowly throughout this past year & we finished brilliantly with a win in the Advanced division at Plantation. We had a lovely dressage test at Fair Hill as well, which was improved over Plantation, but we didn’t run her XC because of the dreadful conditions. She rounded out her season sound & well.
She has no weaknesses & only strengths in each phase. I’m silly in love with her! She is always a brilliant show jumper & was one of only 2 clear rounds at Burghley in 2007.
We’ve had to focus on bringing her back slowly and Gerd Zuther has helped us with the dressage for this past year. Her improvement has been remarkable & Gerd is here with us in Florida to continue that progress.
Jam is an extremely quiet, yet alert mare. She’s fun to have around. In her paddock, she has it down to a science on how to gallop in a burst & come to a perfect stop in the same place each time. She’s in charge of all that goes on around her….she’s the queen of the outfit. She’s beautiful to look at, with a striking head & the best eye lashes in the world! Buck, as a 13 year old, rode her mother in the Point to Point series here in Pa and was champion of the open division! He also fox hunted her with Cheshire…..and Jam has inherited the same willing personality as her Mom. If ever God made the perfect horse (to me), she is it!
CRUISE LION
This past year Cruise went to Kentucky for his first four star & we took it a bit slow because it was his first event at that level. Remember, he’s a very young horse. Cruise was 19TH in his first 4* at Lexington in 2009 and has placed well in numerous advanced horse trials, including 7th at the Maui Jim CIC3* & is in training for Kentucky & WEG 2010.
His great strengths are his incredible movement & his enormous jumping ability. I don’t think he has any weaknesses but others would say he’s a bit precocious at times.
He’s a true "catch ride" because you have to actually be able to catch him to ride him. Therefore, we don’t turn him out in the paddock & he goes on the hot walker every day.
He has ENORMOUS personality & presence, with great likes and dislikes. He’s a spit fire on the ground & to turn out, but the minute you sit in the saddle he’s all business. He’s a character with a capital "C". If you are a horseman, he’s a pleasure to handle, but if you’re not……he lets you know it. His talent & ability surpass almost any horse that I’ve ever touched. He is brave, fast, talented & careful…and incredibly fun to ride! He & Jam make my day & my life. Why else would a man at 60 continue to push himself to ride at this level?
ROCK ON ROSE (Boyd Martin)
"Lusty" is another fantastic example of a top home bred from Chesterland. She has been 4th at the Jersey Fresh CIC***, 4th Richland Park & 11th at Bromont in 2009. She is qualified & in training for Rolex 2010 with Boyd Martin in the irons. She is a very elegant mare & a schoolmaster over the jumps. Her sire’s dam was a full sister to JJ Babu, so her lineage is impeccable. Lusty is brave & outstanding on cross country, an exceptional show jumper: A true international 4* horse in the making.
In 2009 Boyd Martin was lucky enough to get the ride on Lusty. They were made for each other because Boyd seems to be able to land exceptionally good looking women! This mare benefits as much from Boyd as Boyd does from the mare. She was a star at Plantation, where I asked Boyd not to run her too hard, and he followed orders. He is a young horseman in the making, always doing what is right for the animal.
She’s young, she’s sound & she’s talented. At 10 she’s still very young for a 4* entry with years of gaining experience in front of her.
According to Boyd, the girls in the barn give her a different screen actress or super model’s name each day b/c she thinks highly of herself. She’s a tough independent woman & a redhead to boot. She has a great work ethic & has all the ingredients to make a top horse. I’m enjoying watching Boyd produce one more 4* horse in our lineup!
Online Video: Boyd & Lusty Jump School in Wellington, Florida with Lauren Hough and Dressage work with Oded Shimoni.
On all 3 horses in the month of January it’s really a legging up process, we put in at least a good hour each day on trot sets, dressage, gymnastics & some stadium schooling to improve their level of education. Ultimately getting them ready for their first 1 day outing. We go through the basics each year at this time making sure they’re ready for the season & we try to improve & touch up every aspect of each phase making each horse that much more competitive.