More Than Courageous  

Heads turned as Becky Holder warmed up Courageous Comet for dressage. The gray gelding is an uncommonly handsome horse and a far-above-average mover, but he looked like an FEI-level dressage horse as he floated around the ring, showing collection, through­ness and freedom rarely seen in eventing dressage.  

Surprisingly, they didn't win the test. They tied for fourth, because his power and suspension caused Holder to give away marks, especially on the extended trots and some transitions. "Now I've got to learn to sit him better and to put the pieces together in the ring” said Holder. She held on to fourth place, even though she unwittingly fell behind the clock early on cross-country to finish 27 seconds slow, and then just caught the last show jumping fence.  

Courageous Comet, 10, won two advanced horse trials last year, but Holder said he's moved up a notch or three over the winter, thanks to training sessions with U.S. team coaches Robert Dover in dressage and Laura Kraut in show jumping. She said that Dover improved Courageous Comet's collection and self-carriage by doing work at about the Prix St. Georges level. "Robert thinks we really need to ride at that level and not just be satisfied with obedient and accurate, that we should think of it as doing a dance, not just performing compulsory movements," Holder said. She added, “Now he feels like you’re riding a hovercraft in dressage and a Ferrari on cross country.” 

 Courtesy of The Chronicle of the Horse/John Strassburger   Friday, March 31, 2006

Competition Highlights:
2008 - Silver Medal at Rolex Kentucky CCI****
2006 - 16th Rolex CCI****, 9th The Fork CIC***, 15th CCI**** Burghley, U.K.
2005 - 36th Luhmuhlen CCI****, 12th AEC Chmps
Advanced, 16th Fair Hill CCI***

Spring 2006 Results:
4th Advanced, Southern Pines H.T.
4th Advanced, Pine Top H.T.
1st Open Intermediate, Pine Top Winter II H.T.

Currently short-listed for the U.S. Team at World
Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany

COURAGEOUS COMET

Rolex, April, 2008

John Strassburger /The Chronicle of the Horse Photo

At Burghley:

Anthony Trollope/EWBNews.com Photo

Xpress Foto

COURAGEOUS COMET

Congratulations to Becky Holder and Courageous Comet for winning the Richland Park Horse Trials Advanced Division, with a second in dressage and a first in cross country. (2004)

SPICY TUNA

2006 Bay. By High Yield out of Slew Gin Fizz mare.

A YouTube video of Spicy Tuna at the Sugarbrook Jumper Derby:
 http://youtu.be/KP1tJfShnEk

SOLD (2012) - Thank you, Joe Raposa.

Foxhunting in 2010:

GVH Horse Trials 2011:

TOOCOR FOUR

16.1 hands, Bay, Star. By Gold Token out of Beau Genius mare. Very sensible. 

SOLD (2012) - Congratulations Tommy Feigel!

JASMIN

12.3 hand black pony with big blaze. Shown successfully over 2'9" and Pony Clubbed. Very flashy with a lovely jump.

Click on the following link for a YouTube video of Jasmin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbIV3ju6oZw

Here's another video - Jasmin & Ingrid Longacres 7/3/10:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_867zGQJVvw

SOLD (2011) - Congratulations Jayme, Mary and Chip Knapp!

WHEELIN' WALT (a.k.a. LOGAN)

2006 Dark bay. By Wheelaway out of Winloc's Lady Love by Compliance.

SOLD. Congratulations Jill O'Connell

For a video clip, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru7XzdD2SJM

PUDDLE JUMPER (a.k.a. GENESEE CHIEF)

The horse in the foreground, taken in November, 2007, is Puddle Jumper, owned by MFH Skip Crawford of the Potomac Hunt, MD.

FUZZY'S HERO

16.2 hands, Bay. By Partner's Hero out of Tong Po mare. Beautiful mover. Lightly foxhunted. Sane and sensible, very safe jumper. Successfully competed in USEA Young Eventers division and Adult Amateur Hunters.  Currently cub hunting and ready to go for the hunt season. Currently qualified for USEA Young Event Horse Championships for 4 year olds at Morven Park."

SOLD - Congratulations Chuck Akre!

LOU (a.k.a. K SQUARED COMET)

17 hand, bay. By Comet Shine out of Go and Go mare. Foxhunted 3 seasons with Genesee Valley Hunt.  Also hunted with Blue Ridge, Warrenton and Thornton Hill.  Gorgeous, balanced mover.  Won his first time out Novice in 2004.  Successfully competed in the Young Event Horse 5 year old division at Genesee Valley, Millbrook and Plantation Field in 2005. Qualified for the Championships at Morven Park.  Currently he is eventing at training level and is ready to move up to Preliminary.

For an AVI video clip of Lou over fences, click HERE.

SOLD.  Congratulations Lynn Butcher and Peter Anderson!
 

MANNY

16 hands, Bay. By Tank's Number out of Sir Harry
Lewis mare. Lightly foxhunted, eventing beginner
novice and Young Event Horse 4 year old division.
Shown locally. Currently doing Pony Club.

SOLD - Congratulations Robin Richards!

SECOND KEY

16.2 hand, bay, blaze. By Key Contender out of Marfa mare. Lightly foxhunted. Big mover, excellent show prospect. Very easy going personality.

SOLD - Congratulations to Bryce Lingo and Snowden Clark!

MACADAM ROAD

Congratulations to Michelle Lawrence and Diane Crump!

SEASON O' REASON (a.k.a. IKE)

Congratulations to Peter Anderson on his continued success with Ike."

Congratulations Nancy Hathaway and Tricia Aitken on their success with SMOKIN’ ONE and CHADWELL.

SMOKIN’ ONE –2006 Results (as of April)                     

1st Open Training (Pine Top H.T., Aiken S.C.)
6th Preliminary ( Sporting Days H.T, Aiken, S.C.)
11th Open Preliminary (Paradise Farm H.T., Aiken,S.C.)
13th Preliminary (Jumping Branch, Aiken, S.C.)
2nd Preliminary (Sporting Days H.T., Aiken, S.C,)
6th Preliminary (Fence H.T., Aiken, S.C.)

CHADWELL

MARKED FOR RANSOM

16.3 hand, Bay. By Miners Mark. Big, good looking horse. Quiet and friendly personality.

Congratulations Diane Millner.

VALIANT BID   

16.2 hand, Gray, star. By Spectacular Bid out of Val De Lorne mare. Foxhunted 1 season, evented novice level, shown hunters. Very flashy and athletic.

Congratulations to Elaine McClory.  Valiant Bid will give you years of fun.

GIZ ANJIZ    

"I am sending along 2 photos of Anjiz that we took last weekend with my friend's million dollar camera.

Anjiz is a wonderful horse. I have ridden him everyday but 1 since he's been around. Everyone in the barn loves him & his easy going personality. I think he should be easy to turn around, but I'm having fun at the same time."

Jill O'Connell

CALEDONIA (a.k.a. HERMAN)

Congratulations to Mary Clare and Caledonia, who won Preliminary at Difficult Run 2005!

Mary Clare writes: "Briefly, in 2003 he was USEA area 2 year end award winner at Novice as well as CDCTA year end winner at Novice. He won 4 events that year including the Area 2 Novice Championships. In 2004, He was USEA area 2 Reserve Training horse and won the CDCTA year end award at Training. He won 3 events last year and in addition, ran in a training level 3 day which he finished happy and sound. This year he won his first event out at training and Difficult Run was his 2nd time out at Prelim. I have really taken a lot of time with him as he is a spooky/nervous horse and am starting to see the results of that. He really seems to be coming into his own. I don't even think he noticed the fences got bigger this year. He has more scope than any horse I have ever ridden. I'm having a ball with him and am aiming for a one-star in the fall. Thank you for your interest in "Hermy". Mary Clare"

PATCHES

16 hand, Bay, star. By Nines Wild. Well broke, worked 1/4 at FLRT in May, 2004. Trail riding, jumps small courses. Very sweet personality.

Congratulations to Sarah Goshen.

TEMPTING PROSPECT 

16.1 hand, Ch., blaze. By Prosper Fager out of Tejano mare. Well foxhunted, shown child Hunters. Athletic, cute jumper, very coordinated.

Congratulations Tara Dee!

INDIAN SHINE

16 hand, bay, big blaze. By Comet Shine out of an Irish bred mare. Foxhunted 2 seasons, evented novice level and shown Hunters.

 Congratulations Kailey Eldredge.

SOVIET JUDGE

16.2 hand, Ch., star. By Slavic out of Fit to Fight Mare. Foxhunted, well broke. Nice, straightforward personality.

Congratulations Millbrook Hunt!

Congratulations to Alexandra Robertson and TALCULATING (8 yr. old bay gelding) for winning the ladies' timber race at the Winterthur Point-to-Point and clinching the Delaware Valley Point-to-Point Association's overall timber championship. (2004)

Catherine French Photo

DUTCH

16.2 hands, Gray, blaze. By Testimonial out of Deposit Ticket mare. Very flashy, lovely mover and scopey jumper.  Currently foxhunting, jumps 3' coops and stadium jumps.  He is very willing and sweet.  He spent the summer hacking out across country and exercising hounds.  Ready to do USEA Young Event Horse 4 year old division.

SOLD.  Congratulations Marion and Olivia Mayer!

TOGA

13.2 hand, 11 year old, gray pony.  Pony
Clubbed, foxhunted, shown locally.  Very cute, he has
lots of trail riding miles.  He is big enough to carry
an adult so has been to lead other ponies on trails as
well.

SOLD.  Congratulations Nancy Kelly.

BULLWINKLE

16.1 dark bay, small star. Lovely mover. Green broke

SOLD. Congratulations Joe Bucci!

ADIOS

Bay. By Adios My Friend out of Rhythm mare.

SOLD. Congratulations Joe Bucci!

GABE

Chesnut. By Good and Tough out of stakes producing Halo mare.

SOLD. Congratulations Joe Bucci!

VINNY (a.k.a. Mymainmanphil)

Bay. By Regal Classic out of Go For Gin mare.

SOLD - Congratulations Dave Margraff!

BUD

Chesnut. By Gold Fever out of Deposit Ticket Mare. Green broke, trail rides.

SOLD. Congratulations Joe Bucci!

SAM. (a.k.a. SAY FLORIDA SANDY)

2007 Dark Bay. Out of  Quick Interview by Private Interview. NY Bred.

SOLD. Congratulations Elizabeth Chertavian.

D.W. (a.k.a. THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN).

2006 Dark bay. By Desert Warrior out of Stephanie's Angel by A.P. Jet.

For a video clip, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVVNCkg_hP0

SOLD. Congratulations Jack Walnes.

PARTNER'S KELL

2006 Brown. By Partner's Hero out Empress Kell by Wavering Monarch. Training at FLRT; worked 3/8 and 1/2.

SOLD. Congratulations Louise Merryman.

MIGUEL a.k.a. Moon Over Miami.

16 hand, bay. By Maria's Mon out of Jovial Turn mare.

SOLD. Congratulations Charlotte Kasmin. Thank you Darrah Alexander.

SARA

13.3 hand gray pony. Shown successfully, Pony
Clubbed, and foxhunted. Very flashy with auto lead changes and a lovely jump.

SOLD. Congratulations Kathy Howlett.

SOLDIER

2007 Bay. By Eavesdropper out of Jet Car by Carr de Naskra. NY Bred.

SOLD (2012) - Congratulations Erin Bordley