Gallery

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

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)

2008 Grey. By War Front out of Wekiva Springs.

SOLD (2015)

2007. a.k.a Cioppino. Chestnut. By Alphabet Soup out of Aguara by End Sweep.

SOLD (2017)

2007 Bay. By Full Mandate out of Ivordance by Thorn Dance. FL Bred.
SOLD (2013): Thank you Michelle Lawrence.

2013 Chestnut. By Mizzen Mast out of Madame Diva by Mr. Greeley

SOLD (2017)

2007 a.k.a. Tapit's Main Man. Grey. By Tapit out of Smoking Ghost by Silver Ghost.

Schooling Video, 2016.

Video, 2015.

SOLD (2017)

2012 Bay. By Chapel Royal out of Hickory Belle by Unbridled Time.

SOLD (2016)

15 hand chesnut pony. Very flashy, beautiful mover. Video clip of Morris at Stuart Horse Trials, 2012

SOLD (2013) - Congratulations Brenna Naber.

2000 Chesnut. By Demaloot Demashoot out of Victory Minister by Deputy Minister.
Pictures from Stuart Horse Trials 2011. (c) Bill Gamble
Video of Grit Victory

SOLD (2012) - Congratulations Lizzie Chamberlin!

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

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

SOLD. Congratulations Jill O'Connell

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.)

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

Congratulations Diane Millner.

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.

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"

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.

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!

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.

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

Congratulations Millbrook Hunt!

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!

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.

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

SOLD. Congratulations Joe Bucci!

Bay. By Adios My Friend out of Rhythm mare.

SOLD. Congratulations Joe Bucci!

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

SOLD. Congratulations Joe Bucci!

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

SOLD - Congratulations Dave Margraff!

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

SOLD. Congratulations Joe Bucci!

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

SOLD. Congratulations Elizabeth Chertavian.

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

SOLD. Congratulations Jack Walnes.

GVH Horse Trials 2011:

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.

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

SOLD. Congratulations Charlotte Kasmin. Thank you Darrah Alexander.

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.

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

SOLD (2012) - Congratulations Erin Bordley

13.3 hand chestnut pony.

2008 Tetrathalon Rally