A tribute to horses from Boyd Martin’s program lost in the barn fire

There are some scenarios in life, and eventing, that we all put in the very back our our minds on a daily basis, as thinking about their potential is just too scary. Trailer wrecks, barn fires, and really any situation that threatens to endanger our equine companions falls in this category. We rarely think about the potential for tragedy until the tragedy has happened, so it comes with great shock and sadness to hear that a member of our community, or team rather, has suffered such a hard blow. I know that everyone, myself and the EN team included, extend our very deepest condolences to Boyd, his owners, grooms, Abbie, and everyone else involved in the fire. 

Call Me Ollie
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‘Ollie’ was a big brown horse that had as much of a Teddy Bear pedigree as he did Holsteiner. I knew Ollie personally, and he was by far one of the top 10 sweetest horses that I have ever met. He was owned by Faye Woolf, a long time supporter of Eventing, and up until recently he was ridden and competed up to the CCI** level by Becky Holder. Ollie had just started his partnership with Boyd, debuting at Jersey Fresh a couple of weeks ago, and I know Boyd had big plans for him in the future. He will be greatly missed. 
Charla
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Charla was an eight year old, up-and-coming mare owned by Henley House Farms. She just recently finished in the CIC** at Fair Hill in April, and definitely looked to be a star of the future. We extend our deepest sympathies to Henley House Farms, and Boyd, for the loss of this great horse.


Phantom Pursuit
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Phantom Pursuit was owned and competed by a member of the EN team, Abbie Golden. Phantom enjoyed a career with Boyd as well, including an Advanced level finish at Rebecca Farms last year.  Phantom Pursuit was showing Abbie the ropes at the Preliminary level at the time of his death. We extend our deepest condolences to Abbie and her family for the loss of this great horse. 
Ariel
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Ariel was a young mare, owned and ridden by Boyd’s right hand girl, Lillian Heard. Ariel was eventing at the preliminary level with Lillian, but was certainly going to have been a special horse in the future. Lillian was the first to discover the fire and played a tremendous role in saving several horses from the burning building.
Cagney Herself
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Standing at 17.3 hands, Cagney was the only horse in the barn that Boyd’s long legs did not create the ‘grasshopper’ look on. She was a young mare, just starting out in Eventing, and owned by one of Boyd’s most faithful supporters, Bonnie Stedt. Bonnie owns part shares in both Neville Barbos and Otis Barbotiere, but Cagney was one of her favorites. 
Summer Breeze
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Summer was an eight year old mare, owned by Anne Hennessey, and was imported from Australia in November 2009. Summer was a horse close to Boyd’s heart as she was a half sister to Shatzi W, one of his favorite Advanced horses, and was sired by Staccatto, a leading eventing sire. She certainly had all the makings to be one of the best, so her passing will be hard on everyone who knew her.  Note: The information in this post comes in part from Boyd’s website and the USEA.
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