Undoubtedly one of the most exciting pairs to emerge last year was Canadian Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch on her lovely bay, Port Authority. Fifth at Rolex CCI **** in the spring, and then 9th individually at the WEG, and a member of the silver medal winning team, Steph has now announced an exciting opportunity to become a partner in her journey to Badminton in a couple of weeks, and the Olympics next year.
In order to fund her trip to Badminton, and her Olympic dreams, she has decided to offer for sale four shares in her horse Port Authority.
A generous grant from Equine Canada unfortunately will not cover the entire cost of her trip to England. Port Authority is not for sale; this is an ownership opportunity through a lease agreement.
Stephanie has owned the 13 year old Port Authority since he was 5, and has had an almost fairy tale rise through the ranks, culminating in her 5th place at Rolex CCI **** last spring, which led to team selection for the World Equestrian Games. At just 22 years old, Stephanie once again rode with a maturity and composure that belied her youth, finishing 9th in the world individually, best of the Canadians and indeed the highest placed North Americans, and helping bring home a team silver medal.
A rider since the age of 7, Stephanie has worked towards her goal of representing her country in the sport of eventing since leaving Canada in 2007 to train with fellow Canadian Rebecca Howard at The Fork. After a bronze medal at the 2008 North American Young Rider Championships, Stephanie moved to Ocala to train with David O Connor who she continues to train with now.
Partnership in Port Authority means sharing Stephanie’s dreams with her, and becoming partners with her and her horse. It also means exclusive access all areas at the premier three day event in the world – Badminton, with an option to extend the lease next year, or perhaps buy into a syndicate aiming for the London 2012 Olympics.
There will only be four partners which means each one will have a certain amount of access to Stephanie and her horse – Ollie. You can expect to walk courses with her, gain an insight into what it takes to run a horse at the highest level of the sport, and develop a relationship with a top rider – “your rider, your horse”, as you get to know them better.
As an owner of a horse at Badminton you have front row seats to watch the dressage and show-jumping, tickets to the members’ tent every day, and an invitation to the cocktail party in Badminton House.
Next year the plan for Port Authority is tentatively to do the Rolex Kentucky CCI **** in the spring, and then prepare for the London 2012 Olympics. The lease can be flexible according to the specific needs of the partner, but at the moment to sum it up $5,000 will buy you a leg for the remainder of the year. I will say that my mother has applied for two tickets to the Olympics next year for the eventing via the lottery system, and someone pointed out to me a few weeks ago, that equestrianism is the only sport that you can “buy” into via ownership.
Please read Steph’s blog, look at her website, and call her to chat if you have any questions. Go Canada, Go Steph and Ollie, and Go Eventing!
