In eventing, it’s not a matter of if you will get knocked down, but what you will do once you get knocked down. Today we get a first hand reminder at the toughness of eventers from three of the best riders in the US and two of the best horses. The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm this weekend has a packed entry list with many familiar names. Two names the jump off of the entry list are Neville Bardos in the Open Intermediate and Leyland, who is now being ridden by Stephen Bradley, in the Open Prelim.
Neville was of course one of the 5 surviving horses from the True Prospect fire. When he was first admitted to New Bolton, he was coughing badly, he had significant external burns, his blood work showed considerable smoke inhalation, scans of his throat showed severe damage, and the best anyone could hope for was survival. By just the next day however, Neville was shocking the vets at New Bolton with his appetite and good spirits. Neville’s recovery since then has proceeded at a miraculous pace and with the toughness and enthusiasm that only those who know Neville could expect.
I spoke with Boyd who told me that Neville will do an intermediate combined test this weekend at Maryland and then hopefully the full prelim next weekend at Fitch’s Corner Horse Trials in New York. Neville has been cantering slowly every 4-5 days under the supervision of his veterinary team. Boyd plans to pick up the pace a bit with Neville before running the cross-country at Fitch’s Corner just to make sure his lungs are feeling perfect. If all goes well and Neville continues to feel great, the plan is Millbrook advanced and then Burghley. A few weeks ago I mentioned that we might see Neville at Burghley and, although a lot of people though I was crazy, I am very happy to see him take the next step in that direction this weekend.
Even though it feels like an incredibly long way away, I asked Boyd what it would feel like to ride Neville at Burghley and he said “it would feel like a miracle, a fairy tale.” Neville has made a career as an incredibly successful 4* horse with heart, toughness, and a strong partnership with Boyd and those same qualities are leading him through a miraculous recovery.
The other notable comeback story on the Maryland entry list is Leyland, who has been one of the most talented horses in the US since his 4* debut in 2009. Stephen Bradley has been given the ride by Leyland’s owners, the Nicholsons. Both Leyland and Amy have had health problems this spring and Stephen has a history with the horse–he rode Leyland at Southern Pines last year when Amy was having issues with her knee.
Amy started campaigning Leyland in *2005. They finished 13th at Rolex in 2009 and 14th at Burgley later that year. In the spring of 2010, Amy was having significant problems with her knee. After multiple surgeries and procedures, she fought through the pain with the incredible toughness she is known for at The Fork. She withdrew from Rolex before the cross-country, but things were looking up by the end of the summer and she was short listed for the US for the World Equestrian Games. If the Tipperary Liadhnan leg situation had been managed differently by the team, Amy and Leyland would probably have competed for the USA last October.
Amy and Leyland finished 9th at the Intermediate this February at Galway, but Amy continued to be plagued with knee problems this spring. To make matters worse, Leyland suffered from a tooth and sinus issue this spring that took time to resolve. After a career together filled with huge potential that was sometimes realized and sometimes not, the Nicholsons decided to give Stephen Bradley the ride. Leyland will be making his first start at a horse trials since March.
Stephen told the Chronicle in an interview that “[Leyland’s] owners, the Nicholsons, in conjunction with Amy, decided that she wasn’t going to be able to compete, so that’s when I got the ride.” Amy showed the true class that we would expect from her by saying “Stephen is a fantastic rider, and Leyland is a great horse, and with me not being able to ride, it was the best situation.” Amy hopes to be back to riding as early as next month and expects a full recovery. [COTH]
I can say that if I ever had to have a horse ridden by someone else, Stephen would be one of my first choices. He’s a former team rider of course, but much more importantly he really loves and respects his horses. We wish Amy the best in her recovery and Stephen all the best with Leyland.
As a final note on Maryland, I never cease to be amazed by the riders who are able to take five and more of horses to these one day events. Buck Davidson is taking an entire fleet of horses, led by Ballynoecastle RM, Burghley bound Titanium, and Absolute Liberty. Boyd has 9 horses incling Neville and Remington. OCET’s Lauren Kieffer has 7 horses. Recently listed for the Pan American Games squad, Danica Moore and Utah B are riding in the OI. Michael Pollard has 5 horses, including his Rolex ride Icarus in the OI, and Molly Rosin has 7 rides.
Go Neville and Leyland.
