We hear all the time about horses at the top of the sport, but what about the next generation of equine talent? EN’s Got Talent introduces the future superstars of the sport, interviewing riders about how they’re tackling training with these youngsters. Have you spotted a spectacular young horse at an event you think should be highlighted in this column? Tip me at [email protected].
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Kate Chadderton and Civil Liberty. Photo by Le Cheval Photography.
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Last week we met Civil Liberty, a quirky 7-year-old off-track Thoroughbred co-owned by Kate Chadderton and Patrick McCaun. After recovering from a freak accident that led to surgery on a hind leg, Liberty, a 15.2-hand powerhouse, returned to top form this year. Since successfully running the one-star at Bromont this summer, Liberty moved up to run his first Intermediate at the Virginia Horse Trials in November. “I was really unsure of how he would handle the challenge, but he’s a real cross-country machine,” Kate said. “I shouldn’t have been unsure in hindsight. It was quite a tough Intermediate, with technical lines and things he hadn’t seen before.”
The first water jump on the Intermediate course had a log landing on dry ground, which then led into the water complex. “To him that was quite spooky because he likes to jump straight into the water,” Kate said. “But every fence it felt like he got more confident and he did not put a foot wrong.” Kate describes Liberty as a very hard worker who knows his job, particularly when it comes to going across the country. “He’s just really good at it. I don’t know if maybe he thinks he’s being naughty by going fast, or if he really wants to do it,” Kate said. “I ride him within a boundary, but I like to let him have his own character too. I find him quite entertaining, so I don’t really try to do too much to rein him in.”
Liberty enjoys a beer before his dressage test at Bromont.
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Kate describes Liberty as “a little bouncy ball,” full of energy and personality. Those character traits can come as both a blessing and a curse in the dressage, but Kate has found that Liberty generally rises to the occasion inside the little white box. “He’s a Thoroughbred. I’ve had 28s on him and I’ve had 45s on him,” Kate said. “The movement is never an issue; it tends to be more of the behavioral aspect. But he’s definitely improving. He’s just now learning the higher level movements. Whenever he’s learning something new, that tends to be when I get the most resistance. But once he knows something, he knows it. It’s a learning process with him.”
Kate, whose barn is mostly comprised of off-track Thoroughbreds, loves the athleticism of the breed, which she definitely sees in Liberty. “I think he’s the best horse I’ve ever had,” Kate said. “I’ve had horses that are nicer on the flat. I’ve had horses that have been easier to ride. But he’s just the best all-around type I’ve ever had. By the time he gets to Advanced, I think his dressage scores will be excellent. On cross country there’s never been a doubt that he’ll make the time. In show jumping he’s very workmanlike; he does his job and understands that he needs to leave the rails up. He has that potential to go all the way.”
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emtmay5xWfs
Kate and Liberty tackle the Intermediate cross country on a very windy day at the Virginia Horse Trials
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With 2013 just around the corner, Kate plans to go Preliminary with Liberty at Full Gallop at the end of January. Then the horse will move back up to Intermediate, with Kate planning to take him to both Pine Tops at that level. She also has her sights set on the two-star at Bromont, which is always one of her favorite events. “He’ll do Advanced toward the end of 2013, and then after that we’ll see,” Kate said. “I’ll probably be aiming for the Bromont three-star in 2014 and then the Fair Hill three-star, but I’ll let him make that decision.” That arrangement will suit opinionated Liberty quite well.
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Next week on EN’s Got Talent: We’ll meet Dr. Kim Keeton, an equine vet and adult amateur, and Accolade, her 7-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion. Accolade won the East Coast Young Event Horse Championships as a 4-year-old before traveling to England with Kim when she crossed the pond to further her career. Now back in the States, Kim and Accolade are successfully going Intermediate and aiming for a two-star in 2013. Kerry Tracey tipped me about this great team: “I think it would be neat to hear about a talented young horse being brought up the levels by someone who is not a professional, and they are figuring it out together.” We agree. Thanks for the tip, Kerry!
