Exciting Ricardo Z Opportunity For A Wonderful Cause

Ballylaffin Bracken (by Ricardo Z) and rider Kristin Schmolze at the Final Horse Inspection Rolex Kentucky CCI**** 2013

My daughter has been lucky enough to spend quite a few days fox-hunting these last two winters, and it’s reminded me of how much I miss (almost) everything about it – the early mornings, riding in the countryside, watching the hounds work, well-earned drinks and tall stories in the pub afterwards which she has yet to experience, and then of course, the muddy horses, muddy tack, freezing feet and fingers…but the sound of the hounds when they catch a scent, or the thrill of giving chase over unknown country, not much can rival it.

I am incredibly lucky to spend nearly every other weekend at one event or another,  regularly watching some of the best horses in the US, and sometimes the world, and at Rolex this Spring all these worlds collided; I’ve admired Kristin Schmolze’s ride Ballylaffin Bracken for some time, and when he came to Kentucky to attempt his first four star I was thrilled to be introduced to the owners of his sire, Ricardo Z, Dr Tom and Magette Meagher. ‘Rox’, as we all now know, went beautifully at Rolex which bodes well for the upcoming syndication, and even more exciting, Dr Tom Meagher has very generously donated a Ricardo Z breeding to the Iroquois Hunt here in Kentucky to benefit their Hound Welfare Fund, and the really good news is you don’t have to be a member of the Hunt, or have to be at the Annual Dinner and Silent Auction if you’d like to bid on it.

This year’s event will take place on June 1st and will be led by honorary Chair, Keeneland’s Ted Bassett with Keeneland’s auctioneer Walt Robertson, and as well as the Ricardo Z breeding there’s also an original Andre Pater artwork (remember the official WEG poster?) to be unveiled on the night, a two night stay at the Red Fox Inn in Middleburg, Va with dinner at the French Hound included, a halter worn by 2011 Horse of the Year and $10m mare Havre De Grace and so much more [PDF]…if you can’t go but would like to bid please email Christopher Oakford at [email protected].  If you are in town and would like to attend, tickets are $125 per person to include cocktails and dinner at the uniquely charming Hunt Headquarters at Old Grimes Mill, please contact Hannah Emig at 859-221-8055.

Having just been pretty much blacklisted from my childrens’ school volunteer list (a blessed relief actually, and my sister accused me of being Bernadette, I don’t care, but I do thoroughly recommend the book!) for criticising their annual gala and fundraiser I think they should take a leaf out of the Iroquois’ books and make it an evening we’d all love to attend, with auction items we’d all dream of bidding on! Full marks to the Iroquois Hunt for setting such a great example in Hound aftercare, and a massive thank you to Dr Tom Meagher for donating a breeding to his wonderful stallion Ricardo Z to the cause. Go Hunting, Fishing and all Countryside Pursuits, and especially Go Eventing!

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