Ashley Kehoe & D.A. Vittoria Ready to Take On Fair Hill International

Ashley and V striking a pose. Photo by Tara Katherine Photography.

Ashley and V striking a pose. Photo by Tara Katherine Photography.

Ashley Kehoe has spent many years competing at the upper levels with a variety of partners, but she believes she has finally found the one to take her all the way to the top in D.A. Vittoria. The mare’s phenomenal jumping talent alongside Ashley’s dedication to learning from the best riders in the United States make them a formidable pair as they journey to the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International in just a few weeks.

Ashley and “V” have the enviable position of living and breathing eventing all hours of the day, as they are thoroughly ensconced in Team Pollard Eventing in Georgia. While she’s only been working for Nathalie and Michael for a year and a half, Ashley is no stranger to working for big name riders and pursuing her goals over the long term. She earned her “A” Pony Club rating through the Radnor Hunt Pony Club during high school and has trained extensively with top riders like Pam Wiedemann, Karen and David O’Connor, Emily Beshear and Sharon White.

During college at James Madison University, Ashley competed at the Advanced and CCI3* level with Mazetto, earning numerous top-five placings around the East Coast. Not only that, but she developed and produced Rebound Hoof Pack, a soreness relieving hoof pack that has gained popularity steadily in the sport horse world.

V showing off her exuberant hind end. Photo by Ashley Harvey.

V showing off her exuberant hind end. Photo by Ashley Harvey.

However, after Mazetto retired in 2012 and she spent five months focusing on Rebound, Ashley realized she could never become the rider she wanted to be by sitting behind the desk all day. She had purchased V during the previous year from an auction in Holland, and the mare was a feisty 5-year-old with no eventing training, so Ashley decided to re-dedicate her life to learning how to be the best.

After working for Sharon White for a year, Ashley made the move to the Pollard’s barn with a recommendation from David O’Connor and a referral from Sinead Halpin. Their barn is well known for having a unique approach to training horses and riders for international success, and Michael in particular speaks out regularly in favor of increasing rider fitness requirements.

“Yes, the rumors are true. We really do have mandatory 6 o’clock CrossFit bootcamp,” Ashley said. “I have to admit that at first I absolutely hated it, but as I got stronger, it just became part of my daily routine, like eating breakfast. It really has helped my position become incredibly strong, and even a tough cross country ride pales in comparison to a tough CrossFit workout”.

In just three years, “Princess V” has moved up the levels easily, thanks in part to her considerable jumping talent and her unique blend of bold and careful. “Her reflexes are unreal, and it’s been all about letting her flatwork catch up. She has beautiful natural movement, but it’s taken a long time to develop the strength in her back,” Ashley said.

Ashley and V practicing dressage. Photo by Tara Katherine Photography.

Ashley and V practicing dressage. Photo by Tara Katherine Photography.

This pair went from Novice to Preliminary in 2012, but spent the vast majority of 2013 solidifying their partnership at that level. Their move to Intermediate has gone smoothly, and V has maintained her (almost) perfect jumping record, with no cross country penalties to be seen and only one rail in her entire career.

“She has an opinion about everything and is a total drama queen. She demands that her aids be given quietly, but as soon as we are on a jump course, she goes into beast mode. She lasers in on her next jump and positively attacks it,” Ashley said. “Her biggest gift is how brave and careful she is at the same time and how she can jump anything, from anywhere, like a boss. She certainly can test the patience at times, but I’m incredibly lucky to have her.”

Ashley and V are heading to Morven Park to contest the Intermediate as their last preparatory run before Fair Hill International CCI2*, which will be V’s first attempt at that level. The dressage is still a work in progress, and Ashley is still tinkering with the perfect warm-up strategy and intends to continue figuring it out this weekend. “She’s a competitor, and the sharpness that makes her so good at jumping just takes time to train out of her on the flat. I’m optimistic though; she’s changed a lot in the past two years, and there is more to come.”

V over jumps at home. Photo by Tara Katherine Photography.

V over jumps at home. Photo by Tara Katherine Photography.

Ashley will be busy at Fair Hill, with V in the CCI2*, as well as her young horse, Cinco, competing in the five-year-old championship class. After that, the Pollard Eventing Team moves directly to their winter base in Ocala, Fla. V will get a little vacation and then focus on her dressage all winter. The plan is to move up to the Advanced level in the spring and get some three-star miles in 2015.

“It will finally be a challenge for her, but one we’ll be ready for. The sky is the limit for her. I hope to get competitive here in the States and start with Rolex as ‘big goal number one.’ From there, I plan to go to Europe and get miles at the hardest events I can, which I know is a lot of big goals, and I know it will take an incredible amount of hard work. Right now, I’m trying to keep my head down and keep focusing on what I can do to make myself a better rider. Hopefully it will work.

“With the help and training of Nathalie and Michael and the support of the fantastic team here, I feel like we are on the right track. I have wonderful parents who continue to believe in me, and with sponsors like Horze, Devoucoux and La Isla, I hope to become a future weapon for the United States Equestrian Team. Hopefully, with a lot of hard work, perseverance and a positive attitude, one day I’ll be able to represent the U.S.”

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments