"A Horse of a Different Color" features horses and ponies that have been successful in the sport of eventing while representing a unique breed. Do you have a horse that you think would be a great feature subject? If so, email [email protected]. Many thanks to Rachel Galambos for submitting the story of her horse, HS Wolf, who is a Hungarian Sportlo gelding.
Rachel Galambos and HS Wolf practicing their bareback skills at home. Photo from Rachel Galambos.
From Rachel:
HS Wolf is a 6-year-old Hungarian Sportlo gelding. He started his eventing career is the spring of 2013 as a 5 year old, and we had a great season finishing on successful Training Level events. We picked up this spring and have had successful rides so far, including at the Carolina International and, last weekend, a 2nd place Training at CDCTA. He will be going Prelim this summer.
I bred Wolf when I was in college. My event horse at the time was getting older and I wanted my next up and coming event horse. I am from an area in Washington State where there is a local breeder who breeds and competes Grand Prix level Hungarian Sportlos for dressage. At this time, I do not believe any of the horses bred from this farm had been used for anything other than dressage, but they are wonderful, ahtletic horses and I thought that they would make great event horses. Unlike other warmbloods, Sportlos have Felver, or “hot” blood in them and tend to be lighter and more high-energy than your typical warmblood.
Rachel and HS Wolf at the Cabin Branch Event Series. Photo by Betty Galambos.
Wolf has been a character since the day he hit the ground. My mother describes her experiencee of trying to tend to the ten-minute old baby Wolf as “like wrestling an alligator” and he had no problem attacking my vet when he was about three hours old and barely balanced on his feet. He has been too spunky, too smart and too opinionated for his good from the very start, and for a while I doubted our future in eventing, or any competition or that matter, as our relationship is truly a partnership and sometimes seems to sway more in his favor. He challenges everybody and everything at every possible opportunity. He is the horse that gets truly angry if he trips or taps a jump and is not shy about giving his opinion about you if he gets reprimanded for any reason. People, and especially small animals, are advised to give him space as he may be good and not do anything to get you hurt, but he also may not.
However, despite my concerns, Wolf managed to really impress me when it came to competing and eventing. Every time we shows he puts his bog boy pants on and gives me his best. His vibrant personality makes him a great jumper who is wonderfully bold and really “attacks” the jumps. Each time we go out he gets better, bolder and learns something new. Of all the Arabians and Thoroughbreds I have ridden his is smarter, hotter, more athletic, and more energetic than any of them and I believe he will have a great career in front if him. I cannot wait to see where we are able to go!
