Marilyn competing at a Grand Prix this year, photo via Jackson Schrickel
Earlier today I spoke with Marilyn Little-Meredith about her purchase of Raf Kooreman’s talented three-star mare and Olympic prospect Cavalor Demeter. This was my third conversation with Marilyn after meeting her for the first time in Ocala this spring and, like every previous conversation, she struck me as very intelligent, very confident (perhaps a bit cocky), and unquestionably determined–a natural evener.
The difference between today and the previous conversations we have had is that with the purchase of Cavalor Demeter Marilyn is now very much more than a novelty that we all expect to have one good fall and go back to Grand Prix show jumping. Marilyn has moved up four levels this year, placed in the top 10 of a CCI3*, made the USEF High Performance B list, and now she has purchased one of the best young advanced horses sold in 2011. She’s on a journey that would make any of us say “don’t try this at home kids,” and yet the possibility of representing the US at the Olympics next year is getting closer with every passing day. When I spoke to Marilyn about her new horse, it was clear that the purchase wasn’t about her critics, it wasn’t about the Olympics, and it certainly wasn’t about whether someone has to buy their way to the top of US eventing.
Marilyn explained that buying Demeter is about buying a really nice young horse that she has a lot of affection for and whom she believes will get her to where she wants to be as a rider. I started by asking Marilyn what she liked about Demeter. Although I expected Marilyn to tell me all about Demeter’s jump, speed, and movement, Marilyn spent the most time telling me about her personality. She said “I loved her eye, she’s a panther, she’s an old soul with toughness and athleticism.” When I pressed Marilyn about Demeter’s athleticism, she said that the dressage will be really fun and that Demeter is fast and powerful on the cross-country. Marilyn said that she was looking not just for a nice horse but a nice horse that matched her as a rider so it was no surprise when she explained that show jumping is where Demeter needs the most improvement. Marilyn explained that she has had a good experience reforming her Fair Hill CCI3* horse, RF Rovano Rex, who really struggled in the show jumping before she bought him this summer.
For Marilyn, buying a mare as her top eventer is no coincidence–95% of her Grand Prix show jumpers have been mares. Marilyn could probably hear the surprise/pity/disbelief in my reply and she explained that “I seek out mares, I love them. Sure you have personality problems sometimes, but when you’ve got a good mare, you’ve got a great partner.”
There are eventers out there who view the purchase of an expensive top horse (particularly by someone with only a year of experience) as abhorrent, whether out of jealously, frustration, or a legitimate concern about what this says about the United States’ appalling breeding program and our disappointing record of horse development. Marilyn was understanding but unapologetic when I asked her about the critics. She said “I know how hard it is to make it as an eventer with only one top horse. For me, this was a worthwhile investment in my program and also myself.”
Marilyn now has two horses–RF Ravano Rex and Demeter–with a shot at competing in the Olympics. Marilyn was realistic about her chances and said “It’s always an advantage to have two possible contenders.” She explained “I’m so new to this sport. For me, this has been a step by step process and the next big goal is Rolex. If that goes well then I would look to a fall four-star like Pau or Burghley and if something amazing happens in between then so be it.”
Marilyn also said that Demeter will be syndicated and that breeding via embryo transfer is definitely an option if the syndicate is interested in that in the future. With the purchase of Demeter, Marilyn now has 7 eventers and 16 show jumpers in her stable.
I understand, and I think Marilyn does too, that buying a nice horse is the easiest way to get disliked in your barn. I have been in that situation on a much smaller scale and I can appreciate the pressure and scrutiny of riding a horse that you haven’t ‘earned’ in some peoples’ minds. But Marilyn has done nothing to make people upset other than surround herself with quality horses and get the job done at events. If we could say the same for all eventers I think our sport would be a lot better. Marilyn summed it up best by saying: “You have to shoot for the stars and make the best of the situation you have, every day. As for today, I am blessed to be in an amazing situation. As for the future? I want the best for this sport, because I believe it is a great one; one that I have come to love, and one that I hope to continue to learn about and evolve in.”
Go eventing.
