Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
So, in case you were looking for a reason to get overly emotional today, allow me to coax you along a bit. In case you missed it, Equine Network recently paired up with several top riders across equestrian disciplines to put together some short documentaries all about the special horses that change our lives and our careers.
In “More Than a Moment”, sponsored by Cowboy Magic, Doug Payne’s longtime Olympic partner, Vandiver, is the star of the show. Originally sent to Doug and Jess Payne as a sale project by owned Debi Crowley, “Quinn” quickly made his way into the top spot on the Payne squad, showing his heart and his talent as he stepped up again and again to each new challenge.
“He’s got more heart than about any other horse that I’ve ridden,” Doug said. “When there’s desire to do it, you can overcome a lot of limitations. I would say on cross country, he’s one of the best horses I’ve ever ridden. It’s just an exhilarating feeling.”
The film features Doug, Jess, and #supergroom Courtney’s reflections on Vandiver’s career, including the trip to Tokyo that earned Doug his first Olympic team appearance.
Ready to watch? Grab a tissue box and tap/click the image below (or click here) to watch the short film. You can also click here to view all the Horse Week 2022 videos, which includes a “Equestrian Cribs” episode all about Boyd and Silva Martin’s Windurra facility.
Click/tap the image to watch the film.
