Boyd on Neville
After reading a couple of the comments (yes I pay attention!) I caught up with Boyd in between his riding and coaching duties to have a quick chat. Boyd told me that Neville is sound to the untrained eye, but having ridden and competed him for ten years or so, he feels that he is not quite right, and has abandoned his plans to campaign him for Pau CCI****, which included Plantation and Morven Park Horse Trials as part of the preparation, “We’ve got to figure out what this little part of him that doesn’t feel 100%, he’s 95%. It’s not a limb lameness. You’re riding around and he looks sound but I’ve ridden him for ten years and he just doesn’t feel right, especially in the canter. Dr Kevin Keane is trying to investigate if it’s something in the chest or the shoulder. We’re going to try and get him into the New Bolton Center and we’re going to use some of their fancy equipment to really try and figure out why he’s not feeling at his best. As a horseman, the feeling I’m getting is that he’s happy and he’s enjoying his work but something is bothering him; he’s usually wild and crazy, and he’s normal at the moment so something inside tells me we’ve got to figure something out! They (Syndicate owners) are all on board with it, we feel good in that to try and prolong his career, we feel that he’s got a number of years left in him competition wise, and deep down I felt as though if I’d pushed him hard to bring him here and get him to Pau we’d have got a result but that might have been the end of him. Plus, if you’re going to go overseas, it’s a hard trip and expensive, and for four stars you want to start out feeling like you’re Superman.”
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Boyd on Fitness
We also discussed Trading Aces increased level of fitness and Boyd told me that was something he has been conscious of after his summer in England, “Staying there for a month or two, and talking to Andrew Nicholson and Mark Todd about their fitness programme I’ve come back with a whole new system in training, getting them hard and fit; you look at the Olympics – Michael Jung’s horse could have jumped four rounds, or Nereo! They’re just tough and strong and hard and fit, I’ve nearly doubled my fitness work, which sort of eats into your dressage work I must admit, but with Trading Aces, he’s only 8 years old and I’ve got the benefit of Silva working him on the side for me which is a great bonus, and obviously I want to do very well here and at Fair Hill, but my big focus is on Rolex next year, and on the big Three Days the year after. I’m more looking at the CICs and the CCIs this year as stepping stones and the hard fitness work here is going to benefit him for Fair Hill, but more importantly it’s going to benefit him for Kentucky, and get that real, strong, hard baseline of fitness on him.”
Boyd on Michael Barisone
Boyd also touched on how his dressage has improved both with the help of his wife Silva, probably the most beautiful dressage coach in eventing, and also more recently US Dressage Olympian Michael Barisone, “He trains Silva so he comes down regularly and he’s been helping Phillip (Dutton) and Jennie (Brannigan) a bit too. He’s very positive, very motivating, passionate; it’s good to have someone like that – and he bloody knows what he’s talking about too! When something’s not right he’ll let you know and when something is right he’s also quick to pat you on the back. One of the problems I’ve got is Silva and I know each other so well, so it’s also good having an extra set of eyes. His heart’s in it, he came over to England and helped me twice without charging me, he’s here for a day spending time away from his horses seeing how we operate at a competition, you’ve got to admire a guy who’s willing to talk the talk but also walk the walk.”
Wishing Neville a speedy recovery and we look forward to seeing him out and about next Spring, and wishing Boyd the best of luck this weekend and at Fairhill on the extremely fit Trading Aces! Many thanks as always to Boyd for stopping to chat during a very busy weekend. Go Windurra USA and Go Eventing!
