Boyd Martin and Trading Aces at the $50,000 Wellington Eventing Showcase. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Boyd Martin confirmed today that Trading Aces, who competed on the 2014 U.S. World Equestrian Games team with Phillip Dutton, has been sold in Florida to junior rider Alexandra Pielet as an equitation horse.
“Oscar,” an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Coevers Diamond Boy, stayed in Florida after winning the $50,000 Wellington Eventing Showcase in January, and U.S. team selector Marcia Kulak worked with him to quickly transform him from an eventer to an equitation horse, Boyd said.
The sale doesn’t come as a huge surprise, as Boyd said after winning the showcase that “this may or may not be the last time I ride Trading Aces.” While the horse enjoyed some incredible highs last year, like winning Red Hills CIC3* and finishing eighth at Rolex with Phillip Dutton, he also saw some true lows, retiring on cross country at both WEG and Galway Downs CCI3*.
“It’s been one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make. He’s one of the most awesome horses I’ve ever ridden; however, on the cross country, he really struggled with his stamina. After last year’s WEG and last year’s Galway, I just didn’t feel it was fair to try to make Oscar do something he was physically struggling with,” Boyd said.
“I think deep down it’s the right decision to make. I think Oscar will enjoy the life of jumping fences under palm trees in Palm Beach. I’d really like to thank the syndicate that bought him. We’ve had some amazing results over the years. We were very proud to see the horse represent the country, and, at the end of the day, I was proud to get them some money back.”
We wish Oscar all the best in his new career as an eq horse with Alexandra Pielet and will keep you posted on how he settles in to the eq ring.
