Articles: Horse News
Neville Bardos and Sjoerd Named 2011 Horses of the Year by the United States
Equestrian Federation
Horse of the Year Neville Bardos
(Photo Courtesy of USEA)
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Horse of the Year Sjoerd
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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2011
From the USEF Communications Department
Cincinnati, OH - For the first time ever, the USEF crowned two horses with
its highest honor, one from an International Discipline and one from a
National Discipline. Neville Bardos and Sjoerd were named 2011 Horses of the
Year at tonight's USEF annual Horse of the Year celebration. Honored for
their accomplishments in 2011 their roads through the last 12 months, while
both exceptional, have been very different.
Videos of all of the Horses of Honor are available here:
http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/USEFAnnualMeeting2012
Neville Bardos - Eventing
Jacob Pope Jumps (George Moriss 2012)
He shouldn't have lived. But he did. He shouldn't have returned to his life
as an event horse. But he returned better than ever. Trapped in a burning
barn for 45 minutes, Neville Bardos made a miraculous recovery from injuries
sustained in a fire that claimed the lives of six other horses at his rider
Boyd Martin's barn in West Grove, PA. The now 13-year-old Australian
Thoroughbred gelding won the USEF National CCI3* championship in 2009 and
was 10th at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games - leading the
U.S. effort. But his life changed dramatically in the early hours of
Memorial Day in 2011. Martin pulled him out of the burning barn to
safety. Neville Bardos was left with horrific injuries due to massive
amounts of smoke inhalation and the subsequent damage to his throat.
Neville, who is owned by 10 members of a syndicate bearing his name, never
seemed to feel as badly as he should have and he began making a miraculous
recovery. Through the help of his vet (Dr. Kevin Keane), his groom (Lindsey
Taylor) and the Fair Hill Equine Therapy Center (where he visited the
Hyperbaric Chamber) Neville defied the odds and made a miracle trip to the
Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in England in September. He rocketed around
the cross-country course clean and fast and finished seventh at the world's
toughest CCI4*.
Braver than brave, Neville Bardos' courage saw him through more than just a
difficult cross country course it helped see Martin through the rebuilding
of his own life. Shortly after the fire, Martin lost his father in a
bicycling accident in Australia. Shortly after that Martin's wife Silva lost
her father to cancer. It was a nightmare summer for the Martin's and
Neville's success helped them find their way through it.
In 2011, he was also second at the Red Hills Horse Trials in the CIC3*(in
March), fourth in the Advanced at the Millbrook Horse Trials in August. If
Neville Bardos had lived the rest of his life in the field this story would
have had a no less incredible and happy ending. But Neville was looking to
make a miracle and tonight was the next chapter in that mission.
Hear the reaction to Neville Bardos's win here:
http://www.usefnetwork.com/blogs/187/boyd_martin_on_neville_bardos_win.aspx
Sjoerd - Friesian
Jacob Pope Jumps (George Moriss 2012)
Not to be outdone by a tearjerker Sjoerd's year on the National circuit was
one of insurmountable success. Xena Vimercati's stallion won and won and
won. He transcended divisions, riders and classes. Anyone lining up against
the striking jet black Friesian knew that to try to beat him they better
bring their A game.
He was honored for his confirmation and presence in the ring and with his
panache and personality he garnered fans everywhere he went. He was
undefeated in 2011 in the Halter division.
Sjoerd was named World or Grand National Champion 14 times in 2011. He also
added four World/Grand National Reserve Champion titles to his list.
At just six years of age, Sjoerd is beginning to build a dynasty.
He won back-to-back Shakespeare Perpetual Hi-Point Friesian Trophies and
Jeff Wonnell Memorial Versatility Silver Belt Buckles continuing a streak
that began in 2010. He also scored the Robin ut de Warren Memorial Perpetual
Trophy, World Champion Saddle Seat Open, 19 Regional titles and 5 Reserve
Championships. He won with 10 different people in 2011, demonstrating his
versatility and trust. He won across the country, picking up championships
in California, Colorado and Virginia. He won with multiple riders across
divisions at the same show, exemplifying his ability to adapt to different
styles of riding in the different classes he contested. He won Equitation,
Dressage, Liberty, Walk/Trot, English Pleasure, Trail, Hunt Seat Pleasure,
Saddle Seat, Western Pleasure, Junior and Amateur Classes.
As a sire, he is already beginning to prove his mettle. He is the sire of
TDR Zivah the Diva who was the 2011 USEF Grand National Champion Part-bred
Friesian. In 2010 and 2011 she was the Grand National Part-bred Halter
Champion. Sjoerd's foals, although only yearlings and weanlings, are
consistently winning top honors in the show ring. They carry his looks and
his talent with them.
Hear the reaction to Sjoerd's win here:
http://www.usefnetwork.com/blogs/186/sjoerd_wins_2011_national_horse_of.aspx
The other four Horses of Honor are:
Starr Llight - Arabian
Starr Llight is frequently referred to as both Dynamic and a Diva. Every
time the now 16-year-old Arabian mare enters the ring she rises to the
occasion. With her young owner Leah Beth Boyd in the stirrups, Starr Llight
ended up winning a spectacular ride-off for the coveted Open Purebred
English Pleasure title at the 2011 Arabian National Championships. With that
victory, Starr Llight became the winningest Purebred English Pleasure mare
of all time and is only the second mare since 1988 to win the title.She is
also the oldest mare, and second oldest horse overall, ever to garner the
coveted prize.
Purchased by her young owner in 1999 from a dispersal sale, this mare has
now won 11 National or Reserve Championship titles. Boyd and Starr Llight
are the only Arabian horse/rider team to win a National Championship in the
Junior exhibitor, the Amateur exhibitor, and the Open division.
CHThe Daily Lottery - Saddlebred
When it comes to the Five-Gaited division for Saddlebreds, High Hickory
Farm's CHThe Daily Lottery put together an undefeated record in amateur
competition in 2011. CHThe Daily Lottery scored Grand Champion titles at the
UPHA/American Royal, Kentucky Fall Classic, Midwest Charity Horse Show,
Bonnie Blue National, and the Kentucky State Fair World's Championship Horse
Show and dominated every time he set foot in the ring.
The now 8-year-old is no stranger to success with his rider Gabe Deknatel
and his consistency and big motion are impossible to ignore. Trained by John
and Tammie Conatser, CHThe Daily Lottery is handsome, fast and seemingly
invincible.
Coral Reef Via Volo - Jumping
Though small in stature (15.3h) and nicknamed "Shrimp," Coral Reef Via Volo
is a giant when it comes to jumping. With one of the world's best riders,
Beezie Madden, aboard she topped the Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking List
for much of the 2011 competition year and went on to impress the world at
the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. She led Team USA's Gold-medal
effort, which also secured 2012 Olympic qualification. She added only one
time fault through five rounds of jumping and won Individual Silver to back
up the Team Gold.
In 2011, Coral Reef Ranch's Via Volo and Madden racked up numerous wins
across the globe. They were on the winning team in the Nations Cup at the
CSIO4* Wellington. They won the D-LINE Cup 1.60m Spruce Meadows and the
Longines International Grand Prix of Rotterdam (CHIO). A recent partnership,
having won their first competition together just over a year ago, the future
for Coral Reef Via Volo is bright.
Weltino's Magic - Dressage
Bruce and Jen Hlavacek's Weltino's Magic was undefeated in 2011, winning
with Steffen Peters at the Intermediaire I level at the Festival of the
Horse CDI and the Del Mar National CDI in California before heading to CHIO
Aachen and taking on the best small tour horses in the world. Together they
continued their unbeaten streak in Aachen, Germany, and then returned home
to sweep all three tests in the USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage
Championships at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions
in September to earn their spot on the U.S. Team for the 2011 Pan American
Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
They continued to set a remarkably high standard at the Pan American Games
and brought home Team and Individual Gold medals. 'Magic's' character comes
through in his performance and he has evolved into a top contender since he
was started by Peters' wife, Shannon. With Shannon he was Markel/USEF
National Young in the Six-Year-Old division.
Dozens of champions were honored across the USEF's 28 Breeds and Disciplines
tonight. From jumpers to hackneys, vaulting horses to parade horses, the
evening recognized the best horses from 2011. The reception and the HOTY
dinner were made possible by Adequan, a steadfast supporter of the USEF. For
more information about our other Annual Meeting Sponsors please visit:
http://www.usef.org/convention/2012/sponsors.aspx.
More information about the Horses of the Year and the 2012 Annual Meeting is
available here:
http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/USEFAnnualMeeting2012
The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation is to provide
leadership
for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the
pursuit
of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a
foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare
of its human and equine athletes.
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