We're on the road to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for the 2013 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championships! We have two IHSA members on the ground to bring you lots of behind-the-scenes coverage. Here is a little info about our correspondents:

Madison Harris is a senior at Berry College in Rome, Georgia, studying Business Management. As team member of the Berry Hunt Seat team, Madison has held the captain's position of Historian for 3 years as well. On top of team, riding her Appendix Quarter Horse mare, Sassie, and participating in the IHSA Media Internship, she also started and manages her own photography business called MHarris Photography. Photography and horses are two of her passions and she is incredibly excited to be helping out with the Practical Horseman coverage this year in Harrisburg.

Nicole Mandracchia has been riding for over 10 years and is a working student at James and Robin Fairclough’s Top Brass Farm in Newton, New Jersey. She helps tend to the farm's 25 driving and jumping horses. She grooms and shows at major horse shows on the East Coast, such as HITS Saugerties and Ocala, Garden State, the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show, the Pennsylvania National and Lake Placid. She attends Centenary College and is the senior captain of the IHSA team where she has been competing in the Open level for four years. Nicole is planning to graduate in May 2013 with an Equine Studies degree with a concentration in Communications.

For the latest results and information about the 2013 IHSA Nationals, click HERE. Watch live streaming of all the action HERE.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Nicole Mandracchia's Blog: Final Hunt Seat Day at IHSA Nationals: I heard one of my favorite songs, “Titanium” by Sia, come over the loudspeaker this morning while all our horses were out schooling. I sang along with it for a few bars and then turned to one of my teammates with a smile. “It’s going to be a good day—this is a good song.” He looked at me like I was crazy, but I was getting good vibes.

As the saying goes, it ain’t over until it’s over. It seemed as though Centenary’s luck finally turned around today. Senior Cori Reich won the coveted USEF/Cacchione Cup title, something she has been working very hard for. This is the third time in five years that a Centenary rider has claimed this title; graduate Lindsay Clark won it in 2009 and graduate Marissa Cohen won in 2011.

It was so stressful listening to the announcer list the riders’ names in reverse order of placing during the awards presentation. Our entire team was there to cheer for her when her name was called in first place—we were all in tears. After all the ribbon pictures were taken, we stormed into the arena and enveloped her in a group hug. There are so many of us that I’m sure it looked like a stampede! Cori is amazing and we are so proud of her.

Our Open Flat rider, junior Kathryn Haley, scored a win for us in Team Open Flat. The judges did not call the riders back for further testing like they did last year. Instead, they asked the riders to drop their stirrups to the right and perform flatwork without them, including a lengthening of stride at the canter. Katie rode beautifully and with the same grace and poise that she always has. I wish I could flat as well as she can!

That win brought us to a tie with Goucher College for 5^th overall in the team placings, which was the same placing we received last year. Being one of the top five teams in the country is pretty good and we’ll definitely take it! Skidmore and St. Lawrence deserved the win—their riders were exceptional all week. Stanford University jumped to the Reserve Championship, which was great for them! The Savannah College of Art and Design was third and Mount Holyoke was fourth.

The show always does three sportsmanship awards to recognize three individuals who have worked hard all week to make Nationals possible. Rebecca Folk of Lafayette College won the Rider Award, Erin Githens of Lafayette College won the Coach Award and Centenary’s very own Amy Gregonis won the Volunteer Award. Congratulations to them—all were very deserving!

There’s also a Horse of the Show award given to the horse that has been the most consistent all week and has been a favorite among riders and coaches. Centenary’s King won this award, and he proudly posed in the winner’s circle. He will receive free SmartPaks for a year and won a beautiful bridle, which we want him to wear in his lessons every day. Centenary has had King for 7 years, and he has been such a great addition to our program. He has taught countless riders how to ride and always comes to Nationals with us. He also does ANRC Nationals, IDA shows at Centenary, IHSA shows at Centenary and Hunter/Jumper team shows. He a professional and knows his job well.

After the award presentations, we packed up our equipment and horses to go home. This was the last IHSA show of my college career—I graduate from Centenary in two weeks. It’s so surreal and I do not know where the past four years have gone. IHSA has been a part of my college career from day 1; I have always been committed to our team. I have learned so many essential riding skills competing in IHSA shows in Zone 3, Region 3. As a captain, I’ve learned the value of teamwork and how to run horse shows successfully and efficiently. I have learned how to get the best out of my team and encourage them to work hard and never give up. I’ve made so many life-long friends that I will never forget and will always keep in touch with. And most importantly, I’ve learned horsemanship skills that will last a lifetime.

Ultimately, we had a great year and that’s all that really matters. We were undefeated, winning every show all semester and we claimed the Zone 3 Finals Championship. None of Centenary’s success would have been possible without the help of all 60 people on our team, and I thank each and every one of them for one of the best years our team has ever had. I can’t thank our coaches Michael Dowling and Heather Clark enough for all their support and dedication to the team. All those no-stirrup lessons and practices ultimately made us stronger riders. It has been an honor to work with each member of this team, and I hope that they will learn as much from IHSA as I did.

2013 IHSA Nationals ended in a tie this year between Skidmore and St. Lawrence. Both coaches had wonderful things to say about the other team. Mary Drueding (St. Lawrence): "I'd rather share than lose the title. I'm incredibly proud of Zone 2 in itself. We have strong riders, strong coaches, and we all fight until the 8th class on the last day." Belinda (Asst. Coach of Skidmore): "This was a really special camaraderie and we're both thrilled to share the title within Zone 2."

© Madison Harris

I have to share this photo of my own team, Berry College, who claimed 6th place today. On a personal note, we have fought the past three years of my college career to reach Nationals and haven't made it as a team past Zones. This year, after an undefeated season, my team made it to Nationals. I have never been a part of such a hard-working and supportive group of people before and I was proud to watch them accomplish this goal. This was probably the greatest present I could've received at the end of my senior year. Go Vikings!

© Madison Harris

King, the Dutch Warmblood from Centenary College, won Champion Hunt Seat Horse of 2013 Nationals. What a beautiful guy!

© Madison Harris

I had the chance for a quick word with Peter Leone after the Cacchione Cup final. He stated: "The Cacchione final testing was Maclay caliber of skill. All the coaches and teams should be incredibly proud of their riders. I was impressed."

© Madison Harris

We have some fantastic video footage provided from a number of sources this week!

© Madison Harris

Running the in-gate at a horse show, especially Nationals, takes a large amount of skill and multitasking. I caught our manager, Chris Mitchell, in the middle of a vary precarious situation involving the balance of coffee and calling riders.

© Madison Harris

Everyone has a tendency to stop and check out the coveted Hunt Seat National Champion trophy, I know I have a couple of times.

© Madison Harris

Meet Lucy! Lucy is a 12 year old, Dutch Warmblood, who is owned by the United States Military Academy. After speaking to her owners, Lucy was found by a friend of the family and shared with them her remarkable talent as a jumper. Lucy has been a show-favorite this week due to her floppy ears as she listens to her riders. As her owner said: "She's known for it, and sometimes you can't really help how big your head is!"

© Madison Harris

While we're here with our teammates cheering us on, we have a tendency to forget how proud our parents are of us. As our number one fans since we start our careers, countless hours are spent watching ringside. They stick with us through the highs and lows, the falls, the smiles, and most of all, the moments that matter most. I had the pleasure of capturing Flavia D'urso's father watching from the gate as Flavia received her Champion ribbon in Collegiate Open Equitation Over Fences for Skidmore College. Not a single person could help but smile as he pointed her out in excitement and pride.

© Madison Harris

The final 10 riders from the Cacchione Cup line up for the awards ceremony.

© Madison Harris

Peter Leone is present today at Nationals. Winning riders have been awarded his "Show Jumping Clinic" book as a prize here. All 10 of the Cacchione riders received a book as a token of competition. Peter is a Member of the United States Equestrian Team and has represented the United States on numerous occasions including in 1982 when he helped the U.S. finish fourth in the World Championships in Dublin, Ireland, and in 1996 when he and Crown Royal Legato were part of the USET's Silver Medal team at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta.

© Madison Harris

Cori Reich, of Centenary College, becomes emotional as she is left standing in the lineup as the winner of the 2013 Cacchione Cup. After finishing 15th last year in the Cacchione Cup, Reich was ecstatic with this accomplishment. Speaking to her after the awards, she "thanked Heather and Michael for pushing her incredibly hard and expecting a lot out of her and her teammates. That's how accomplishments are made."

© Madison Harris

The Cacchione Cup is a wrap! Final standings were: Cori Reich, from Centenary (Champion), Flavia D'Urso, from Skidmore (Reserve Champion) and Blake Roberts from Virginia Intermont (Third).

© Madison Harris

Here's the mounting arena where the riders meet their horses. Afterward they make the walk through the tunnel to the competition arena.

© Madison Harris

April 28, 2013--The 2013 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final came to an exciting yet familiar conclusion Sunday in front of a packed house in the Scandinavum Arena. In the first of two rounds Course Designer Uliano Vezzani tested 23 horse and rider combinations over a demanding track composed of 12 obstacles that did not yield a single clear round. The number of competitors was then whittled to 17 for the 11 obstacle second round with two riders producing flawless efforts. But for a second consecutive year, four rounds would not be enough to determine a champion and again an American and Swiss competitor would jump-off.

The United States' Beezie Madden and Steve Guerdat of Switzerland each ended on a four round total of nine-faults. In a replay of the 2012 Final, Guerdat riding his 2012 Olympic Individual Gold medalist Nino Des Buissonnets, would be forced to jump-off against a U.S. partnership that was known for turning in quick and efficient trips. Last year it was Rich Fellers and Flexible but in 2013 Madden (Cazenovia, NY) and Abigail Wexner's impressive a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Simon were looking to keep the title in the United States.

Madden and Simon, the winners of Thursday's Speed Leg, entered Sunday's first round on a single fault in second place and were poised to jump a clear round until just rolling the pole coming out of the double at five. Their four fault round was good enough to move them to the head of the field going into round two. In the second round, the pair again jumped a beautiful round only to be marred by a single rail down (11A) and stand on a total of nine faults.

"It's been a fantastic week. The first leg was one of those rounds where everything came up. Friday, I was happy with the first round and I was kicking myself for the jump-off." said Madden recapping her performances earlier in the week. "I was disappointed (today) I would have liked to have gone clear in the second round but you have to shake that off and concentrate on the jump-off."

Guerdat was one of two to go clear in Sunday's second round to also lay on nine faults. The 2012 Final runners-up again entered as the first pair in the jump-off and set a lightening fast pace from the very beginning but faulted at the final two fences.
With Madden following him into the jump-off, Guerdat knew that he would need to produce a scorching time if he were to claim top honors.

"I know she's a very fast rider, so I had to try."

Once she saw that Guerdat had two rails down, the double Olympic Team Gold medalist knew all she had to do was leave all the rails in place and be careful to not exceed the time allowed. Madden and Simon returned to the arena for a final time and the hard-trying, careful gelding produced a steady clear to earn the 2013 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final title.

"The cards laid out right for me today. Steve made a great jump up on the leaderboard and the door was left open for me in the jump-off," said Madden.

The veteran rider has claimed many of the most prestigious honors in the sport including Team and Individual medals at the Olympic Games, FEI World Equestrian Games and Pan American Games. However, a Rolex/FEI World Cup Final title had eluded her until today.

"It's been a dream of mine to win the World Cup and I can't believe I've done it," said Madden. "It's a title I've always wanted to win and the closest I had been before was fourth so it was a nice jump to make."

Madden was joined by five other Americans in Sunday's final as McLain Ward, Reed Kessler, Karl Cook, Katie Dinan and Charlie Jayne also completed both rounds.

Three-time Olympian, Ward (Brewster, NY) produced a fifth place finish overall with Grant Road Partner LLC's Super Trooper De Ness on a score of 13 faults. In Sunday's first round the scopey 11-year-old Belgain Warmblood stallion jumped a near flawless round just adding four faults at the sixth oxer. The pair returned in round two with a podium finish on their mind but were one of many to get caught out in the triple combination adding four faults at 4C.

Rounding out the U.S. competitors in the top-ten was 18-year-old Reed Kessler and her 2012 Olympic Games partner the 11-year-old Belgain mare Cylana. Kessler (Lexington, KY) was making her Rolex/FEI World Cup debut this week in Gothenburg and produced an eight fault total in Sunday's first round after dislodging rails at fences 5B and 9B. In round two, she again incurred eight faults; rolling poles at 4C and 5.

Kessler finished in 10th place on 25 faults.

Directly behind Kessler in the 11th place was Karl Cook (Woodside, CA) riding Signe Ostby's 11-year-old Zangerscheide stallion Jonkheer Z to four fault totals in both rounds. They completed their first Final appearance on a score of 28 faults.

Completing the U.S. effort were Dinan and Jayne. Riding Grant Road Partners LLC's 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding Nougat De Vallet, Dinan (Wellington, FL) jumped eight and 12 fault rounds respectively to finish on a score of 38 in 16th place. Like Kessler and Cook, the 19-year-old was also riding in her first Final. Jayne (Elgin, IL) and Alex Jayne and Maura Thatcher's 10-year-old Zangerscheide stallion Chill R Z produced an eight fault trip in round one. But 20 faults in the second round left the 2012 Olympic reserve combination in 17th place on 44 faults.

Kent Farrington (Wellington, FL) also qualified to represent the United States in Sunday's final but chose to save R.C.G. Farm's Uceko for another day.

Chef d'Equipe Robert Ridland was pleased with the results of all the U.S. combinations this week.

"We're very excited; we made this a huge goal. This was a priority; not just winning but really doing better with all our riders in the running and we saw that today," said Ridland. "It was just icing on the cake that Beezie won."

For more information about the 2013 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final visit: http://www.gothenburghorseshow.com/

Follow the 2013 U.S. Jumping Team here.

USEF National Combined Driving Single Pony Championship

Tracey Morgan

© PicsofYou.com

Morgan (Beallsville, Md.) drove her own Fuego 88 flawlessly in the cones phase to post the only double clear in any of the Advanced divisions. The 12-year-old German Riding Pony completed on a three-day total of 130.59.

"I knew I needed to do that (drive double clear), to have a shot. That

double clear is always so important; it was my first of the year," said Morgan. "We kept fighting our way up from third after the dressage all weekend."

Morgan is a former USEF National Combined Driving Pair Pony Championship but this is the first time topping the Single Pony Championship.

"It was fantastic to win the National Championship; it was good friends and good competition."

Earning the Reserve Championship was the leader following the marathon, Paul Maye (Fairfield, Va.) on a final score of 134.71. Maye drove Harmony Sport Horses' Markus just a little too conservatively to incur 8.32 time faults but leave all the balls in place in the cones.

USEF National Combined Driving Pair Pony Championship

Jennifer Matheson

© PicsofYou.com

Matheson (Aiken, S.C.) drove the combination of Bax and Cees to a cones score of 8.90 after incurring six faults for two balls down and 2.90 time faults. The 2010 and 2011

National Champion earned her third title on a score of 145.15.

"It's great to win (the National Championship); this makes three," said Matheson. "It really solidifies to me that I can represent my country."

The Southern Pines CDE proved to be a large step forward for Matheson and her ponies after a less than ideal spring campaign.

"We're improving; I'm still trying to get my confidence back. I've been unsettled but I'm getting more confident."

Finishing in second and earning Reserve Champion honors was Wendy O'Brien (Aiken, SC) on a score of 157.37. The 2012 National Champion incurred four balls down and 4.60 time faults for a cones total of 16.60.

USEF National Combined Driving Pony Team Championship

Lisa Stroud

© PicsofYou.com

Stroud (West Grove, Pa.) drove with great precision to complete the weekend with a cones score of 4.24, one ball down and 1.24 time faults. She earned her record-tying eighth consecutive National Championship on a score of 170.11.

"It's kind of cool," said Stroud of her ninth National Title (2004 and 2006-2013).

Stroud was very pleased with her team on Sunday as they performed so well over the challenging cones course.

"That was a hard cones course. I felt lucky to get out of there alive," said Stroud. "It (the time) was very tight. I'm very pleased with all these ponies."

Heather Schneider (Palm City, Fla.) earned the Reserve Championship on a three-day total of 201.98, after scoring 14.74 on the cones (one ball down and 11.74 time faults).

For results visit: http://drivingnews.us/results/results2013/SouthernPines/

To learn more about the Southern Pines CDE visit: http://southernpinescdedotcom.wordpress.com/

Follow the 2013 U.S. Driving Team here.

Shane Hanchey to get the latest on his great horse Reata's recovery. Find out how the horse is doing at Outlaw Equine.

I understand what she means. It's great to spend time in Wellington, Fla., where the equestrian section is a unique community that now is talked about worldwide. Drive around and you'll be in awe.
As I got ready to say goodbye to Wellington for 2013, I reflected, as I often do, on  its uniqueness. When I visited Canadian dressage star Ashley Holzer (more about her later) Saturday morning, the scene in her neighborhood five minutes from the showgrounds was pure bliss. The sun sparkled, the palms swayed slightly and people were riding everywhere in what looked like horse heaven.

This morning I was in Grand Prix Village, next to the showgrounds, and saw beautiful stable after beautiful stable (not to mention the mansions that go with them). The grounds seem always to be garlanded by colorful flowers making a Florida statement, and ringed by impressive hedges that offer privacy. And I'll admit to some sadness as I watched the big tractor-trailers loaded with fabulous horseflesh pulling out to head north.

The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the focal point of equestrian existence for many here, is unique, with acres of arenas. There's always a festive air for "Saturday Night Lights," the big grands prix that draw thousands of spectators. More than an hour before last night's $500,000 FTI Consulting 5-Star Finale Grand Prix, the stands were packed. A live band entertained and the mood was anticipation as the climax of the jumper competition drew near.

To decorate the ring, giant date palms were added (my progress to the parking lot on Friday was held up as a truck laden with the huge trees attempted to maneuver the narrow path leading to the arena).

Brazil’s Alvaro de Mirando won the $500,000 FTI Consulting 5-Star Grand Prix on AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

There was a stellar 40-horse field for the finale, but halfway through the class, there was only one clear round, Athina Onassis de Miranda of Greece on Camille Z.

Last year's winner, Colombia's Daniel Bluman, had  a foot in the water with Sancha LS. Margie Engle was going well down the last line aboard Royce as the crowd cheered her on, then dropped a rail at the final fence as a heartfelt groan echoed from thousands of fans around the arena.

Had course designer Alan Wade made the route too tough? Nope, he's a genius. Nine more clear trips joined Athina's in the second half of the class, setting the stage for one of the most thrilling jump-offs of the season.

Kent Farrington had the fastest time of the tiebreaker on Blue Angel, 43.52 seconds, but it was only good enough for fourth, as the rails clattered down from the last fence.

"My horse was trying her guts out the whole way around," said Kent, who had won a class earlier this month with the mare.

"You have a group of riders like this competing for $500,000 and everybody's going to put it all on the line," he explained.

"That's my style as well, and if I win, I'm going to go all out and if I don't win, it's not going to be from lack of trying.

"We pulled out all the stops. I took a big risk at the last fence doing nine strides, which is sort of a big stretch for that small a horse. I knew if I did one more, I'd be second or third anyway, so I'll take the risk and if I have one down, I'll be fourth, but if she happens to leave it up, then maybe it's our day."

Don't feel to sorry for Kent, though. After the class, he was presented with a blown-up version of the check for $50,000 that he will get for winning the FTI Rider Challenge, based on his results during the circuit.

Athina's husband, Alvaro (Doda) de Miranda, a Brazilian Olympian, went after Kent and knew what he had to do with AD Rahmannshof's Bogeno. His wife had gone clear in a leisurely 54.46 seconds, but she was smart not to push it--she wound up third.

Ben Maher rode through pain to finish second in the $500,000 grand prix on Cella.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Doda clinched the win in 43.96 seconds with a powerful round. But the bravest effort belonged to Great Britain's Ben Maher, who finished second on Cella. Ben was diagnosed with several fractures of his vertebrae following a fall last week in the warm-up area, and he took the difficult decision of riding in pain, all braced and wrapped up. His effort in 44.88 came before Kent and Doda went, so if he had gone later, maybe he could have found a slightly faster route.

Doda was a gracious winner, and did not neglect to give his wife kudos, noting she devotes nearly her entire life to her horses. I thought his mount was amazing, though I was having a lot of trouble typing his name, so we talked about this big bay.

Listen: Alvaro de Miranda

It may not surprise you to hear that George Morris has been working with Doda and his wife. Oh no, George said he wasn't really working with them, he was "a sounding board."

Here's how the sounding board sounded, "Whoa, whoa; leg, leg, gallop!" all delivered in the inimitable Morris vocal style.

Both Doda and his wife are very grateful for his help, and they have some powerhouse support as well from Rodrigo Pessoa and his father, Nelson. The Brazilians have medaled at the Olympics before, and I would bet they'll be likely to do it again in Rio three years from now. Doda noted that the Brazilian Olympic Committee has earmarked show jumping as one of the country's few chances for a medal on its home turf.

Jessica Springsteen put in an impressive performance on Vindicat W to win the $33,000 1.5 meter Suncast Classic.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

In the afternoon's 1.5 meter Suncast Classic, Jessica Springsteen showed she has really gotten together with Vindicat W, the horse who clinched the team gold medal for the Brits at the London Olympics. She has gained rapport with the horse in the half-year or so that she has owned him, and in the Suncast took the measure of such stars as her trainer, Laura Kraut, and McLain Ward during the12-horse jump-off. The combination of Jessie and Vinnie is particularly impressive on the turns.

I had thought, however, that she might be in the $500,000 class instead of the Suncast, but she explained why she wasn't entered, and then talked a little about her winning trip.

Listen: Jessica Springsteen

The WEF ended today with the handy round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. It was held on the grass a half-mile from PBIEC, at the Global Dressage Festival grounds. Not many people showed up to watch; it was, after all, Easter, but those who did were treated to a special experience, as horses jumped many natural obstacles, including a little bank.They ascended a hill to trot over birch rails at the top, and finished with a flourish over a jump that used giant champagne bottles to demarcate the more difficult option from the lower parts of the fence. Riders get bonus points for trying the higher options and for galloping and making "handy" tight turns to show off their mounts.

Jen Alfano won the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on the reliable Miss Lucy.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

They did a classic round at PBIEC yesterday, with the top four all within two points. Jen Alfano, known as a derby specialist with Jersey Boy, winner of the 2012 hunter derby finals in Kentucky, was up on the calm redhead Miss Lucy.

"She's so NOT a chestnut mare," said Jen, and anyone who has had a temperamental female horse of that color knows what she means. Miss Lucy stood fourth on 186 points going into today's round, four points ahead of the amazing Inclusive, ridden by Tori Colvin, who was penalized for a light rub yesterday.

Tori's plan for today?

"I was just going to go as handy as I can and jump the big ones and if I have a rail, I have a rail, because I kind of had to move up, not down," the talented teen said.

Her plan worked. The three at the top after the first round, Brunello (Elizabeth Boyd), Skyfall (Louise Serio) and Taken (Kelly Farmer), all dropped today, to fifth, 12th and 11th respectively.

Jen, as she so often does, nailed it with Lucy to win on a total score for both rounds of 384.5, while Inclusive was reserve champion with 382. Former national equitation champion Kristy McCormack moved up from seventh to third on Temptation with a score of 380.

If you've never come early to a hunter derby, you might be amazed to see grooms, riders and trainers leading their horses around, not only looking at the jumps and sniffing them, but in the case of straw bales and greenery, sometimes trying to nibble them.

The idea is to give them an introduction to the course. While veteran Louise Serio said she thinks sometimes it's more for the riders' benefit than that of the horses, she noted that the horses had only competed at PBIEC this season and had never been over to the other showgrounds.

When you think of where the idea of hunters came from ( I know, I know, they bear no real relation to horses who follow the hounds), the "course walk" procedure seems to be a little weird. Jen Alfano and I discussed it.

Listen: Jen Alfano

It's not all fun and games at the WEF. There are some very real issues facing the show horse industry. Last week, the U.S. Equestrian Federation held the first of its Town Hall meetings at the showgrounds. The idea is to educate people in the sport on equine welfare and "Meeting the Needs of the Performance Horse in a Changing Environment," and get some feedback as well.

Hunters particularly have been singled out on drugs and medications issues, but the USEF says the situation should be addressed across all breeds and disciplines. Six other such meetings will be held across the country through the summer, so if there's one in your area, you might find it interesting to attend.

I asked USEF President Chrystine Tauber what she thought about the first meeting and the response from owners, trainers, riders and others in the industry.

Listen: Chrystine Tauber

By the way, if you've given something to your horse to make it go like a zombie, beware. Officials will be on the lookout for that and those animals could be candidates for a drug screening, as well as being marked down in their class, Chrystine told me.

Oh, real quick, back to Ashley Holzer. She had been without a grand prix horse when owner P.J. Rizvi started riding Ashley's Olympic mount, Breaking Dawn. But then GQ, a Small Tour horse, owned by P.J., came back into the picture.

He had suffered a bone infection two years ago, and it was so bad that when the vet said he would never be sound, Ashley warned P.J. she should be prepared to put him down. P.J. wouldn't hear of it.

"No expense was too much for him to become a lawn ornament," said Ashley.

The one day, an incredulous Ashley got a call from P.J. saying GQ was sound. P.J. showed him here last week and won, smiling all the way, but left the ring bawling with emotion at the enormity of the moment.

So P.J. is focusing on G.Q. and Ashley is back riding Breaking Dawn, though she noted P.J. at some point will take over on him again.

But until then, could she possibly ride him in next

year's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games?

"I'm not saying anymore," said Ashley, who is out of the prediction business and playing it day by day.

I thought that was a good story; the moral: Never give up on someone you love.

I'll be putting up more photos a little later at facebook.com/equisearch and facebook.com/practicalhorseman, so do take a look.

And next Sunday morning I'll have another postcard for you, this one on the always memorable Gene Mische American Invitational in Tampa.

Until then,

Louis (Paddy) Neilson is shown here on Haffaday jumping the fabled 13th fence in the 1971 Maryland Hunt Cup. Paddy knows as much about riding over obstacles at a high rate of speed as any man alive. When he tells you “speed magnifies mistakes,” he means that the increased velocity of racing over fixed obstacles will expose even the slightest ­weakness in your position. Position always—always—starts with the lower leg because the ­stirrups are the ground for the rider. If you look closely at this photo, you can see that Paddy has a classic leg position: His stirrup leather is vertical, his heels are down and his toes are turned out to a natural angle. The solidity of his lower leg allows him to have a soft touch on his reins. I have never seen a rider with good hands who did not have a secure lower-leg ­position. This is true regardless of the jumping discipline—timber racing, cross-country ­eventing or hunters and jumpers in an arena. I teach people to have a more erect body position over fences than you see here, and by that measurement, Paddy has brought his upper body too close to Haffaday’s neck. ­However, as your speed increases, your hip angle must close if you are to stay with your horse. ­Considering that Paddy and Haffaday are going between 20 and 30 miles an hour (800 ­meters a minute), Paddy looks about right to me. If eventers are to improve in all three of their disciplines, they must learn from riders who specialize in that discipline, be it dressage, show jumping or timber racing. Eventers who ­focus entirely on the two technical disciplines are missing a third of their education. As an aside, if you look at the photo of Bill Steinkraus in the online continuation of my March 2013 column and ­compare it with this photo, you will be struck by the similarities of position between two ­masters of their art.

© Douglas Lees

In February and March, I reviewed the correct positions for dressage and show jumping, respectively. This month we are going to study the basics of your cross-country position.

The first thing people notice about the cross-country phase of eventing is that speed is a factor, one that becomes increasingly important as you progress from Novice to Advanced. One reason is “speed magnifies mistakes.” That is a quote by Louis (Paddy) Neilson, one of our greatest timber-race jockeys. Paddy knows something about riding at speed over fixed fences, having won the Maryland Hunt Cup three times between 1968 and 1989. The Hunt Cup features fences constructed of wooden boards and posts and rails that can reach nearly 5-feet tall.

Paddy’s statement is a chilling reminder that the basics of your cross-country position must be as flawless as possible if you are to avoid accident and injury, because the speed of this phase will magnify your every error.

Higher Level, Shorter Stirrups
The correct cross-country position at the lower levels (Pre-Novice through Training) is the same as the show-jumping position: You should adjust your stirrup leathers until you have a 90-degree angle behind your knee when you are seated. If you’re riding at these levels, you are accustomed to this length due to your work in the show-jumping arena. At these levels, the required cross-country speed is not fast enough and the variation in the terrain is not dramatic enough to require you to change your position.

You must, however, change your position as the requirements of the levels change. Beginning at Preliminary level, your speed and the size of the drop fences increase and the variation in the terrain becomes much more challenging.

As your speed increases, you need to shorten your stirrup leathers and close your hip angle. This allows you to stay balanced and connected with your horse’s motion. In general, I suggest you shorten your stirrup leathers 1 inch for each star level. This means at the Preliminary or one-star level, you should ride cross country 1 inch shorter than your show-jumping length, for Intermediate, ride 2 inches shorter, and so on.

Some trainers have recently begun suggesting we return to a position that was widely used in the 18th century, standing straight-legged in the saddle with long stirrups. Fortunately we have scientific research to confirm that this is not the most effective galloping position for your horse—hence, it is not correct. I discuss this research in “The Science of Galloping.”

Regardless of length, your stirrup leather should form a vertical line at all times: uphill, downhill and on the level. The stirrup leather can support your weight only when it is vertical. Many riders try to ride shorter in a saddle not ­designed for shorter stirrups, with the ­result that their leg gets pushed back when landing over fences. Riders in this unstable scenario typically let their stirrups back out to show-jumping length to compensate, even if the speed for their level requires them to ride shorter. (For more on the interaction of saddle design and rider position, click here.)

If you are going to ride at speed cross-country, you owe it to your horse to be able to ride in a balanced and harmonious fashion—and the shorter the stirrup length you ride with, the fitter you must be to be able to sit quietly at speeds up to 20 miles an hour. We ask our horses to do difficult things; we should not make their task more difficult by interfering with their natural movements.

You will be able to partly improve your fitness while you practice this position. During both your trot warm-up sets and your conditioning canters, shorten your stirrups at least one hole from the length you use for your competitive level. Do your warm-up trot sets in a two-point rather than posting. If you listen carefully, you can hear me laughing … most of us cannot trot in a two-point for three five-minute sets, much less stay there for our conditioning canter sets. Even though you will probably fail, stick with it. Make a project of your fitness while you condition your horse. When you gallop through the finish line with a clean and fast round, feeling as if you and your horse could both go back through the start line and do the same course again, then your efforts will have been worth it. Working with short stirrups is hard, but once you return your stirrup leathers to your competitive length, your position will become second nature for you.

In my February column, I talked about the beneficial effect of riding without stirrups. Riding without your dressage stirrups makes your position more independent; when you regain your stirrups they will feel shorter, even though you have not changed the length of your leathers. In the same way, after you practice galloping with very short stirrup leathers and then let them down to your competitive level, you will feel as if you are riding longer than you actually are, which will make you more confident and secure in your cross-country position.

Swap Sensitivity for Security
The speed of cross country requires a few more adjustments. You may recall that for show jumping, I want you to place the ball of your foot on the tread of the stirrup, with your little toe against the outside branch. Once you start galloping at increased speeds, however, move your foot a little deeper into the stirrup and place the ball of your foot against the inside branch. This foot position is not as supple and sensitive as the show-jumping position, but it is more secure. The shorter your stirrups, the more dramatic the penalty for losing them—­remember, speed magnifies mistakes.

Bruce Davidson is famous for his Olympic and World Championship gold-medal-winning ­exploits as an eventer. What we should think about is that his results are based on a ­thorough and complete understanding of each of the three disciplines that comprise eventing: dressage, show jumping and cross-country. Shown here on Appolinax over the 13th fence in the 1983 Maryland Hunt Cup, Bruce looks as if he is out for a Sunday canter. His confidence is based on his secure lower-leg ­position. His stirrup leather is just behind the vertical, which means that Bruce “saw a long one” in the approach and closed his legs to make sure Appolinax stood off. His slightly ­defensive upper body confirms my suspicions. At this speed, the slightest hiccup can ­catapult you out of the saddle. Bruce is making sure that when his horse lands, he will be in a ­secure balance. Once eventers become comfortable timber racing, the speed of upper-level ­eventing feels slow by comparison.

© Douglas Lees

When you are competing in rain and mud or have just been through a deep water jump, the tread of your stirrups and the soles of your boots may become slick. In these cases, I encourage you to place your foot “home” in the stirrup—your foot is so far into the stirrup that the heel of your boot is against the tread. There are situations where it is wise to sacrifice sensitivity for security.
Remember to keep your reins shorter when you will be galloping. If you ­adjusted your reins when you were seated, you will find them too long when you rise to your two-point position because your upper body will be closer to your horse’s neck.

Stillness at Speed
Now that you have made all these adjustments, it is time to discuss your actual galloping position. Cross-country courses typically have 20 to 30 jumping efforts. That may sound like a lot, but it will take you several hundred galloping strides to complete the course. My point is that you will spend a great deal more time galloping than you do jumping. Therefore, now that you have a saddle suitable for cross-country work and have gotten yourself as fit as your horse, it is time to talk about the position that is safest and most effective for galloping cross-country.

The terminology varies, but to be in the most efficient galloping position, you are in what I call a “two-point,” meaning your weight is carried in your knees and ankles and you are suspended above your horse’s back.

I want you to keep your seat close to the saddle while you gallop, without sitting down or—even worse—“posting” at the canter/gallop. Your back should form approximately a 45-degree angle to the ground, and your elbows should be well in front of your hip bones. When you practice your dressage and show-jumping positions, you can often look at yourself in the arena mirror to check on your position. While this is not possible outdoors, all of us can have a friend take photos or a short video with a smartphone.

Make sure you absorb your horse’s motion in your knees and ankles, not in your hip joints. Have the feeling that you are standing on a trampoline, allowing the trampoline mat to push your knees up into your hips and back down. Watch your shadow as you are conditioning your horse; does the distance between your seat bones and your saddle remain constant, or is your upper body moving back and forth? If you can see this extraneous motion, your horse can feel it and will be unbalanced by it.

That we should be quiet in the saddle at the canter and gallop is easy to understand but difficult to put into practice. You will have to study videos of yourself, watch other riders who have discovered how to gallop in balance and persevere until you find the answer. Success in modern eventing requires technical perfection in all three phases. It is not enough to study the subtleties of dressage collection or develop accuracy in your approach to show-jumping obstacles. You need to study every aspect of your cross-country riding—because, after all, speed magnifies mistakes.

My favorite competition is Spruce Meadows. I have never shown there but it is my dream to one day. I have gone to watch the "Masters" twice now and it is always amazing to be there. The atmosphere at Spruce is fun, friendly and competitive. For the "Masters" riders from all over the world go and it is always fantastic to see them compete in the "BMO Nations Cup" and "CN International." For those showing, the grounds are amazing and for those just watching, there is always stuff to so such as shopping in the "Equiplex." Spruce Meadows cannot be beat!
Kelly Donaldson, North Vancouver

Every year I find myself looking forward to the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association's (IHSA) National Competition. As a college student, riding as a freshman at IHSA Nationals for Delaware Valley College was the most thrilling, intimidating, challenging, exciting, and now the most memorable horse show experience of my life. I attended all four Nationals that occurred while I was in college at venues such as the Coliseum at Middle Tennessee State University, The Big E Complex in Massachusetts, and the Harrisburg Show Grounds either as a rider or volunteer. Since then I have only missed one National Competition and have continued to attend with colleges I have coached for. I love every moment of it. Spending quality time with my teammates and now riders on my team are some of the best memories I carry with me, and many of the stories we continue to tell year after year become legendary. Seeing all of the wonderful horses that colleges are able to loan to the competition, reuniting with friends (old and new), and watching the students ride hard for their teams is the highlight of my year. Riding in the IHSA brought so much to my life as a student and seeing other riders and teams that seem to feel the same way is thrilling to me. We are looking forward to bringing the nation to our backyard again this year; see you at Harrisburg in May!
Emily C Miller, Pennsylvania

In the nearly 50 years that I have been riding I have participated in many different types of competition, from lead-line equitation and gymkhanas to Pony Club rallies and USEA recognized horse trials. My favorite to prepare for and compete in was the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition at the Equine Affaire in Springfield, MA in November, 2011. I decided to send an entry video in on a whim, and didn't start to do any serious preparation until early September when I got the acceptance letter. I went onto YouTube to look at videos of previous competitions and get an idea of what we might be faced with. I have had Gabriel, my 10-year-old Belgian/ Thoroughbred cross, since he was a baby and we do a lot together: eventing at Novice level, fox hunting, trail riding and pleasure driving, but never anything like this. With props from the Halloween supplies at Walmart, round pen panels and other stuff I had around the barn I built an obstacle course behind the barn and practiced every chance I had. I even had friends come over with their kids to yell and cheer to prepare Gabe for the audience. Preparing for this brought our partnership to a whole new level. Gabe was great at the competition; we tied for 11th place out of 30 entries, just missing being in the top 10 for the final round. I definitely want to try it again. (My favorite competition to attend is Rolex Kentucky. I've been twice and loved it!)
Rebecca Hunter, via email

My favorite competition to ride in is one that helps to build the confidence of the horse I work with. "George' is an 18.2 hand Thoroughbred gelding whose naturally spooky nature has been tested by a stable accident that resulted in him losing an eye. His owners and I have chosen local shows where smaller class sizes are less likely to over stress him with a ring full of strange horses. It challenges him to be in a different place and still focus on me and what I am asking of him. George gets very proud of himself when he knows he has done well. It doesn't always mean a blue ribbon; just the fact that he did his best in a class is a win for me. He has learned to trust me and if I don't get overwhelmed by an unfamiliar or scary situation, he is more at easy with whatever is going on around him. As a horse person all my life, I am always amazed at the ability of horses to read our moods and emotions. It helps me to focus as well by knowing that how I react effects him and his ability to handle things like another horse cantering on his blind side. George and I have come a long way together and we were awarded champion of our division at our last show.
Lynn Motschmann, New York

The Whidbey Island Pony Club Horse Trials on Whidbey Island, Washington. Been watching it since ‘88, groomed at, and rode in it just a couple of times…fingers crossed I ride this year.
Chris Cole, Washington

The Breeder’s Cup World Championship Horse Races! Where else could you go to see horses of all ages and specialties from all over the world compete in one place over a two-day period? Its fun, affordable and filled with stars of the sport!
Jonie Fanning Reeves, via email

Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event! It’s an amazing atmosphere and world-class facility. I love how they have a spectator’s course walk directed by one of the competitors. It really shows how down to earth the rider’s are, despite their fame and success in the horse world. Being from California it’s the only vacation I can afford for the year but it’s well worth it!
Sarah O’Dea, California

The Metamora Foxhunt’s Hunter Trials at the end of September or the beginning of October. There are varying levels for all riders as well as tailgating for spectators. The hunt has been holding the trials for longer then I have been alive, and I have missed precisely two since I was 6 (mind you that’s 20-odd years) it is the best show around, and all proceeds go to feeding the hounds, I take my greenies before they compete in the hunter ring. (After all, if they can navigate around a hilly trial course, a ring ride is a breeze!)
Kira Wolf, via email

Read more answers to this question in the April 2013 issue of Practical Horseman magazine.

March 18, 2013--With a first-place prize of $350,000 on the line, Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum rose to the occasion, piloting Bella Donna to a paycheck she will not soon forget as winner of the first-ever AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach. The best of only two clear rounds, Michaels-Beerbaum and the 10-year-old mare that she co-owns with EOS Sport capitalized on a successful season at HITS Desert Horse Park with the sweetest win of them all.

“California is my home and it was great to come here and ride for this kind of prize,” said Michaels-Beerbaum, who was named the Platinum Performance Leading Rider at the conclusion of the HITS Desert Circuit earlier today. “Money like this is more often given away in Europe and it is bringing the American standard to a whole new level. It’s a tremendous step and the future of the sport is becoming more and more exciting in this country.”

And the money, it seems, is attracting riders from all corners of the world to American soil for top-notch competition. With three countries represented in the top three, nine different nations made it into the top-twenty money this afternoon.

There were 40 competitors vying for a

slice of the million dollar pie. After 32 had completed the first-round course without a single clear, it appeared that no one would crack the code that was Olympic gold medalist Conrad Homfeld’s track and a jump-off of four-faulters became a real possibility.

Spectators looked on in anticipation as John Pearce of Bermuda Dunes, California rode in on Chianto, owned by Forest View Farm Allison Moore, and cracked the code to a triumphant clear round.

Five trips later, Duncan McFarlane of San Ramon, California was clear riding for his native New Zealand. Unfortunately, a single time fault barred him and Simone Coxe’s Mr. Whoopy from the jump-off   landing him in third overall. With only three more challenges to Pearce, Michaels-Beerbaum entered on her bay mare and guaranteed a two-horse test with a flawless effort over Homfeld’s 14-obstacle track, which featured 17 jumping efforts at heights up to 1.60m.

In the jump-off, Pearce was clear until a slight rub at the second-to-last fence led a rail down for four faults. “I knew Meredith was behind me, so I was trying to use as much speed as I could over obstacles this size while still being careful,” said Pearce. All Michaels-Beerbaum and Bella Donna had to do was go clear, and go clear she did. Despite picking up three time faults, victory was hers. Pearce posted a time of 53.70 seconds, while Michaels-Beerbaum rode in 56.70 seconds with a 54-second time allowed.

“The course was brilliant and a very good test for $1 million,” said Michaels-Beerbaum. “There weren’t any bad pictures out there today – some rails came down, but overall it was very good competition.”

In fourth, Karl Cook of Woodside, California was clear with three time faults in the first round aboard Signe Ostby’s Jonkheer Z. Capping the top five was the fastest of the four-fault rounds – Peter Wylde of Lake Worth, Florida and The Wannahave Group’s Sandor De La Pomme.

Despite the superb Desert Circuit performances of her other mounts, Malou and Unbelievable 5, Michaels-Beerbaum stuck to her plan and had her 2012 Olympic mount, Bella Donna, accompany her into the ring as her AIG Thermal Million ride. “I have the most experience with Bella and when I walked the course this morning I was 100% positive that I made the right decision,” she said. “I trained Bella Donna with her last owner and said that if she ever wanted to sell the horse I wanted to be the first in her mind and I was. It took me a long time to get her ridable, but she qualified for the World Cup Final as a nine-year old and that just shows how good she is.”

Pearce piloted a relatively older, yet wildly successful, horse to second-place honors, riding the 17-year-old Chianto. “I can’t even count how many grand prix he has won for me and I am just so proud of how far he has come,” he said. Pearce and Chianto are regular million-dollar competitors and were third in the first Pfizer Million in Saugerties, New York in 2010.

While the sizable paychecks are nice, Duncan McFarlane admits that high-stakes classes are keeping his sport alive. “It really gives the owners a real desire to invest in these horses and keep the business thriving,” he said. McFarlane was second in the 2011 Pfizer Million in Saugerties and admits that his next goal is to head east again in September for the fourth-annual event, now under the title Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix. Zoetis was formerly known as Pfizer Animal Health.

AIG, title sponsor of the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix was represented by Vice President David Hubbard, who is based in Los Angeles and made a day of it at HITS Thermal. “This was such a thrilling event – it’s the best show I’ve seen,” he said. “The crowd was electric and it was all because these riders were so impressive.”

Hubbard gave the unofficial nod after the class that AIG is interested in returning to be a part of the million-dollar event next year. “Our goal is to provide safety and security to this lifestyle with our products and services, and this event is a great opportunity to accomplish that.”

HITS President and CEO Tom Struzzieri acknowledged the pivotal role that AIG played in making today’s event a success. “AIG embraced this class from the beginning and recognized how impactful it is in the sport and we are very excited to continue this relationship,” he said. “Coupled with great sponsors, I could not have been happier with the results. While we were very happy to welcome some East Coast competitors, it’s nice to see people who have worked hard showing here all season go home with the big checks.”

The AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix put the final exclamation point on the 2013 HITS Desert Circuit and as the sea of spectators headed home and prize money checks went to the bank, thoughts turned ahead to the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson on September 8th, where riders will again converge in Saugerties, New York to rewrite show jumping history.

But...do they actually work? Do they enable horse people to find real love-with a soulmate who shares their enthusiasm for country living and all things equine?

To find out, we decided to talk to the folks at EquestrianSingles.com, the most recognized dating service for horse people worldwide. Founded in 2001, the Texas-based Web site boasts over 10,000 marriages and success stories around the globe, according to founder Marcia Zwilling. She helped us locate five couples willing to tell us how they went about finding their horsey sig-o through cyber dating.

Here are their stories.

Connie and Han courted and wed on horseback; they and son Wyatt, now 2 years old, live on their Colorado guest ranch, the Rusty Spurr.

Photo courtesy of Connie Smith

Connie and Han: Best First Date Ever
Connie Schuh of Fort Collins, Colorado, had just lost her childhood horse to old age when she decided to try online dating. She joined EquestrianSingles.com in January of 2004—but with some trepidation.

“I was nervous about putting myself out there for strangers to see,” she explains. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to get to know someone well enough via e-mails to feel comfortable meeting him in person.”

A month later, she connected with A. J. “Han” Smith, owner and general manager of the Rusty Spurr guest ranch in Kremming, Colorado. The two corresponded by e-mail for three weeks before speaking on the phone.

“Han didn’t brag or boast about his achievements,” she recalls, noting that e-mail turned out to be a good way to get acquainted, after all. “Instead he’d write about how amazing it was to watch the moon rise over his cabin, or the wonderful smell of sage when he galloped his horse through it. All that evoked a feeling and image that can’t be portrayed in a regular conversation.”

When they did finally connect by phone, they talked for hours, “as if we’d been friends for a long time,” says Connie. They also planned a day to meet in person a week later.

“I’m cautious, so for our first meeting I had my sister in tow, and we all went skiing. A short time later, we had our first real date—he took me horseback riding through the snow all around his ranch.

“It was a gorgeous, sunny Colorado day in February, and the horses were perfect,” she continues. “Han packed us a saddlebag lunch and even remembered what I liked to drink. We never ran out of things to talk about. I believe it was the best first date ever because we’d had a chance to get to know each other so well through all those prior e-mails.”

Connie says she knew things were serious several months later, on another ride.

“He took me out along a beautiful stretch of the Blue River. We stopped for a break and got off the horses, and he held me in his arms. The look in his eyes when he told me he was falling in love with me was when I knew he was ‘the one.’”

They were married in 2008 on horseback, at the ranch. “We gave each guest the option of a trail ride through the ranch with one of our wranglers at some point over the weekend. People still talk about that!”

Today, the couple manages the guest ranch together, providing cattle drives and trail rides through the Rocky Mountains with a string of mostly Quarter Horses, which are treated “like family.”

And speaking of family, the couple’s son, Wyatt, is now 2 years old. (You can visit the Smiths’ ranch online at rustyspurr.com.)

Christy and David went to see her horse and would up driving to the coast; a year later, they wed.

Photo of Christy Hartman DeCourcey

Christy and David: Skip the Horse, Take the Girl
A client prodded real estate broker Christy Hartman of Gresham, Oregon, to join EquestrianSingles.com in 2005. She’d earlier tried Match.com without much success, but over the next few years, she met many interesting people on the equestrian site, some whom she dated and some who were just friends.

Then, in 2010, the need to sell her Quarter Horse gelding Commando (because of the economy) prompted her to put out the word through the Web site. This eventually led to contact with David DeCourcey, a real estate title examiner from Bend, Oregon, who was also a member of the site. Christy sent him photos of her horse, and the two began corresponding by e-mail and phone.

“On the phone he was warm, witty, and smart,” Christy recalls. “He was comfortable talking about anything from politics to raising kids.” Eventually David said he wanted to come see Commando—and his owner—in person.

“I told him I prefer a cowboy, not some city-slicker type,” Christy recalls with a laugh. “The day he came, he showed up at my door early, and my hair was still in curlers. I told him I wasn’t ready, so he went out for breakfast. When he returned, he was adorable—all dressed up in Western clothes and a cowboy hat and with two-dozen red roses in his hand. The chemistry was there, and it really was love at first sight.”

They went to see the horse, and wound up driving to the Oregon Coast, “singing crazy songs we both knew by heart, eating great food—the day seemed to last forever and it was wonderful,” she says.

The pair wed a year later. They now live on a 40-acre farm outside of Bend, with five horses they use for trail riding, sorting, and cowboy mounted shooting. One of the horses, by the way, is Commando—Christy wound up keeping him.

“Friends tease David that he should’ve just bought the horse—and saved himself a lot of money,” says Christy. “He always laughs and says he’s very happy with how it all turned out.”

A scene from the film Tombstone (1993) recreates a visit to this same ranch by Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) and his “immortals.” Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) lays suffering from tuberculosis in an interior bedroom as Earp departs, taking one last look at his best friend from the doorway leading out to a porch. The actual house, I now see, has no porch. Otherwise, it’s exactly the same spread where the historic Doc rolled out of bed in 1882, coughing, to saddle up and ride. The imposing Charlton Heston aptly plays ranch owner Henry Hooker, who came from a line of Englishmen known for their courage and fierce belief in liberty. According to one descendent, the first Hooker immigrated to Connecticut in 1633 and was said to have “carried a gun in one hand and a Bible in the other; preaching on Sundays and fighting Indians on weekdays.” That’s basically what it took to build up Arizona’s first

permanent ranch.

Henry Hooker (1828–1907) was well known for his hospitality, and today, I enjoy my own dose of “Hooker hospitality” when the man’s great-great-great- grandson, Jesse Hooker Davis, greets me with a handshake in the driveway. Like most cowboys, he dislikes the limelight. His private ranch is not open to the public, but he graciously agreed to my visit thanks to an introduction by his friend Scott Baxter. Davis and Baxter collaborated on Baxter’s book about old Arizona ranching families, 100 Years, 100 Ranchers (Prisma Graphic Corp., 2012), and Davis appreciated my interest in his ranch’s history and ongoing legacy.

Though he spent his youth visiting the ranch of his ancestors, Davis grew up in San Diego. Now 39 years old, the burly former running back for Cornell University moved back here permanently in 2003. He had been working in the hotel/restaurant industry and was looking forward to the day he’d own a string of bungalows on a Mexican beach, but a visit to his ailing grandmother, Jacqueline “Rinki” Hooker, changed everything. The ranch was ailing, too, since she was basically living in Tucson. The livestock had been in the care of a foreman for years, and the 4,000-plus-square-foot hacienda, corrals, bunkhouses, carriage house, and barns on the 160-acre original homestead had sat mostly unoccupied.

Jesse Hooker Davis (foreground) branding a calf, Sierra Bonita Ranch.

“She was just trying to hold onto the ranch,” says Davis, who was inspired to take charge. As soon as we step toward the house, I begin to understand how the Sierra Bonita survived the terror waged by Apaches—it’s literally a fortress. Davis’ tour of the hacienda ends with a visit to the high-ceilinged room where Doc Holliday once lay. The makers of Tombstone made replicas of the exact adobe brick walls, headboard, and dresser when they filmed on location near Tucson. I can almost see the real Doc languishing, pale and sweaty, in this very bed, as he did in real life and vividly on screen.

“Can you sense the spirits of all who have been here?” I whisper to Davis. “I think they watch over me,” he nods. “Or, at least I ask them to watch over me. Other people have sensed them, too, but they don’t like it quite as much as I do.”

Davis raises American Quarter horses on the 45,000-acre Sierra Bonita and has kept Henry Hooker’s original Hereford cattle, whose bloodlines date back a century. He runs a commercial cow-calf operation and works horseback with the help of three hired men. Davis’ cows begin calving in November, and each season’s rainfall and market fluctuations dictate how many, and when, he sells. “I’m the last of the Mohicans,” says the single Davis about losing his grandmother and father a few years ago.

“It’s my turn to take care of the ranch.” It’s been a steep learning curve, but nine years after settling in, he’s as much a part of the place as the once majestic adobe brick corral. The ranch has been listed as a national historic landmark since 1964, and isn’t going anywhere thanks to Davis, who hopes to pass on the legend of the Sierra Bonita to a seventh generation.