By Ben Baugh
Hoppy's moving on up. The off the track Thoroughbred gelding, whose incredible sojourn has seen him overcome great odds including recovering from a broken shoulder, has qualified for the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships at novice level, Sept. 6-9 at Chattahoochee Hills in Fairburn, Ga.
The six-year-old Thoroughbred gelding competes as Full Gallop's Ourland, and eventer Sarah Davis who rides Hoppy will be taking him training level at Full Gallop Farm's August horse trials.
"He's as fit as a fiddle," said Davis. "He's jumping great. He's done five events this year."
However, it's the gelding's attitude and huge heart that has endeared him to those who've been privileged enough to be around him, said Davis.
"I think that's the reason that Thoroughbreds excel so much in the eventing world because they're all heart," said Davis. "We breed that bravery, courage and extreme athleticism into them to be racehorses. The Thoroughbreds excel in eventing. Hoppy is the epitome of it all."
The son of Mojave Moon is not quick to back down from a challenge, and is very willing, said Davis. It's that fierce determination, and intrepid spirit that has strengthend the bond between horse and rider.
"He's just a machine," said Davis, who said that Hoppy's most admirable trait is that he's willing to do anything. "Hoppy's a cross country horse. He does the dressage because we ask him. He does the stadium jumping because we ask him. He does the cross country because that's who he is."
As a professional, Davis rides a lot of horses, and had she not known Hoppy sustained a broken shoulder, she wouldn't be able to tell after riding him.
"He doesn't feel any different jumping wise, or any different in any other way he goes," said Davis. "He does his job and does it well. He jumps better than most of the horses we have here."
The horse's fitness level continues to improve, and Hoppy has overcome a tremendous amount of adversity including compensation issues that saw him initially favor his injured leg over the others, but that's no longer a problem, said Davis. The well-muscled horse has the conformation, movement and desire you would want in an eventing horse. Hoppy's business like demeanor makes him easy to handle on the ground.
"It was about balancing it out, getting him fit and supple, and training him like you would any athlete," said Davis. "He went into it with all four feet first."![]()
Hoppy's moving on up. The off the track Thoroughbred gelding, whose incredible sojourn has seen him overcome great odds including recovering from a broken shoulder, has qualified for the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships at novice level, Sept. 6-9 at Chattahoochee Hills in Fairburn, Ga.
The six-year-old Thoroughbred gelding competes as Full Gallop's Ourland, and eventer Sarah Davis who rides Hoppy will be taking him training level at Full Gallop Farm's August horse trials.
"He's as fit as a fiddle," said Davis. "He's jumping great. He's done five events this year."
However, it's the gelding's attitude and huge heart that has endeared him to those who've been privileged enough to be around him, said Davis.
"I think that's the reason that Thoroughbreds excel so much in the eventing world because they're all heart," said Davis. "We breed that bravery, courage and extreme athleticism into them to be racehorses. The Thoroughbreds excel in eventing. Hoppy is the epitome of it all."
The son of Mojave Moon is not quick to back down from a challenge, and is very willing, said Davis. It's that fierce determination, and intrepid spirit that has strengthend the bond between horse and rider.
"He's just a machine," said Davis, who said that Hoppy's most admirable trait is that he's willing to do anything. "Hoppy's a cross country horse. He does the dressage because we ask him. He does the stadium jumping because we ask him. He does the cross country because that's who he is."
As a professional, Davis rides a lot of horses, and had she not known Hoppy sustained a broken shoulder, she wouldn't be able to tell after riding him.
"He doesn't feel any different jumping wise, or any different in any other way he goes," said Davis. "He does his job and does it well. He jumps better than most of the horses we have here."
The horse's fitness level continues to improve, and Hoppy has overcome a tremendous amount of adversity including compensation issues that saw him initially favor his injured leg over the others, but that's no longer a problem, said Davis. The well-muscled horse has the conformation, movement and desire you would want in an eventing horse. Hoppy's business like demeanor makes him easy to handle on the ground.
"It was about balancing it out, getting him fit and supple, and training him like you would any athlete," said Davis. "He went into it with all four feet first."