Lexington, KY (November 2, 2010) – As a member of the World Equestrian Games US Eventing team, Boyd Martin lived out every rider’s fairytale dream when he finished tenth individually and fourth place with the team at World Equestrian Games – all on an ex-racehorse he bought for $800 off the track. Martin joined radio host LA Pomeroy on Holistic Horse Radio Show following WEG to talk about his incredible journey, his ex-racehorse, and his supporters who helped him make it to his first international competition for the United States.
“The USEF said the highlight of the Team USA for eventing at WEG was the lovely double clear round jumped by Boyd and Windurra LLC’s Neville Bardos,” Pomeroy stated as she introduced Martin on the radio show, adding that Martin and Neville finished with a dressage score of 49.5. “Neville was in a demanding career before you got him, so tell us your secret to keeping him sound, solid and happy.”
Martin, an Arenus Ambassador, was quick to give credit to the team that surrounds him, including his wife, grooms, vet, blacksmith, their feeding program and also to products by Arenus, which include SORE NO-MORE® Liniment and SORE NO-MORE® Poultice. “I take no short cuts in taking care of Neville and we use the SORE NO-MORE® Liniment and Poultice on him after every hard work out,” Martin said.
Martin said an added benefit to the SORE NO-MORE® products was that Neville feels like Superman thanks to the products. “He steps out of the stable every morning on top of the world,” Martin said, adding that he believes Neville’s enthusiasm stems from using the poultice to the EQUILITE™ Relax Blend they sprinkle on his feed every day.
It’s been a long road for Martin and Neville. “He was a terrible racehorse and I picked him up as he was headed to slaughter,” Martin said. “I got him for $800. It really is a fairy tale story.”
An Australian native who was short-listed for the Australian Olympic team, Martin moved to the United States in 2007. Martin changed his citizenship with the FEI in 2009 to ride for the United States. Martin is married to dressage trainer Silva Martin and worked as an assistant trainer to Olympic Gold Medalist Phillip Dutton when he first moved to the US. Now on his own, Martin has quickly become a top US event rider, and in 2009 was named the USEA preliminary rider of the year.
“I wanted to ride at WEG since the day I graduated from high school,” Martin said, adding that his eventing career didn’t start out too well as he fell off three times at his first horse trial. “It took me a bit of time, 12 hard years, but I feel like I’ve finally gotten some good results.”
Simone Pophal, DVM, Ph.D., Business Manager for Arenus, congratulated Martin on his success at the World Equestrian Games. “Boyd and Neville were fantastic and we are so proud of them and proud to have been part of their team,” Pophal said. “We know Boyd relies on a lot of our Arenus products, including EQUILITE™ Relax Blend, which helps reduce nervousness, stress, tension, and anxiety in horses.”
Arenus features the product families ASSURE® digestive aids, STEADFAST® joint & structural health supplement, EQUILITE™ herbal blends, SORE NO-MORE® topicals, and two products containing DHA/Omega-3 - ALEIRA™ for respiratory health and RELEIRA™ for reproductive health. The company is dedicated to delivering scientifically sound health and nutritional products so pets and horses can have many happy years working, playing and competing. The Arenus staff includes more than 75 animal health professionals and veterinarians who believe that supplements should be supported by science.
To find out more information on Martin, visit his website at www.boydandsilvamartin.com. To learn more about Arenus products visit www.arenus.com. To listen to Martin’s radio interview, visit the link: http://www.holistichorse.com/Holistic-Horse-Radio/boyd-martin-talks-horse-health-fresh-off-his-weg-performance.html.
Please click here for a media release on the upcoming Pony Club NSW State One Day Event Championships being held at Geurie Racecourse on 9-10 October.
FEI PRESS STATEMENT
FEI PRESS RELEASE
27 May 2010
Irish eye up another home victory at Tattersalls
Patricia Ryan (IRL) returns home this weekend (27-30 May) to defend her title at Tattersalls (IRL) at the halfway stage in the 2010 HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing series.
Ryan and husband Michael, who scored a memorable one-two last year, have been based in England this spring, but will be doing their best to keep victory at Tattersalls, their country’s showpiece event, in Irish hands for the third year running.
Patricia withdrew her Olympic horse and Tattersalls winner Fernhill Clover Mist after the Dressage at Badminton and promises: “He is fighting fit and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”
There are 14 other Irish riders in the field of 33, including the very experienced Susan Shortt on Imperative. But the home side faces determined competition from five riders who already have HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing points from Chatsworth (GBR) a fortnight ago and will be keen to enhance their chances of sharing the US$180,000 prize fund that goes to the leading 15 riders in the series.
Mary King (GBR) who was best of the British visitors in 3rd on Imperial Cavalier at the Irish venue last year, is three-handed: she brings the striking grey Fernhill Urco, sixth at Tattersalls in 2009 and ninth at Chatsworth, plus her home-bred mare Kings Temptress, which she retired at Badminton (GBR) after a stop, and the veteran four-star horse Apache Sauce.
Ruth Edge (GBR), deputising for the pregnant Polly Stockton (GBR), rides Arthur Comyn’s Irish-bred and owned Westwood Mariner, sixth at Chatsworth; and Andrew Nicholson (NZL) has the brilliant Spanish-bred jumper Armada, seventh and fastest across the country at Chatsworth.
Lucy Wiegersma (GBR), the runner-up at Chatsworth, has most to gain as she is the highest placed of the Tattersalls entries on the HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing rankings in eighth. She rides the promising Granntevka Prince, winner of Blenheim CCI3* (GBR) and fourth at Pau CCI4* (FRA) last year.
British riders relish coming to Tattersalls, home of the premier bloodstock sales, where the US-based course designer Hugh Lochore (GBR) always has a proper old-fashioned galloping track with lovely big hedges in store.
“It’s one of the best events in the world,” says Mary King. “All of us enjoy competing here because the facilities are so superb and the hospitality is second to none!”
Follow the event on www.tattersalls.ie
FEI TV: Coverage of the HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing competition at Tattersalls will be available on FEI TV (www.feitv.org) on Thursday3 June.
Calendar of events
1. Tallahassee (USA), 5-7 March 2
2. Kihikihi (NZL), 2-4 April
3. Sydney (AUS), 7-9 May
4. Marbach (GER), 7-9 May
5. Chatsworth (GBR), 15-16 May
6. Tattersalls (IRL), 27-30 May
7. Strzegom (POL), 24-27 June
8. Minsk (BLR), 21-25 July
9. Rebecca Farm, Kalispell (USA), 22-25 July
10. Malmö (SWE), 13-15 August
11. Haras du Pin (FRA), 18-22 August
12. Schenefeld (GER), 26-29 August
Standings (after 5 of 12 events)
1 Megan Jones (AUS) 138 points
2 Clarke Johnston (NZL) 128
3 Sonja Johnson (AUS) 119
4= Mara Dean (USA) 71
4 = Chris Burton (AUS) 71
4 = Michael Jung (GER) 71
4 = Sam Griffiths (AUS) 71
8 Lucy Wiegersma (GBR) 70
9 = Phillip Dutton (USA) 67
9 = Heelan Tompkins (NZL) 67
9 = Kai-Steffen Meier (GER) 67
12 Jenna Mahoney (NZL) 65
The Weekend of World Cups is Packed with Action
The Young Eventing Horse sponsored by Gwaihir Stud and Equestrian Sports Promotions begin at 8am on Friday morning. The classes will be judged by Vaughn Jefferis, a renowned Eventing rider and trainer who has represented New Zealand at two Olympics and three World Championships. Whilst the 4, 5 and 6 year old classes are underway in Arena 2 and the CIC classes perform their dressage tests in the indoor, the Ground Jury for the World Cup classes will be conducting their final course inspections.
On Friday afternoon Level 2 Coach and Coach Educator Prue Barret will conduct a hosted World Cup cross country course walk. Tickets for the tour are available from the event and members of the public are encouraged to take advantage of this valuable learning opportunity.
Marcia Williamson and the ex-racehorse Kalason will begin the HSBC FEI World CupTM Eventing Qualifier at 4:30pm with their dressage test. Thirty three riders will enter the indoor arena at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre in the World Cup class with Silver medalist Shane Rose the last to compete on Koko Black at 9pm. During breaks in the CIC World Cup dressage spectators will be treated to a freestyle dressage presentation from a special guest rider and a dog agility demonstration. Ten handlers and their pooches will wow spectators with their amazing skills and terrific training techniques.
The action will continue from 8am on Saturday with show jumping, dressage and cross country. At 10am Vaughn Jefferis has kindly offered to host a cross country walk whilst the CIC2* class is on course enabling him to explain the intricacies of riding each obstacle. The 3* World Cup cross country begins at 10:30 and is sure to be full of thrills and spills. The big jumping continues from 3pm in the indoor arena with the 1.30m and 1.40m.
Saturday evening culminates with the Bareback High Jump where show jumpers and eventers, young and old, will compete against each other in an exciting competition for a $1000 prize pool. A special award will also be presented by elite clothing brand Musto to the best fancy dress costume of the evening. The competition will begin at a height of 1.10m and progress until there is just one winner who will be crowned the Sydney Weekend of World Cups Bareback Champion! Sydney International Eventing would like to thank David Cameron, Hamish Cargill, Chris Burton and Terramar Farm for providing the prize money for the event.
The action on Sunday will be tense as the competitors make a final bid for the massive prize money on offer. Three rings will be alive with show jumping with the World Cup classes beginning at lunchtime in the indoor arena.
For more information go to www.sydneyeventing.org or call 0418 216 364.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate each day: adults $15; children $5; family of four $30.
More than 450 horses and over 270 riders will be competing over the 3 days of eventing and jumping action.
For a full run down on the 2010 Contenders please read the form guide!
Event Overview
Eventing Entries: 300 horses and 215 riders
Jumping Entries: 95 horses and 53 riders
Young Horse Entries: 62
Riders from: Australia (ACT – 7, WA - 4, SA - 2, VIC - 9, NSW - 174, QLD - 13), New Zealand (3), Japan (1), India (1), and Finland (1)
What's on at the Weekend of World Cups 7 - 9 May 2010
Friday 7 May – Dressage & Young Eventing Horse Classes from (9 am to 9 pm)
The highlight for Friday will be the World Cup Eventing Dressage starting at 4.30 pm in the indoor arena supported by dog agility and freestyle dressage demonstrations
Saturday 8 May – Cross Country, Jumping and Young Event Horse Classes (9am – 8pm)
The highlights for Saturday are the World Cup Eventing Cross Country starting at 10.00 am, the 1.3m and 1.4m show jumping in the indoor arena starting at 3pm concluding with a special Bareback Show Jumping competition in the evening.
Sunday 9 May - Show Jumping (8am – 4.30 pm).
The highlights for Sunday are the World Cup Eventing Jumping starting at 12.00 noon followed by the World Cup Jumping Qualifier, comprising two exciting rounds.
Other attractions at the Weekend of World Cups in Sydney
* Young Event Horse Classes & Young Jumping Horse Classes sponsored by Gwaihir Stud and Equestrian Sports Promotions
* Dog Agility Demonstrations (Friday evening)
* Freestyle Dressage Demonstrations (Friday evening)
* Bareback Show Jumping Competition (Saturday evening)
* Shopping Village (open Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
A full event timetable can be found on www.sydneyeventing.org
Promo is available for viewing here.
Current standings (after 2 of 12 events)
=1 Mara Dean (USA) - 71 points
=1 Megan Jones (Aust) - 71 Points
=2 Phillip Dutton (USA) - 67
=2 Heelan Tompkins (NZ) - 67
=3 Will Coleman (USA) - 64
=3 Clarke Johnstone (NZ) - 64
=4 Bonnie Mosser (USA) - 61
=4 Alice Montgomery (NZ) - 61
5 Allison Springer (USA) - 4
Next Event
* Sydney International Three Day Event 26-29 August 2010
For more information visit www.sydneyeventing.org
