Horse Spotlight: Herbert

Read all about the gentle giant who is helping owner/rider Kristin Spaulding overcome her showing nerves and making her adult equitation (and jumper!) dreams come true!

By HH Contributor Kristina McCombie

HH: Tell us about your horse (age, breeding, owner, barn name, etc).

KS: My horse is named Herbert aka Herbie or The Cookie Monster. He’s an eleven year old Holsteiner gelding who is 18.2 hands. I’m 5’10 and his legs come up past my waist. We train with Joanne Waring and Mark Molther at Three Pines Farm in Parker. His show name is just plain Herbert. It really fits his personality and makes me laugh when we enter the area at a show.

HH: How long have you and Herbert been a team? How did you find each other?

KS: Herbert and I have been together for almost two years now. Joanne Waring told me about a horse that was for lease over the summer. I first met him at a CHJA show at In Stride– he was super cute, very sweet and holy cow, tall. Joanne encouraged me to try him during an upcoming clinic. I was really hesitant; the timing wasn’t great for me and I knew that if I tried him I’d love him.   Joanne offered encouragement that this would be both a great opportunity and fit for me. I tried him out at the clinic and he was lovely. Both Mark and Joanne, and even my parents said, “Kristin, this is your horse.” At the end of the lease there was an opportunity to purchase Herbert. Everyone pulled together to make it possible for me and I bought Herbert at the end of 2017.

HH: What do you currently show in?

KS: Most of the time you’ll find us in the Adult Equitation and Medal classes. I love how technical the Medal classes are and the more I learn the more I realize how much more there is to learn. Last year we had a lot of fun in the CHJA Adult Hunters. We just made our debut in the jumpers and it was a blast. I’m hoping to apply what I’m learning in the Equitation and Medals into the jumper ring.

HH: What makes Herbert such a great addition to your barn?

KS: Herbert is the quintessential gentle giant. His barn nickname is The Cookie Monster. At home or a show he will stretch his head out and turn it sideways when anyone passes him asking for cookies. At a recent show he reached out and grabbed a bag of peppermints out of my tack trunk and threw them at some people walking by in an effort to get a treat.

HH: Does Herbert have any quirks or goofy traits? How is he around the barn?

KS: Herbert is a friendly guy around the barn. For a large horse he has a very good understanding of how big he is and is careful in small spaces. As one would probably imagine, Herbert eats a lot of hay- chances are if you go check in on him he’s eating. Herbert isn’t allowed to be turned out in the outdoor arena anymore. On a couple of occasions I’ve turned him out to roll after working him and he’s very casually cantered out over the 5’ arena fence.

HH: What are your goals for the rest of the year and beyond with Herbert ?

KS: Throughout my life I’ve really struggled with show nerves to the point that I quit showing as a junior and didn’t start showing again until several years ago at the ripe old age of 47. I have been showing to work through my nerves and get them behind me. This year I’m looking forward to continuing my education in the Equitation arena and applying it to some jumper classes and hopefully Medal Finals this year. Long term, I want to continue to expand my horsemanship skills.

HH: What successes have you shared with Herbert? Anything in particular you are especially proud of?

KS: Last year Herbert and I won two year end awards and even a perpetual trophy. My parents even came out to celebrate with us at the awards banquet. It was my first ever trophy and I’m still excited!   I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to show. My family, and the CHJA community, have been exceptionally supportive.

HH: What do you enjoy most about riding Herbert?

KS: I love how Herbert rides like a smaller horse. He is exceptionally light off my aids and goes in a rubber straight bar snaffle. Herbert is a sensitive guy who really tries hard to do what you ask. He can worry and get caught up in his own head. I tend to do the same and overthink/over–complicate things. I’m learning to stay in the moment and keep things simple and correct. Less is more is my riding mantra.

HH: If Herbert was a teenager, which table would he sit at in the cafeteria and why?

KS: Herbert would definitely be at the cool kids table. He would be the quiet cool kid with a sensitive side.

HH: What are Herbert’s favorite treats?

KS: Herbert loves Mr.s Pasture’s horse cookies, but will take any treat.

PC: Jerry Mahme Photography and Kristin Spaulding

A top amateur jumper, business owner and entrepreneur, cancer survivor, and friend to all – is there anything Devon Eret can’t do?

By HH Contributor Kristina McCombie

HH: Who is Devon? Tell us a little about yourself:

DE: I am a 29 year old who grew up in Colorado and am lucky enough to have a very supportive horse-husband. I did 3-day Eventing as a kid and teenager and then switched to jumpers after a hiatus in college. I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer last year at the age of 27 and went through 4 months of chemo, 6 weeks of radiation and 2 surgeries and am happy to report that I am cancer free! I continued to ride and even compete up to 1.15m during treatment and my horse was a huge reason for me to get out of bed every morning. (Editors Note: Devon also runs a fantastic equestrian apparel business: Rose and Lace Equestrian. Check them out on instagram @rose_and_lace_equestrian)

HH: What horse(s) do you have right now and what are you working on?

DE: I imported and purchased my horse Calgary II (barn name is Gary) the same day that I was diagnosed with cancer. He is a 10 year old Oldenburg gelding that competed through 1.30m in Switzerland and has the quirkiest personality but is such a good boy.

HH: What were some of your accomplishments this past year and what are your future goals?

DE: Just being able to ride my horse during chemo and radiation was a huge accomplishment for me! Plus I was able to show in the High Adult Jumpers with some pretty decent placings. We won our first blue ribbon at an A show during week 2 SIR this year in the High Adult Jumper speed class! My future goal is to the do the Low and hopefully Medium Junior/AO jumpers with him (if I don’t chicken out).

HH: Who do you idolize in the sport?

DE: There are a lot of top pro’s that I idolize, but I really love my fellow adult amateurs that make so many crazy sacrifices to do this sport. Working full time + riding full time + showing on the circuit + having a family + having any kind of social life is a serious challenge and I salute everyone who makes it happen.

HH: Who have you ridden with and what have you taken from each trainer?

DE: I have ridden with Alexia Honegger at Millbrook Equestrian the last 4 years. I have learned so much under her guidance and definitely wouldn’t be the rider that I am today without her. My biggest takeaway from her is that there is more to horses than just showing. We do a lot of cross training in other disciplines and have a ton of FUN and you can tell the horses love it!

HH: If your horse(s) was/were a person who do you think he/she would be like?

DE: Ryan Reynolds for sure! Super handsome but has a hilariously dark and arrogant personality (think of Deadpool).

HH: What is always in your tack trunk?

DE: My helmet #mindyourmelon, carrots, rubber gloves/soap for tack cleaning and a first aid kit (adulting).

HH: What’s your favorite show and why?

DE: I love showing at Summer in the Rockies! The Colorado horse park does a great job with the show and always has fun activities like the Grand Prix and goat yoga!? I also grew up showing at this venue since I was 7 in pony club.

HH: Do you have any good luck charms or are you superstitious about anything?

DE: I show in the same pair of (washed) socks: unicorns pooping rainbows. So there’s that.

HH: If you weren’t riding and showing what do you think you’d be doing?

DE: Being more involved in the cancer community! I have made some wonderful friends and met some truly inspirational people and I would love to help others on their cancer journey. It’s not a club anyone wants to be apart of, but there are some pretty great people you get to meet.

Picture Credit: White Fence Photography

He’s sugar, he’s spice, he’s everything nice! Read all about Christen Tuxworth’s silly little red horse who loves tricolor ribbons as much as he loves to have his tongue pulled!

By: HH Contributor Kristina McCombie

HH: Tell us about your horse, Sunny. (age, breeding, owner, barn/show name, etc)

CT: Santiano aka Sunny is an 8 year old Hanoverian by Soliman De Hus. He was imported from Germany and was a stallion until he was 4 ½.

HH: How long have you and Sunny been a team? How did you find each other?

CT: I purchased Sunny in October of 2016. I had seen him advertised online in 2015 but wasn’t able to purchase him at that time. He was leased for the year and came back up for sale and I inquired again on him. My Dad had just been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and was in the hospital and I showed him a picture of Sunny. He told me to buy him and said he just looked like he should be my horse. I bought him without trying him on my Dad’s advice.

HH: What do you currently show in?

CT: I show in the Amateur hunters.

HH: What makes Sunny such a great addition to your barn?

CT: Sunny is a small horse which is perfect for my short amateur self! He has a huge stride, a great jump, loves to trail ride, a super funny personality and best of all he takes great care of me.

HH: Does Sunny have any quirks or goofy traits?  How is he around the barn?

CT: Sunny loves to have his tongue pulled! If you push on his nose, he will stick his tongue out. He also will stick it out when he meets new people. It’s his way of a hand shake! He also is super protective of “his people”. His people are very special to him and he lets the other horses know it.

HH: What are your goals for the rest of the year and beyond with Sunny?

CT: My main goal is to get back in the show ring! I had ACL reconstruction surgery in November of 2017 and I have just been cleared to ride again. I hope to move up to the 3’3” A/O’s.

HH: What successes have you shared with Sunny? Anything in particular you are especially proud of?

CT: I have been super lucky to have some great successes with Sunny since I purchased him. We have been Champions in Thermal, Estes Park, and at the CHP and also had an article written about us in the Competitive Equestrian Magazine. He was also the 2017 CHJA Hunter of the Year receiving the Top Honor Trophy. I am especially proud of being Champion in the Evergreen and Amateur Hunter’s in Estes Park last year winning 9 out of 10 classes. Estes Park was my Dad’s favorite show to go to when I was showing as a kid and I know he was there with me in spirit, cheering us on and helping us over every fence!

HH: What do you enjoy most about riding Sunny?

CT: Sunny is so supple, athletic and smart. He is very comfortable to ride and he loves to jump. He gives you an amazing feeling and you just want to trot around on him all day long! I also love that trail riding is one of his favorite things to do.

HH: If Sunny  was a teenager, which table would he sit at in the cafeteria and why?

CT: I think Sunny would go back and forth between the “jock” table and the “cool kids” table. He is super athletic, handsome, and confident.

HH: What are Sunny’s favorite treats?

CT: Without question, bananas!! He goes crazy for them. He also loves the hard candy root beer barrels.