Sysco
7-year-old
17.1 hand bay Thoroughbred gelding
Sysco
is the latest addition to Phoenix Farm, and we have
big hopes for him. Found and started by our dear
friend, Zabou Cullum, Sysco had retired from a
successful racing career on the flat track. He's a bit
of a difficult individual, and has some quirks, but
his phenomenal jump and correct movement show a lot of
promise for the future. Look for Sysco and John to
debut in the Novice this fall!Master Merlin
14-year-old
17.2 hand bay Thoroughbred gelding
"Merlin”
is the horse that inspired Phoenix Farm. An unwanted
washout from a steeplechasing barn, he was given to
Heather and John as a 3-year-old after he had hurt
several people at his previous owner’s. They were told
if they decided not to keep him, he would be taken to
the local meat auction. Merlin proved to be a big,
strong horse with a myriad of fears and
idiosyncrasies, who after years of patient training
and handling has blossomed in to an eventing champion.
Because of Merlin we believe every horse deserves a
chance and that the right situation is out there for
every horse. Merlin suffered an injury in the fall of
2006, and it has been a struggle to get him back to
competing. In 2008 we made the painful decision to
retire him from upper level competition. He has a
forever home with us, and we look forward to him
sharing his knowledge with our students, both human
and equine. Horses like Merlin come along once in a
lifetime, and we are grateful to have him in our
lives.
Career highlights: 2006, 19th at Jersey Fresh CCI**, 2nd Open Intermediate, Morven Park (VA). 2005: 3rd USEA Master Amateur Intermediate rider. USEA Area II Intermediate Champion. 1st Open Intermediate Middleburg Horse Trials (VA). 4th- Virginia CCI*, 1st Open preliminary Southern Pines Horse Trials (NC). 2004: 9th Morven Park CCI* (VA).
Western Jubilee
11-year-old
16.2 hand gray Thoroughbred gelding
“Sam”
is a horse who had spent most of his adult life in
search of his perfect situation. After an abysmal
start as a racehorse, he also failed as a foxhunter
and as a children’s event horse. In 2004 he suffered
an accident in competition that threatened to end his
career. But Sam is a fighter, and he battled back. It
was late in 2004, shortly after he had begun to be
ridden again, that Heather was encouraged to try him
by her trainer Sharon White. The pair had an immediate
connection, and Heather purchased him as a Christmas
present to herself in December of 2004. In 2005 they
entered multiple events at novice and training levels
in Area II, never finishing worse than fifth,
including two wins. Sam has found his home at last,
and Heather has found the partner she’s always dreamed
of. Sam was cast in his stall in early 2007 and
injured his neck. he has returned to riding and
competition, but he he will no longer be able to
compete at the higher levels. Look for Heather and Sam
at events and dressage shows in 2008.
Phoenix Secret
10-year-old
15.3-hand, bay Thoroughbred gelding by Class Secret (by Secretariat) out of Native Monarch
“Shawn”
is our first homebred and the inspiration for our
breeding program. John competed his mother “Ariel” in
eventing and raced her over hurdles and over timber.
She was also a winner on the flat track. Born with a
serious kidney infection Shawn spent the first week of
his life in the NICU at the Marion du Pont Scott
Equine clinic in Leesburg, Va. Heather spent all day
every day at the clinic, caring for him and holding
him on her lap. Day by day he fought the infection,
and grew stronger and blossomed into a phenomenal
horse. Competed by professional Sharon White, Shawn is
a ribbon winner through the intermediate level and a
winner at novice, training, and preliminary. Top
riders and trainers have evaluated him as a serious
prospect for the top levels of the sport. Following a
pasture injury, Shawn returned to competition in 2007
with Phoenix Farm associate trainer, John Michael
Durr, garnering ribbons at preliminary, and contesting
the CCI* at Galway Downs. A freak accident on Roads
and Tracks did not allow him to finish, but they
roared back in spring of '08, finishing 3rd in their
first intermediate together. We feel so blessed to
have our first homebred ascend to such great heights,
but he’ll always be our little “Scrawnie Shawnie”.
Unfortunately, Shawn has proven to be Ariel’s only
foal, but at 19 she was still sound and active and
competing in eventing in Area I.
Camargue
9-year-old
18-hand bay Hanoverian gelding
"Schulz"
is one of the kindest horses we have ever known and
had the pleasure to own. He exemplifies everything
there is to love about a warmblood, and he is a
wonderful combination of talent and heart.
Unfortunately, he's one of those horses that's been
plagued but a lot of stupid soundness problems, so at
present he is doing a job as Phoenix Farms resident
schoolmaster, teaching new riders the ropes. His
soundness continues to improve, and we hope he will be
able to return to the competition ring soon. Either
way, his kindness and heart is an inspiration to us
every single day at the farm.
The important thing to remember is that our horses are our greatest and most frequent techers. Every horse you have teaches you something, even if it's not always what you wanted or hoped. They key to good horsemanship, is taking the good lessons and the hard lessons and carrying them with you from one horse to the next.
Horses from our past:
There are a couple of horses from our past which deserve mention here, even if they are no longer with us.
Running
on Empty:
"Chuckie" was John's first CCI horse. A 16.2 hand
classically bred Thoroughbred gelding by Wind Driven, who
took John to three CCI* and placed in two of them. (4th and
10th) Chuckie was the epitome of a classic TB event
horse--big gallop, big jump, mild disdain for dressage, and
heart and try ten miles wide.
Corniche:
"Bentley" was a true gentle soul, who despite his enormous
size (nearly 18 hands )was everything an event horse should
be--kind, generous, willing, and smart. This lovely horse
helped Heather return to competitive eventing after she had
been severely injured, and helped her regain her confidence
and her joy. He may not have looked like a typical eventer,
but he had it all when it counted most. We lost Bentley too
soon to colic, and he is missed every day. Bentley taught
us that the most important quality for any event horse is
not the size, shape or ability of the body, but the heart
that beats within it.
Gus
Costadi:
Though Gus' fame took place largely after Heather had
stopped riding him, she remained a part of his career
throughout his life. Heather met Gus after he had been
recently started under saddle, and she brought him along
and competed him through the training level. Lovingly
called the "Flying Sausage" due to his exuberant jumping
and "pleasingly plump" frame, the ride on Gus was passed to
Heather's friend DeAnna Hines. With Deanna, Gus went on to
be a winner at the advanced levels of eventing, including a
11th placed finish at the 1996 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day
Event, where Heather accompanied him as his groom. When Gus
passed away following a pasture accident in 2000, he had
been teaching a young girl all about the sport he loved.
Gus was a part-warmblood who should never have gone
advanced. At Rolex, every fence was at the top of his
scope. But, it never occured to him to say no or refuse any
request made of him.