The video on my phone slowly focused revealing a big, fancy chestnut floating along the arena wall. His huge, lofty trot was mesmerizing. May 2015, I fell in love.
I called for details, before calling my trainer, Melanie Mitchell. There wasn’t much. Not even a show record. The owner unexpectantly died, so with no-one to question we knew little for certain. Quaterjack was an 11-year-old, 17 hand Brandenburg gelding, bred by Stiftung BHLG, by Quaterman out of Medea II. All of that meant nothing to me but was a roadmap for Melanie. She saw his future path in a way I didn’t have the skills to do yet. I only saw floating stars in my eyes.
Two weeks later I was explaining magnetic irons and metal spurs to Airport Security in Atlanta. Melanie and I, too excited to sleep, arrived in Germany sleep-deprived after an overnight flight. Three hours after touchdown, we arrived in a little Bavarian town near Munich and started riding horses. Quaterjack was first. In the next few days, we saw 125 horses and rode 20. But I went to Germany for Quaterjack – and he didn’t disappoint.
Melanie rode first, easily testing his basics, then began playing. Piaffe, passage, canter pirouettes. He did them with ease. Next was my turn. I settled into the saddle and picked up the reins. The problem was that I came to buy an international quality horse; I just didn’t know how to ride one. It quickly became apparent I couldn’t keep up with his expressive movement. Honestly, I was a hot mess. He tried to understand my cues, dialing back his big gaits so I could try. Even though I never got him to pick up the left lead, I was his. Melanie assured me we’d figure it out with a bit of practice. Not to worry.
Buying a horse in another country involved things I’d never considered like vetting, passports, flights, and quarantine – all in a language foreign to us both. I worried through every single step, every single moment.
Three weeks after arriving at his new home, we began our show career together. I needed to qualify for Para National Championships being held 2 months later but still couldn’t turn him in a 10-meter trot circle! He’s huge with matching gaits. Trying him in Germany was quite different than executing precise movements in a dressage arena. So, I dedicated myself to riding 6 days a week, added Pilates to my fitness regimen, and sports psychology books to my bedtime ritual. I had my work cut out for me.
I, also, had no idea high performance horses at this level required a support team filled with saddle fitters, chiropractors, bodyworkers, acupuncturists, and specialty vets to keep them at their best. I now keep Adequan and Ulcergard at the ready, feed special supplements, and slather clear Desitin under his girth before every ride. Not to mention, making sure nothing goes in or on this horse before checking WADA, the anti-doping database. Not all vets are FEI knowledgeable. Who knew? Not me. Melanie.
Of course, he must stay in peak physical condition and show-ready, too! Let’s be honest, as a para, I can’t do that alone. Thankfully, Melanie keeps him light and through, in ways impossible for me. She also keeps his boredom at bay by working movements not allowed in para classes.
Due to neurological issues I’ll detail in a later post, I require a consistent, continual show schedule. I am extremely thankful for the supportive show managers in my area always willing to add para classes to their schedules! So, we show. Para and able-bodied.
In addition to many blue ribbons along the way, in 2016 we became Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion, placed 3rd at USDF Horse of the Year Adult Amateur First Level and Champion of the Vintage Cup (over 50) with an average of 72.407. Our personal best score was 83.25% in freestyle. Quaterjack and Melanie placed 5th USDF Horse of the Year Second Level Open with an average score of 73.077%. Their recent best? 74.737% in Prix St. George from Lilo Fore!
It’s all been worth it. This horse has more heart, more work ethic, more strength of character than you can imagine. Our harmony is undeniable but it’s his presence that brings the sparkle.
P.S. Anyone with knowledge of Quaterjack’s history or previous owners/riders, please message me. I’d love to fill in the gaps.
