Irish Hunt and Kady Abrahamson. Photo courtesy of Kady.
Among the reasons people are skeptical of purchasing a horse off the track is the fear they might break down later in life, but Irish Hunt is here to prove to the world that OTTB’s are game for whatever plans you have for them. At the ripe age of 22 this well-known Thoroughbred is still making his way into the Jumper ring and touching lives along the way.
In fact, Irish Hunt has touched the lives of two wonderful families in his day, and both have been there nearly every step of the way: After starting his off-the-track career with David Beisel, then finding his way to Kady Abrahamson for several years of success, this handsome horse is heading back to continue competing with David’s family until his final retirement days with Kady.
David’s Game Changer
Irish Hunt was purchased off the track at the age of four with the intentions of becoming a Hunter mount for prominent rider Kenny Wheeler. However, they found that he sported a bit too much blood and wasn’t quiet enough for the Hunter ring. It was obvious that the gelding had quite a bit of talent, was an admirable jumper and had a kind, gentlemanly personality. He was purchased by David Beisel’s parents (his mother was a trainer in Kansas and his father a huntsman) shortly after to become his Jumper mount.
David took Irish up the levels and was actually the horse with which David won the first Grand Prix of his career in Lexington, Kentucky. Kady remembers fondly that the winning photo (taken in the Walnut Ring as at this time that was the main ring at the Horse Park) was made into a clock and hung at David’s barn, where she began her training.
As David noticed that Kady was growing immensely in her riding, it became apparent that she would soon need a mount to take her through the upper levels and he knew that mount needed to be Irish.
The Partnership of a Lifetime
At the age of 11, Kady’s parents purchased the then 13-year-old gelding for Kady to jump start her competitive career. They started in the Low Childrens, the moved to the High Childrens the next year. At 13, Kady moved to the next step into the Low Juniors and competed in the High Juniors twice at Lexington. That same year, at Brownland, Kady and Irish competed in her first Grand Prix. They had two down, but he took the best of care of her and Kady continued to fall for the horse she calls a superstar.
That fall they had a clean round in the Grand Prix in Lexington and decided to try their luck in Ocala riding with Australian Show Jumper Scott Keach. Irish was 18 and Kady 15, and they continued to impress at venues around the country. Once when competing at the Chagrin Valley Horse Show in Ohio, Kady recalls the announcer coming saying over the loudspeaker, “This will be our only pair you will see today where the horse is older than the rider!”
By the time Kady was 16, Irish was 19 and still continuing to jump large courses without difficulty, but Kady had just acquired her new upper level mount and she and her family felt there was no need to continue having Irish jump large fences. So he went out to semi-retirement where he enjoyed leisurely rides on the flat and plenty of time in the field.
Not Quite Ready for His Gold Watch
When Irish was 20, Kady pulled Irish from the field for a quick competitive jaunt to Lexington to show with Ty Simpson in the Low Childrens, and the pair won. The next year, he was leased for the summer by Emily Kowalchick, a client of David’s, and they competed in the High Adults on the local level. After his lease was up, he returned home to the Abrahamson’s barn to resume his partial retirement. Irish took to all of it with ease.
Ty Simpson and Irish Hunt. PC: Kady Abrahamson
Last month, David called Kady and inquired about Irish and his fitness. Upon hearing that the horse was still happy, healthy, and going sound he asked Kady if he could buy him back for a very special purpose: David’s wife, Paige, was actively searching for a Hunter mount. Paige had actually ridden Irish all those years ago when David first owned him and remembered how safe he was and how much of a gentleman’s presence he carried.
Kady agreed to allow Irish to return to his former owner, under one stipulation: When the horse completely and fully retires, he is to return to her farm where he can relax and enjoy his time as just a horse. David surprised Paige with Irish one night as they did a late night check on the stalls. They passed the stall where Irish used to be stabled, but Paige didn’t notice! David opened the stall door and there he was. Paige was completely shocked, she turned to David and said, “I thought I was never going to see him again!”
This amazing horse has quite the story and as it appears, his story is nowhere near ending. From helping David to acquire his first Grand Prix win, to taking Kady from custom-made white jodhpurs with straps in the Lows to her first ever year wearing tall boots and jumping Grand Prix, and now back to David to teach another generation, Irish Hunt is truly a horse of a lifetime.
Jumper Nation congratulates both David and Kady on their years of success with this astounding horse and look forward to what is to come during his continuing competitive years.