While only having made his debut into the show ring at the beginning of March, Greg Crolick’s new partner, Braavos, has already made a name for himself. The six-year-old Warmblood gelding (Rock Forever I x Scarlett) was named champion in the Triple Crown Nutrition Green Hunter 3’ division. The championship is one of two division victories the gelding has earned during the final few weeks of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival.
Greg Crolick and Braavos. Photo © Sportfot
Crolick and the gelding owned by Renaud Farm, LLC first debuted their partnership in the show ring during Week 9. Braavos showed his potential promise early on as he secured the champion ribbon for the USHJA Hunter 2’6” division during his first show on U.S. soil. The gelding once again glided to success during Week 12 as the pair picked up two firsts, two seconds, and a third in the five classes to end the division on 36 points.
“I only partnered with this horse roughly four weeks ago,” Crolick explained. “A friend and long-term business partner of mine imported him into the U.S. and had him in Ocala for several months for training.”
“I didn’t even go try the horse before I had him sent down, but we couldn’t live without him, so we got him down here,” he added. “He was shipped down on a Tuesday and Wednesday we showed him for the first time, then he was champion his first week out!”
Crolick was pleasantly surprised by the gelding’s straight shot to success but believes he has the brain and the movement to quickly excel to the top.
Vice President of Triple Crown Nutrition Kelly Payne and Greg Crolick. Photo © Sportfot
“He’s really the whole package because he’s got a beautiful trot and canter as well as an expressive jump,” he said. “He’s also incredibly brave and doesn’t require any preparation to head into the ring; I’m very excited for his future.”
Reserve champion went to Jennifer Bauersachs and Lee Kellogg Sadrian’s Blink. She and the six-year-old German Sport Horse gelding (Lev’soon x Contana) ended with two firsts, a second, and a sixth place.