Boyd Martin and Right On Que, winners of the Gentlemen’s Hunter Under Saddle class. PC: Al Cook (www.alcookphoto.com).
The versatility of eventers was on display yesterday during the Pennsylvania National Horse Show‘s Hunt Night, when a handful of our own showed up and helped Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds to the championship.
Boyd Martin, who moonlights with the Cheshire in the off-season, won the Gentlemen’s Hunter Under Saddle class. Fresh off a 3rd place finish in the Fair Hill International CCI3*, Boyd drove up to Coatesville, Pa., the following day to compete upon the suggestion of one of a fellow hunt member.
“In November and December I pretend to be a foxhunter with the Cheshire and somehow I got roped into competing in the Hack,” Boyd says. “I had no idea what it involved, but it was brilliant! I’ve never been to anything like this before. I got lent a horse and had a bit of training in the collecting ring and went in there and had a crack at the class. It was great fun.”
His catch ride was Right On Que, owned by Cheshire member Tanya Emslie of Unionville. The horse also won the Ladies’ Hunter Under Saddle title with Emslie in the saddle.
“It’s very exciting. I am so proud of my horse,” Tanya says. “It’s a great honor because there are so many beautiful horses and great riders. It’s so amazing to win and to have an Olympian ride your horse is pretty phenomenal. I am overwhelmed.”