Super Socks BCF
Super Socks BCF was purchased in the winter of 2012 from Fernhill Sport Horses in Ireland with the help of Bea and Derek di Grazia. He is a 2006 Irish Sport Horse sired by Castle Quest out of an unknown mare by Traoch. Known as Flaxen around the barn, he is owned by the Blossom Creek Foundation. Flaxen is an incredibly talented, brave, and big-hearted horse, and reminds Matt of his Young Rider mount, Maximum Speed. Flaxen and Matt have had much success together so far, moving up to Advanced in the spring of 2014, completing three CCI4*’s, culminating in 6th place overall and were the leading members of the US Land Rover Eventing Team’s Silver Medal finish in the Nation’s Cup competition at the Boekelo CCIO4* in the Netherlands in 2015. In 2016, Matt and Flaxen were the highest-placed rookies at the Rolex Kentucky CCI5*. They were then named as a reserve for the Rio Olympics US Eventing Team, and named to the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the CICO4* Aachen where they contributed to the team’s 6th place finish. In November 2016, Matt and Flaxen won the competitive Ocala Jockey Club International CCI4*-S. Matt and Flaxen started 2017 with a 5th place finish at Pine Top CCI4*-S followed by a 2nd place finish in the Advanced division at Carolina International. In April, Matt and Flaxen finished 6th at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event! Matt is incredibly thankful to the Blossom Creek Foundation for the amazing opportunity to partner with Flaxen and is looking forward to an exciting future with this talented horse.
Career Highlights:
6th Place, Rolex Kentucky CCI5* (April 2017)
2nd Place, Carolina International Advanced (March 2017)
5th Place, Pine Top CCI4*-S (February 2017)
1st Place, Ocala Jockey Club International CCI4*-S (November 2016)
6th Place, Morven Park CCI4*-S (October 2016)
Named to the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for CICO4* Aachen (June 2016)
Named as Reserve for 2016 Olympic Games US Eventing Team (Super Socks BCF, June 2016)
21st Place and Highest-Placed Rookie, Rolex Kentucky CCI5* (May 2016)
1st Place, Fair Hill International 4* Combined Test (April 2016)
8th Place, USEA Overall Horses of the Year (2015)
6th Place, USEA Advanced Horse of the Year (2015)
6th Place and Team Silver, Boekelo CCIO4* (October 2015)
3rd Place, Advanced at Richland Park (August 2015)
5th Place, Bromont Canada CCI4*-L (June 2015)
1st Place, Fair Hill International CCI4*-S (April 2015)
Big Berry
Big Berry, owned by the wonderful Gartenberg family, was sourced from Piggy French in the winter of 2017. An Irish sport horse born in 2010 and bred by James Kelly, he’s by the Thoroughbred stallion Road to Happiness, with Cavalier Royale and Quito de Baussy on the dam’s side. “Biggie” is an extremely talented jumper, with the most lovely disposition in the stables. Matt and Biggie finished out 2018 with no rails in show jumping added all season and a 7th place finish at the Fair Hill CCI3*-L. They successfully moved up to Advanced in 2019, finishing 4th in the Bromont CCI4*-S and 9th at the Ocala Jockey Club CCI4*-S. Big Berry was awarded the Connaught Grant, given each year to a US horse that is believed to have the potential as a future team horse. We certainly have high hopes for this talented and kind horse!
Career Highlights:
9th Place, Ocala Jockey Club CCI4*-S (November 2019)
4th Place, Bromont CCI4*-S (August 2019)
11th Place, Bromont CCI3*-S (June 2019)
3rd Place, Carolina International Intermediate (2019)
7th Place, Fair Hill International CCI3*-L (October 2018)
9th Place, Plantation Field CCI3*-S (September 2018)
11th Place, Bromont CCI3*-S (August 2018)
6th Place, Horse Park of New Jersey CCI3*-S (July 2018)
3rd Place, Maryland HT Intermediate (July 2018)
1st Place, Flora Lea Spring HT Preliminary (May 2018)
Sunsprite’s Huatulco
Sunsprite’s Huatulco is a 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Sunsprite Warmbloods. By the Dutch/TB stallion Just the Best, with Dutch and Trakehner on the dam’s side, “Chavo” should be an exciting horse for the modern sport. Chavo was given plenty of time to grow in to his tall and leggy frame, and is just beginning his competition career in 2019. With lovely, naturally balanced gaits and a super temperament, we are excited to see what the future holds for sweet Chavo!
BCF Belicoso
The Blossom Creek Foundation brought BCF Belicoso to the US from England in the spring of 2013 with the help of Leslie Law. Holden, as he’s know in the barn, is a 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Lux Z out of a Swedish Warmblood mare, Catcher Berezina, by Bernstein. Matt has a giddy grin on his face every time he rides Holden, thanks to his fluid gaits and his effortless athleticism. He is an attention hog around the barn and has proven himself to be quite the prodigy. He won his first several FEI events on US soil, including numerous wins at the CCI3*-S, CCI3*-L, and CCI4*-S levels. In 2015, after a layup due to a minor injury cut his 2014 summer and fall season short, Matt successfully moved Holden up to the CCI4*-L level. Later that summer, Holden and Matt were named as alternates to the US Team competing at the Pan American Games. In 2017, Matt and Holden won the highly competitive CCI2*-S at Carolina International followed by a 3rd place finish in the CCI3*-S at the Virginia Horse Trials in May. Matt and Holden went on to win the American Eventing Advanced Championships in Tryon, NC in September! Matt feels very lucky to have a horse like Holden underneath him, and is incredibly grateful to the Blossom Creek Foundation for their support and generosity.
Career Highlights:
1st Place, American Eventing Championships, Advanced (September 2017)
3rd Place, Virginia Horse Trial CCI3*-S (May 2017)
1st Place, Carolina International CCI2*-S (March 2017)
Named as Alternate and Reserve for 2015 Pan American Games US Eventing Team (June 2015)
10th Place, Jersey Fresh CCI4*-L (May 2015)
2nd Place, Galway Downs International CCI3*-S (March 2015)
Reserve Champion USEA Area VI Advanced Horse of the Year (2014)
Reserve Champion USEA Area VI Irish Sport Horse of the Year (2014)
2nd Place, Advanced at Woodside (May 2014)
1st Place, Twin Rivers CCI4*-S (April 2014)
1st Place, Advanced at Copper Meadows (March 2014)
1st Place, Fresno County Horse Park CCI3*-S (February 2014)
Reserve Champion USEA Area VI Intermediate Horse of the Year (2013)
Reserve Champion USEA Area VI Irish Sport Horse of the Year (2013)
1st Place, Galway Downs International CCI3*-L (November 2013)
1st Place, Woodside International CCI3*-L (October 2013)
1st Place, The Event at Rebecca Farm CCI2*-L (July 2013)
1st Place, Open Preliminary at Woodside (May 2013)
Ben de la Creme
“Ben” is a 2013 16.1 bay Thoroughbred gelding. He is a very attractive leggy horse who shows a lot of potential as an upper level prospect. Ben is syndicated and Matt and Cecily have shares available on this incredible horse. Interested parties should contact Matt or Cecily directly via email at eastwestequest@aol.com.
Just the Zip
“Zippy” is a 2014 16 hand bay Thoroughbred gelding with 3 super gaits. He has a floaty trot and a very sensible brain. Zippy is syndicated and Matt and Cecily have shares available on this incredible horse. Interested parties should contact Matt or Cecily directly via email at eastwestequest@aol.com.
Career Highlights:
8th Place, Fair Hill International Training (April 2019)
Che Landscape
Che Landscape, or Squishy as he’s known around the barn (nicknamed after Dory’s jellyfish in Finding Nemo thanks to his incredibly cuddly personality) is a 2002 Holsteiner gelding imported from Argentina. Squishy spent his first few years in the US competing with his owner, Chelsea Clyde-Brockway at the Novice and Training levels. Matt acquired the ride on Squishy in 2012 while Chelsea focuses on completing her Masters Degree. Matt moved Squishy up to Preliminary in 2012 and together they had a whirlwind season, finishing in the top four at six of their 8 starts, even winning his second outing at the Preliminary level at the Twin Rivers Fall Horse Trials. In 2013 Squishy was equally impressive with a win in the Preliminary Horse Challenge at the Spring Event at Woodside, 3rd place in the CCI2*-L at Twin Rivers, and two more top three finishes at the Preliminary level. After time off in the 2014 season he has come back strong, placing 3rd in the Preliminary at Twin Rivers and winning the Open Training at Fair Hill in the fall. In addition to having the sweetest personality, Squishy also has springs, and is an incredibly talented and careful jumper with loads of scope. Matt is Thankful to Chelsea and her Grandmother, Jean, for the chance to partner with such a special horse.
Career Highlights:
1st Place, Open Training Millbrook H.T. (August 2016)
1st Place, Open Training Fair Hill International (April 2016)
1st Place, Open Training Fair Hill International (April 2015)
3rd Place, Open Preliminary Twin Rivers HT (March 2015)
1st Place, Open Training Fresno County Horse Park (February 2015)
1st Place, Preliminary Horse Challenge Woodside Spring HT (May 2013)
3rd Place, CCI1* Twin Rivers International (April 2013)
3rd Place, Open Preliminary Twin Rivers International (March 2013)
3rd Place, Open Preliminary Fresno County Horse Park (February 2013)
2nd Place, Open Preliminary Ram Tap HT (October 2012)
1st Place, Open Preliminary Twin Rivers HT (September 2012)
Ringwood Galaxy
Ringwood Galaxy is a 2001 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Master Imp out of a Clover Hill mare. Though he has the ideal breeding to be an upper level event horse, he is proving to be a wonderful upper level dressage partner for Cecily. Galaxy started his career eventing with Derek di Grazia and competed through the Preliminary level, and was originally purchased from Louise Hales to be an eventing horse for Matt. However, when Cecily was put in charge of bringing Galaxy back to work after a minor strain, she quickly fell in love and never handed the reins back over to Matt. Cecily considers Galaxy to truly be her horse of a lifetime, and has reveled in all that he has had to teach her as they have moved up the levels in dressage together. In 2013 Galaxy and Cecily tackled their first Prix St Georges, and hope to move up to Intermediate I and II now that they are settled in Pennsylvania.
Young Horses
Ringwood Onyx
Ringwood Onyx was imported in 2018 from Ringwood stud as an unstarted 5 year old. With fantastic breeding, an impressive free jump and fluid gaits, we decided to bring him to the US as a future prospect for Matt. Proving to be sensitive and intelligent, he has all of the pieces of a future super star!
Lismakeera Gale
Lismakeera Gale was also imported in the summer of 2018 as a just started 3 year old from Lismakeera Sporthorses (also the yard that got Super Socks started). With primarily Thoroughbred breeding, he’s out of a TB mare called Glandoran Gale and by Tara Emperor who’s by the American TB stallion Emperor Augustus. Gale has the absolute sweetest personality and is a pleasure to ride and handle. He’s spending the early part of 2019 continuing to grow up out in the field and will slowly start his event career in late 2019.
Lismakeera Fergus
Lismakeera Fergus also came from Lismakeera Sporthorses in 2018 as a 3 year old. By the TB stallion Craigsteel and Irish Draught on the dam’s side, he should make a talented Sporthorse. Just backed at the end of 2018 and now on a long winter break, Fergus will also slowly start his promising career in 2019.
Past Competition Horses
Maximum Speed
Matt purchased Max in 1987 when Max was six and Matt was 11. He bought Max off of a video that showed him galloping around in a field with a petrified child clinging to his neck as Max scouted out and pointed himself at the jumps scattered about in the field. As Beth Perkins, Matt’s Young Rider coach memorably told him, Max was tamed and not trained. But he was a cross-country beast with a massive heart, and together Matt and Max climbed up through the levels together, finishing up at Advanced before Matt sold him to a young rider in the barn to gain experience on. Matt ended up getting Max back in his old age, and though Max eventually went completely blind in both eyes, he navigated the pasture daily with the grace and agility that he tackled each and every cross-country course with. Max even helped to raise two of Jasmine’s foals, keeping a watchful ear on them as their weaning buddy, no doubt whispering some secrets of the game to them as they munched on hay. Max succumbed to laminitis at the ripe old age of 30. Matt will forever hold Max in his heart as his greatest teacher, and first, most cherished partner.
Jasmine
Jasmine is of unknown breeding and was born (we think) in 2004 in Canada, so she’s called a Canadian Sport Horse. Jodie Potts purchased Jasmine after she had a successful Jumper career to be her Hunter. Jodie spent a few years showing and enjoying Jasmine and in 2005 Matt was lucky enough to get the ride on her. She started her Eventing career in 2005 by winning her first ever event at Training level, and then moved up to Preliminary at her next event. She and Matt did four Preliminary events and then moved up to Intermediate in 2006. That year Matt and Jazz won their first three outings at Intermediate, including the CCI3*-S at Rebecca Farms. They were second at their next event, the CCI3*-S at Twin Rivers. Unfortunately, their next event out, the CCI2* at Galway Downs, Jasmine stormed around the cross-country course but came up lame the next morning with a knee injury and never quite recovered all the way to compete again. All told, Jasmine had 10 starts in her eventing career, with five wins, and never a placing below 5th place. Recognizing that this is the type of horse whose genes would be a contribution to the sport, Matt and Cecily bred Jasmine twice. Jazz’s first foal, Leonin (by Landkonig) was born in 2008. Her second foal, Ronin (by Riverman), was born in 2011 and is a carbon copy of his mom (and just as feisty!) Jasmine now spends her days in happy retirement.
Notable Achievements:
1st Place, Intermediate at Ram Tam Winter HT (2006)
1st Place, Intermediate at Woodside Spring HT (2006)
1st Place, The Event at Rebecca Farm CCI3*-S (2006)
Reserve Champions in the USEA/Adequan Gold Cup Series (2006)
USEA Top Ten Mare of the Year (2006)
Fausto
Fausto is a 2002 Hanoverian gelding by Fabriano, out of Haubsputz Wildspatz by Werther. Fausto was imported by KEFA Performance Horses and bred by Petra Buchard in Germany. Sara Schachter bought Fausto as a three-year-old, and Matt started Fausto’s show ring career in 2007, culminating with the Reserve Championship for the California Dressage Society year end championships at Training level. Though Sara has been busy raising three sons and working tirelessly as a Small Animal Veterinarian, she’s been able to steal away some time to ride and even show Fausto over the years. With Matt, Fausto showed very successfully through 4th level with many weekend high point awards at every level, as well as earning the Reserve Championship at the USDF Year End Awards in 2010. Fausto has mostly wound down in his show career and is currently living at Blossom Creek Farm in Calistoga, CA where Sara still rides him weekly. Fausto is one of Matt’s favorites in the barn, and it has always been easy to see their deep bond when they were in the ring together. Sara has been an incredible client for over 10 years, and her support throughout the years is something special that we keep close to our hearts.