Claire Madden - My Journey So Far

16-Sep-2015


My journey started nearly 20 years ago when my first pony was sourced for me by my godmother from another local family. I was a typical 8 year old who had begged my family to get me a pony, eventually Calico came into my life. He was a 20 something year old palamino who had been there and done it all before but was by no means a push button pony. Calio taught me all the important parts of horse ownership and riding - he taught me care and attention, he taught me how to fall off and more importantly how to stay on. He was by no means a perfect pony but he was perfect for me and in my eyes that was all that mattered. 

Two years later when Calico retired with arthritis I was introduced to the new love of my life, another palamino (how does one girl get so lucky), named Aratiki Shandel. Shandy was also in his 20's and we would have an amazing few years together where he taught me what it was like to be a winner. Shandy won me my first Champion in the show ring, my first Supreme, first dressage win, my first eventing win and ultimately we were in the winning Springston Trophy Team in 2000 representing the Springston Pony Club. Unfortunately, Shandy eventually let me know that his competing days were over and he was retired to a quieter life.

After a few unsuitable horses (all of which taught me a lot) I found my next best friend in the most unlikely of horses. My Squire was a 14.3hh Clyde cross gelding who had a reputation for speed. While he was an amazing jumper, flatwork was definitely his downfall. A lot of hard work, blood and tears (mainly mine) insued and eventually Squire and I were winning in the show ring and dressage arena as well as out eventing. Squire was my ultimate best friend, it was never plain sailing but I trusted him with my life. Unfortunately after nearly 6 years Squire retired to a quieter life as he was into his 20's and needed the slower lifestyle.

As Squire started to slow down I started looking for a new horse and had some strict criteria... Had to be a gelding, 15.3hh or less, anything but a TB and any colour but chestnut or grey. I ended up with a chestnut TB 16.2hh but at least he was a gelding. Jay is the first horse I have ever owned and I have had many ups and downs in the 11 years that I have had him but I wouldnt change him for anything. He taught me a lot about dressage, how to deal with massive tantrums in the show ring and how to ride side saddle. Jay is now 21 and is showing no signs of slowing down and will continue ticking over doing dressage and some low level jumping. However, after competing Side Saddle at HOY last season he has retired from the show ring

The latest chapter of my life involves my love of Standardbred's. Originally working on standarbred stud farms, yearling sales barns and for a trainer I learnt to really appreciate this breed and their amazing nature but it wasnt until my shift to Auckland that I decided to try out a standardbred as a competition horse. When Zanskar arrived on the scene I wasnt sure what to expect, he was 14.1hh, 4yo pacer with a very bad reputation. It took a long time to form a solid partnership with Zin and sometimes I still doubt my sanity but there is just something about this quirky little horse. After 3 seasons in the show ring Zanskar let me know that he needed a change and lately we have been focusing more on our jumping, currently we have schooled up to 1.20m at home. My highlights with Zin would be taking out Reserve Champion Inhand Standardbred at Horse of the Year 2012 and being 5th in the Ridden, Supreme Champion Inhand at the North Island Standardbred Championship Show 2014 and North Island Ridden Horse of the Year at the North Island Standardbred Association prizegiving 2013/2014 season.

Major Ouch (standardbred) joined the team two years after Zanskar after breaking down. Ouch was given to me as a riding horse and after an extensive rehab he entered the show ring and took Reserve Champion Ridden Green Horse at his first show. Following on from that Ouch collected many Champions and Supremes in the Inhand Standardbred Ring colminating in the Supreme Champion at the North Island Championship Show in 2013 and winning North Island Inhand Standardbred of the Year in the 2012/2013 season and Champion Ridden Standardbred at the Auckland Easter Royal A&P. Following the close of that show season Ouch's old owner's let us try him as a racehorse once again. Ouch had a very unusual build up to his return to racing which included a few endurance ride in which he placed 2nd in his 20km race and won his 30km race. After 2 and a half years away from the track Ouch made a winning return my to my delight and the delight of the fan base he had built up from his showing day, two days after this race he returned to the show ring to take out Champion Inhand Standardbred at Kumeu A&P and in the same season Ouch also won the Taranaki Cup. Ouch is now 7 and has been fully retired from the racing life and is back in work for the show season. He has done two inhand ribbon days so far this season for two Champions, heres hoping that is a good sign for things to come this season.

The final horse in my journey is yet another standardbred. Gotham Bromac first entered my life as 10 month old colt who I was putting through the yearling sales. He was obnoxious, opinionated and most definitely the ugly ducking of the group but for some reason I fell in love with him. After loosing track of him for about a year I saw him entered in the 2yo Ready to Run sales and tracked down his new owners so that I could keep in contact with the horse and hopefully one day get him back. A move to Auckland ensured I got my horse back and the 2014/15 season was his first season under saddle and what a season that was. Golly took out the Supreme Ridden Champion at the North Island Standardbred Championships after winning both the Novice and Open, was named North Island Ridden Standardbred of the Year and Overall High Points Winner, was runner up Training Level Dressage and High Points on the Flat for Waitemata Riding Club and was the Novice Side Saddle Champion at the North Island Side Saddle Championships at his first show. This horse is a true little professional who gives me 110% every ride whether he understands what I want or not, he is so eager to please who places all his trust in his rider. I can not wait to see what we can accomplish this season.

A huge thanks needs to go to my sponsor SH Browbands who creates all the amazing browbands that my boys wear in the show ring.