🎉 We had a great weekend at the Loudon Hunt HT! Stephen was 1st with Erika Louvo! 👏
4/24-25: Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Horse Trials (Leesburg, VA) 🐴 Stephen with Erika Louvo: 1st in Open Training-B 🐴 Brooke Burchianti with Santinzo: 6th in Open Training-A🐴 Joanne Leclair with Epona’s Rose of Tralee: 12th in Novice Rider-B 🐴 Rebecca Lee with Bradley Cooper: 4th in Open Intermediate 🐴 Rebecca Lee with Saint Nick: 2nd in Open Beginner Novice-B 🐴 Sandy McCormack with Rain Colony: 12th in Novice Rider-A 🐴 Leigh Wood with Dollar Mountain: 3rd in Open Beginner Novice-B
Check our social media for a video of Stephen & Erika from the weekend!
We had a great showing at the MDHT Starter #2 show this weekend (and Katherine won two classes at the PVDA Schooling Show at Southwind!!) We ALSO had Camp and what a blast it was. The ** riders also attended Camp – check our social media for some fun videos!
4/18: PVDA Schooling Show @ Southwind Farm (Damascus, MD)
Katherine Rizzo with Call Sign Charlie: 1st in Intro-A + 1st in Intro-B
4/17-18: MDHT Starter #2 (Adamstown, MD)
Luba Abrams** with Over to Hue: 3rd in Beginner Novice-Sat1
Ron Abrams** with Brando: 10th in Elementary-Sun1
Katie Domino with De Rigueur: 1st in Beginner Novice-Sat1
Lance LeClair with Missy Clare: 3rd in Novice-Sat2
Sandy McCormack** with Rain Colony: 7th in Novice-Sat2
Kathy Savory with Southern Portrait: 9th in Beginner Novice-Sun3
Katherine Wheeley** with Lunetta: 1st in Novice Combined Test
Join Stephen Bradley for a spring mini-camp at Hickory House in The Plains culminating in a trip to the MDHT Starter Event on Saturday, April 17th! Riders will be able to design their own experience to include private or group lessons, course walks and/or show coaching.
As is the case in life, situations change, and the owner of my up-and-coming eventing star Erika Louvo (aka “Erika”), finds herself in a situation where all her horses need to be sold. Luckily I’ve been given the opportunity to secure the ownership of Erika for a very reasonable price before potentially needing to market her to outside buyers.
With that being said, I am looking to find new owners that would like to continue this journey with this lovely mare and myself. Erika shows all the potential in the world, and while her career has been limited due to COVID-19, she has already brought in two wins at Training level since arriving in the US and is ready to move up to Preliminary later this spring. I believe the sky is the limit with this mare, and in addition to her athletic potential, she’s an absolute joy to have in the barn.
I found Erika while on a buying trip to Europe in late 2019, where she was in US rider Tiana Coudray’s barn in England. Tiana beautifully produced this mare, and after trying over 20 horses in two days, Erika was my first pick. While we weren’t able to compete much in 2020, I was able to spend time developing a partnership and laying the basics from which a career is made.
Erika has continued to impress and I am hoping to keep her in my barn with new owners to support the journey. I’m very open to a variety of ownership situations, and would be happy to discuss ideas with anyone that is interested.For me, it’s not about the competition level or ribbons earned, it’s about the journey that you take to get there. And I am looking to create a group of people that would like to join me on this journey.
We’re so excited to be showing again, both in Ocala and at home. Mimi Abel Smith’s Erika Louvo won the Training Horse-A section over Valentine’s weekend at the Ocala Winter Horse Trials!
2/12-14: Ocala Winter I Horse Trials (Ocala, FL)
Stephen with Mimi Abel Smith’s Carrera 75: 5th in Open Training-B
Stephen with Mimi Abel Smith’s Erika Louvo: 1st in Training Horse-A
Anna Fitzhugh with former sale horse Loreto: 4th in Intermediate Rider
1/23-24: Grand Oaks Horse Trials (Ocala, FL)
Anna Fitzhugh with former sale horse Loreto: 1st in Preliminary Rider
1/17: Bascule Farm Dressage Schooling Show (Poolesville, MD)
Margaret McKelvy with Stilts: 65.972% and 70.000% in First Level, Test 3
It’s with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved From.
Stephen and From, a 1993 Russian Thoroughbred, traveled the world together, including being on the Gold Medal team at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He completed the Kentucky CCI4* (now 5*) three times, placing 5th in 2004 and 9th in 2008. Throughout it all, he was always cheered on by his supportive owner Charlotte Harris, and his best friend and stablemate Brandenburg’s Joshua.
“From had a personality that was as big as his talent. I am so thankful to have been a part of his life, and am grateful to everyone that made that possible.” Stephen recalls, “Even when they were both competing at the highest level, From and Brandenburg’s Joshua were always turned out together and traveled together. Having them both going at the same time was one of the highlights of my career.”
From was so lucky to have Tracy Mathews caring for him for the past several years. While he was initially meant to be Tracy’s partner in the hunter ring, he made himself at home in her barn and never left.
Tracy shared, “From was a legend for sure, and hands down the nicest horse I have ever had the pleasure of riding. Many thanks to Stephen and Charlotte for entrusting me with this special horse for so many years.”
And we would all like to thank Dr. Theiss for her quick response when From started to colic, and making his passing peaceful.
Go hug your horses today! And if you have a favorite From memory, please share!
