Nickname: Hugo
Owner: Artisan Farms LLC & Torrey Pines Stable
Age: 14
Breed: Anglo European (Namelus R – Calve Z, Cantango)
Theme Song: “I’m Too Sexy”
Strengths: Soft, chocolate brown eyes that lull his competition into a false sense of security.
Weaknesses: None
Groom: Caroline Holmberg
#StallLife: In the barn he’s neat and doesn’t make a mess of his stall. He loves a good nap, preferably with his head resting in the banks of shavings; even on busy show days he will nap usually once a day. He likes having his door open so he can stand and look out the aisle, and he always has his ears forward. The only time he gets a bit protective is when other horses come too close. He’s not a huge fan of other horses, but one in our group that he actually likes is Southwind VDL, I think because he’s old and wise and doesn’t bother him. He loves people.
Table Manners: He’s a gentleman when it comes to meal time. He gets fed grain and hay three times a day and also hay at night check. He always waits patiently to get fed. His favourite treat is definitely the Uncle Jimmy’s Hangin’ Balls; he’ll finish one in a couple of days. He’s also a big fan of Stud Muffins and Motts Fruitsations. When he comes out of the ring, Caroline always gives him a couple of sugar cubes. He nickers for treats and he knows he’ll always get one!
It’s Showtime: I think he knows when it’s a grand prix day or an important class. He’s definitely a showman, but he is also focused on his job. His warmup before he shows is usually the same: in the morning I ride him for about 40 minutes, but the majority of the work is walking and trotting with some canter near the end. He is always a little fresh on his first show day of the week, but I leave him with lots of energy because he is always lovely to ride. I feel that he likes having a little extra on the big days. If he’s bucking and playing in the warmup, I know he’s good to go! He’s very fun to ride, extremely well-schooled, has tons of energy, and he really loves to work. He’s brave in all environments and loves hacking out.
That’s the Spot: He always wants to be scratched on his left hip. Every time I take his blanket off he turns his head and looks at me as though he’s telling me to scratch him, right … there. He also loves bath time.
Frequent Flyer: He’s actually a bit of a handful to travel, he has a bad habit of kicking the back of the truck, so he travels with big kick pads both front and back so he can’t hurt himself. I always have to plan who’s traveling next to him so he doesn’t get more agitated than necessary. He’s a great flyer, it’s just the truck that upsets him a bit.
Besties: He loves attention and always wants to come out first in the mornings. He’s really easy to care for, although he can be a bit of a handful when he’s fresh at the shows. Overall, he’s very sweet and affectionate. His best friend is definitely Caro. She is utterly devoted to him and he is the same with her. They spend every day together and they love each other! I think we have a lovely little team of three.
