Every once in a while a great athlete emerges to capture the imagination of a public that ranges beyond the normal "confines" of that particular sport. Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, to name two such greats, are known and beloved by far more than the avid followers of basketball or golf.

In the Eventing world, Hideaway's Erin Go Bragh, in a marvelous pairing with Carol Kozlowski, is known and beloved by fans both in and outside his sport of the "Complete Test of the Horse." Staring with Carol in the award winning children's video, "The Little Horse that Could," Go Bragh continues to capture the hearts of an ever-expanding audience, introducing the sport of horse trials to people who might otherwise have never been exposed to this exciting competition. As the world famous Breyer "Horse of the Year" in 1998, just under 22,000 model Go Braghs were made to order in that year's limited edition run. People came to the '98 "Breyerfest," held at the Kentucky Horse Park, from as far as California to meet and touch "The Little Horse That Could."

This Connemara stallion and Carol have demonstrated that a "Can Do" attitude, coupled with an implicit trust in each other, makes anything possible. Consider what this 15.1 oversized pony and Carol have accomplished together: As a Preliminary horse, Go Bragh won an unprecedented four events in a row in 1991 and the Ledyard Three Day Event in 1992.

GB then went on to Intermediate and finished the season winning at Fair Hill, NJ. Moving up to Advanced (the highest level in the sport) in '95 he ended up winning the USCTA (United States Combined Training Association) Advanced Horse of the Year in Zone II while also winning the Intermediate at Middleburg, VA. Reluctant to put her beloved partner at serious and potentially dangerous disadvantage, because of the weights he'd have to carry, Carol was finally convinced (not by his owner) to enter him in the 1996 Radnor Two Star Event. Already Carol had submitted a petition, backed up by veterinarian produced video analysis, to the governing FEI to abolish the 165 lbs. minimum weight requirement born of an age when only male cavalry officers competed in this demanding sport.

Years from now horse people will shake their heads in disbelief when they consider that small horses, like GB, were required to carry upwards of 40 lbs. of lead to compete at the international level. Galloping across an open field at Radnor while carrying close to those 40 extra lbs. of dead weight and after 14 or so miles of roads & tracks, a steeplechase course and 22 of 25 cross-country obstacles, GB stepped in a depression and tore his suspensory ligament. Later the following year the FEI forever banned the weight requirements- too late, however, for this plucky stallion who did come back, after a year's recuperation, to win again and even record the fastest cross-country time of the day!

Go Bragh's last horse trial was in July, '99 at Groton House, Hamilton, MA, where he placed third in the Intermediate level. He also won the Windrush Farm trophy in recognition of the oldest horse finishing highest in their division.

GB has sired close to 200 get so far and in recent years has competed against some of his offspring, many of whom have very successful burgeoning careers of their own. At Equitana (the largest trade show and equestrian gathering in North America) in Louisville in 1999, representing the USCTA, the announcer had to halt his introduction after announcing Go Bragh's name because of the overwhelming response of the crowd.

GB has had many great accomplishments, including being a champion pleasure driving horse prior to his Eventing career, but what endears him so much to those who follow him is his undaunted belief in his own abilities. Carol would occasionally remind us that she was always careful as to what she'd put Go Bragh at, because no matter the size of the obstacle, he would jump it if she asked him to. Couple this self-confidence with a gentleness maybe best expressed by a time when Carol turned away for a moment and then looked back to find a visiting 2nd grader standing between GB's hind legs, holding on to his chestnut and asking, "What's this for?" and one begins to appreciate what a remarkable stallion Erin Go Bragh is.

After completing a five foot jumping course Carol and GB's instructor, famed international Grand Prix jump rider Anne Kursinski, said, "You know, he can do a lot more than this…" He and Carol went on and did do "a lot more than this."

In the May/June '99 issue of the Equine Athlete magazine they list: 20 Years of 20 Unforgettable Sport Horses and wrote, "Including Erin Go Bragh in such lofty company may be a bit surprising, but this Connemara pony stallion truly proved that good things can come in small packages. Erin Go Bragh became a champion Advanced Eventer making an impressive mark against world class competition under the guidance of American rider, Carol Kozlowski (with help from Anne Kursinski). It was said by his rider that Go Bragh believed he was twice the size that he really was and so he also became an ambassador for ponies who competed head to head against big horses in a world were he could have been out sized. Erin Go Bragh had just as much heart, if not more, than his taller counterparts."

At 16 years of age, Carol and Go Bragh's breeder and owner, Jacqueline S. Harris, knew he had nothing left to prove in the Eventing world and so decided it was time for him to retire while still a champion. He is the all time, most winning stallion of any breed in Eventing history in North America. The legacy of this "Little Horse That Could" will forever endure in our hearts, as will his offspring in this and other worlds of equine endeavors.

Go Bragh was officially retired at a ceremony honoring him and Carol at the Genesee Valley Hunt Race Meet, less than a mile from his home, on October 9, 1999.

To learn about and order the award winning children's video about Go Bragh, click:

"The Little Horse That Could"
Video