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.
