Olympic eventer Boyd Martin has a new ride in the barn with the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in mind. His supporters recently purchased Blackfoot Mystery, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding previously campaigned by Kelly Prather to the three-star level. 

“I am very thankful to two of my supporters who have stepped up to finance the original purchase, while I work to entice the prior syndicate owners [of Trading Aces and Otis Barbotiere] to have another go at a big-time horse!” Martin said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know ‘Red’ over the next couple weeks. Most likely we’ll make our debut at the Millbrook Horse Trials [(N.Y.) on July 30-Aug. 2].”

Blackfoot Mystery (Out Of Place—True Mystery, Proud Truth) was bred in Kentucky and raced three times. He found his way to California, where Prather was based, and began eventing with former owner Lisa Peecook. Peecook brought the horse to the preliminary level, then sold “Red” to Prather in 2013.

Prather brought the horse to the advanced level in 2014 and was third in The Fork CIC*** (N.C.) and fourth in the Jersey Fresh CCI*** (N.J.) this spring. 

Want to know more about Kelly Prather? Check out the Chronicle’s article from 2012 when she told us what she’d learned from a stint working for top British eventer William Fox-Pitt.

Kelly Prather on Blackfoot Mystery at Jersey Fresh