PrintWhen a significant portion of the equestrian world migrates to warmer climes (or, God forbid, stays home in the snow) for a few months to show, there are bound to be some good stories. These horsemen across the country share their favorite memories.
John French, Redwood City, Calif.
“I moved to California when I was 25 and did the winter circuit then for the first time. At the time, you went to Arizona: Scottsdale, Tucson and Goodyear. It’s really built up now, but then it was really in the middle of nowhere. I’d never been in the desert or mountains before, and I remember thinking as we were driving out there how pretty it was.
“So, one day I decided to go hiking and to walk to the mountains, but I didn’t realize how far away it was. It started to get dark, and I couldn’t see to get back, and the bats started coming down and swooping over me.
“All of a sudden, I realized that my legs were cut up and bloody. I knew I wasn’t hitting any cacti, but somehow there were needles sticking me in the legs. I didn’t realize it was a jumping cactus: cactus that shoots needles into you when you get too close to it. Needless to say, I haven’t been back out there since then.”
Richard Spooner, Agua Dulce, Calif.
“The most exciting day I ever had at a winter circuit was with Robinson [in 2001.] I’d broken my leg and jumped in the [$150,000 Ford Grand Prix CSI-W]. He could tell I wasn’t 100 percent, and he just took care of me, jumped phenomenally and went clean. It was one of those moments when I felt that horse do something that he shouldn’t have done. It was incredible.”
Danielle Torano, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“My daughter [Natalia] was born on Dec. 8, 2006, right before circuit. I went to Palm Beach with a newborn and having not ridden in six months. I had never not done anything for that amount of time in my life. I was really gung ho: three weeks later I was riding, which, looking back on it, was a little bit crazy. I rode for about two days on the flat, but I was so nervous that maybe I’d forgotten how to jump that I’d sneak in little x’s when no one was looking.
“I showed the first week, around Jan. 15, right in the grand prix. But within two days of jumping, everything felt perfect. I had Vancouver D’Auvray, and [my husband] Jimmy had been riding him a little bit, so he was really ready. It was a great circuit: the last week we ended up third in the [$399,230 CN Worldwide Florida Open Grand Prix]. Looking back on it, it was a great experience. When days weren’t so great it was so nice to have something nice to come home to.”
Jeff Gogul, Chagrin Falls, Ohio
“I’m a huge 70s music fan, so the year of the 1999 USET Denim ‘N Diamonds fundraiser was fantastic. It was a circus theme, and [organizer] Mason Phelps did a great job with it. All of these grand prix riders came out riding an elephant.
“We were stabling at the show at the time, and our stalls were near where the party was being held. Donna Summer, who was performing, practiced all day, so we got to hear her during the day and at night at the party, and she’s one of my 70s favorites.”
Chuck Mayer, North Smithfield, R.I.
“The best thing about the winter circuit is the camaraderie. You spend so much time with the same people that you only get to see for a few months of the year. Everyone is living in the same place for three months, and you’re seeing each other day in, day out.
