Four-star eventer Hannah Burnett recently added a new horse to her string. Cooley Dream Extreme arrived from Great Britain at Burnett’s home base in The Plains, Va., just over a week ago, and she already has big plans for him.
Jess Montgomery introduced Burnett to the Irish Sport Horse last fall, but the stars didn’t align for her to purchase him then. When she was approached again this spring, the timing turned out to be perfect. Jacqueline Mars and Mary Ann Ghadban purchased the gelding for Burnett to ride.
“I’m just so lucky and fortunate to have such a beautiful horse; he’s incredible,” said Burnett. “He’s very powerful, very uphill, an excellent mover and very well-trained; Piggy French had him for a couple years, and he knows everything. It’s really exciting to have a really, really well-trained horse that’s ready to move on up and get going.”
Cooley Dream Extreme (Cruising—The Dreamseeker, Ramiro B) saw many competitive highlights last year with Great Britain’s French, including third in the 6-year-old division at the FEI World Eventing Championships for Young Horses (France).
Bred by Frank Gordon, Cooley Dream Extreme has the same sire as Burnett’s four-star horse Harbour Pilot.
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“I’m kind of finding out that they have very similar idiosyncrasies,” said Burnett. “They are both spooky at stumps and rocks and stuff; they’re both the same in that way, which is kind of funny!”
After an injury caused Burnett to withdraw Harbour Pilot from the Land Rover Burghley CCI**** (England) after cross-country last fall, he’s getting ready to start regular flatwork with plans to do some horse trials this fall.
Cooley Dream Extreme, 7, will make his U.S. debut at preliminary at the Surefire Horse Trials (Va.) in June. Burnett plans to aim him at the Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International CCI** (Md.) in October.
“The reason that Jess picked him out, and that Piggy liked him so much, and why I wanted him, was that he’s just got all the qualities that you look for in an upper-level campaigner,” said Burnett, 28. “I think he’s got the mind and the talent to be a team horse, so that will be the goal, hopefully shooting for the next [FEI] World Games.”
