Havarah’s Charly Had Big Shoes To Fill

Molly Rosin didn’t have any advanced experience when she found her diamond in the rough, Havarah’s Charly. But she did draw on a partnership with one special horse when she started training her new international star.

A bay Thoroughbred gelding named Sweet William took Rosin to the CCI** at the 1998 North American Young Rider Championships, and she attributed many of her skills to his tutelage.

Just a teenager at the time, Rosin found the gelding relaxing in dressage and eventing judge Col. Paul M. Wimert’s pasture in Virginia at the end of an emotionally trying year. Her father had passed away, followed by her dog, and the horse she had trained to preliminary had died suddenly from an aneurysm.

Imported from England as a field hunter, Sweet William had proved to be too much horse for the hound chase, so Wimert agreed to sell him.

“I didn’t know much of his history at all; I just knew I could take him out and he would jump around,” Rosin admitted.

In true British fashion, Sweet William was bold to the jumps and lived for cross-country. Only later did she discover that he’d evented through the intermediate level in England.

“Sweet William was the only horse I’ve ever had who actually knew something,” Rosin admitted. “He was difficult in the dressage but was a great teacher. He was an incredibly lucky find.”