Since the moment he came to Emil Spadone’s Redfield Farm last February, Four Aces has proven to be a level-headed amateur hunter mount and, simultaneously, a brilliant international hunter derby competitor.

Owned by Marita Zuraitis, “Ace” has been racking up top placings in the derby ring with professional Brian Feigus and in the amateur-owner ring with Casey Zuraitis.

Most recently, Feigus and the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Acodetto 2—Haamoon, Leonid) won back-to-back Florida derbies, topping the $80,000 Mars Equestrian USHJA International Hunter Derby at the World Equestrian Center—Ocala on Feb. 28 and following that with another win in the $40,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at HITS Post Time Farm on March 14.

Feigus is quick to credit Ace’s rider at home, Erin Carey, who’s worked for Spadone for six years. We caught up with Carey at Redfield Farm’s winter base in Ocala to learn more about Ace.

• When Ace arrived from Stal Hendrix in the Netherlands, he had some 1.45-meter jumper experience but wasn’t quite quick enough to excel in that ring. He’d also been gelded recently.

“He’s always been a very brave horse but also very curious,” Carey said. “He’s very smart. He’s always very intrigued by his surroundings. When we first got him, the hardest thing was to get him to not look around everywhere. Like, keep your eyes on the prize! He’s always given us the vibe that he’s dependable and honest and sweet. That part has been consistent from the second he got here until now. He’s always been a quiet horse.”

• Whether he’s in Florida or at Redfield’s New Jersey base, Ace has a pretty laidback routine. 

“He loves the field, so he’ll go outside for as long as he wants,” Carey said. “He goes on the walker for his fitness. He really loves to eat. He spends his whole day sleeping, eating and going outside.”

• He’s the same, no matter how much time he’s had off, with a cute bark but no bite. 

“You can give him a month off and get right on him, and he’s not going to do anything,” Carey said. “He’s a squealer: If he’s fresh he’ll squeal a little bit, like for a lead change, but in general, he’s super sweet and quiet.”

• His favorite therapies are cryotherapy, laser and a Bemer blanket, all thanks to bodyworker Alex Lee, who comes before bigger classes to get him feeling his best.

• He knows his people. 

“His relationship with his owner is great,” Carey said. “He’s so smart. He knows who you are. He knows the difference between [all of us]. He loves the Zuraitis family because they shower him with treats and food and tell him how pretty he is all the time. He just knows. He’s totally spoiled.”

• He also knows when it’s time to step up. 

“He loves Brian,” Carey added. “We’ve been told that by an animal communicator. He likes to win, is what they said. He knows when Brian rides him, it’s for an occasion—something special. You can see it in the horse. I’ll flat him around in the schooling area before he goes in the ring, and then you put Brian on, and he walks totally differently. He just knows.”

• He loves cheese pizza. “He loves anything he can put his mouth on. He’s not picky, and he’s very food motivated. But it’s funny how much he loves pizza,” she said.

• His groom, Welner Vasquez, keeps him looking his best. 

“He loves his horses, and he takes such good care of them,” Carey said. “He has a lot of pride, and he takes care of all the other horses I manage. He builds a relationship with them and cares about them and doesn’t get frustrated.”