Sorocaima brought more than talent when he joined Buck Davidson’s barn. From the start, it was clear the 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Rock Hard Ten—Sankobasi, Pulpit), who later this month will make his fourth appearance at the Defender Kentucky CCI5*-L, possessed heart, determination and an earnest work ethic—qualities that quickly made him a standout in Davidson’s program.

“Cam” arrived at Davidson’s stable in early 2020 having competed through training level. With Buck in the tack, Cam swiftly moved up the ranks, jumping clear rounds in each of his starts that season and capping it off with a fifth-place finish in the Hagyard Midsouth CCI3*-L (Kentucky), where he finished on his dressage score. He moved up to advanced the next year, and has now completed six five-stars. In 2024, he jumped clean at the Defender Kentucky to finish sixth and then earned his best five-star finish—fourth place—at that year’s Mars Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill.

But beyond his cross-country boldness and competition record, Cam is a horse of quirks and routine—a combination that makes him beloved by his team.

A Home Life Built On Routine

“Cam’s pretty simple, really,” Davidson said. “He’s the ultimate worker. He just tries. But he’s got some quirky little habits, too.”

Among them? A very specific route to turnout.

“Every day when you take him out to the paddock, he stops in the same exact spot and looks at the same rock—every time, both going out and coming in,” Davidson said. “And every day, the [feed] cart goes out the door, and he has to stop and watch that, too.”

His groom Keira Nightingale sees the same thing.

“Whenever he goes out, he’ll always stop right at the corner—just stops for about five seconds,” she said. “We’ll be like, ‘Come on, Cam, we’ve gotta go,’ and then he’ll come. Guaranteed, he’ll stop there.”

While those quirks amuse his team, they’re far from a deal-breaker in the saddle.

“He’s spooky in weird ways at weird times, and you’re never exactly sure why,” Davidson said with a laugh. “But he’s unbelievably honest. You think you’re on a great stride, and he might spook, and you’re suddenly on a different one—but he’s careful, and he wants to get it done.”

Even though Cam may have a moment here or there, Davidson is used to it.

“You just don’t get upset. If you get upset, he’ll get upset,” he said. “There’s no point. He gets over it pretty quick.”

A Barn Favorite With Boundaries

“He’s got good manners in the stable,” Nightingale said. “He gets out of the way when you walk in. He’s very polite—but he’s also not the cuddly type.”

Cam likes things done his way, especially when it comes to tack.

“You’ve got one shot with his noseband,” Nightingale said. “He gets fed up if you mess with it too long. He’s like, ‘Come on, let’s go to work.’ ”

And while he might enjoy a head scratch from time to time, it’s always on his terms.

“Some days he loves the attention, and other days, not so much,” she said.

Despite his occasional aloofness, Cam enjoys a good routine.

“He comes in around 7 a.m., gets breakfast, then gets groomed,” said Nightingale. “He’s usually the first horse Buck rides, around 8:30. Then he gets a bath, some lunch at 11, dinner at 3, and turnout for the night around 4.”

A Thoroughbred With Heart (And Hair)

As an off-track Thoroughbred, Cam has some typical sensitivities—like needing extra care when doing up the girth—but in other ways, he’s remarkably relaxed. Davidson’s farm has a track around the jump field, but it doesn’t trigger racing memories for Cam, as it does for some other Thoroughbreds.  Nightingale appreciates his calm attitude around it.  

“You’d think with the track here, he’d be raring to go,” said Nightingale. “But he doesn’t look at it and think he’s a race horse again. He’s really level-headed.”

• One place he shines? The forelock department, particularly considering he’s a Thoroughbred.

“He’s got a cool head of hair—especially his forelock,” she said. “Most Thoroughbreds don’t have that.”

• Cam’s even-tempered nature and honest way of going have made him a barn favorite—and an exciting partner for the future.

“He really tries,” Nightingale said. “He wants to please.”

What’s Next?

At 14, Cam continues to be a top contender in Davidson’s program. With each season, he’s gained experience and consistency—and his team knows there’s still more to come.

“He’s gone from training level to five-stars in just a few years,” said Davidson. “And he just keeps getting better.”

Whether it’s through a quiet nod to a rock on the way to turnout or rising to the occasion on cross-country day, Cam proves that a good horse isn’t just about talent—it’s about heart, habit, and the people who believe in him.