Foxy’s Magic Gift, handled by Oliver Brown.

Foxy’s Magic Gift stood before the judges on Aug. 30 at the Warrenton Horse Show looking wise and mature beyond his one year. Handled by Virginia native Oliver Brown, the flashy chestnut gelding won the East Coast phase of the Sallie B. Wheeler/U.S. Equestrian Federation National Hunter Breeding Championship and was deemed the overall best young horse.

Judges Thom Brede and Tucker Ericson traveled to Warrenton, Va., from California just days earlier after judging the West Coast phase on Aug. 27 at the Show Park All Seasons Summer Tournament in Del Mar.
Now in its seventh year, the championships are held at shows on both sides of the country, with judges flying coast-to-coast to determine the nation’s overall best young horse.

“As an exhibitor in the hunter breeding ring, I know how much time, money, patience and emotion goes into preparing for these championships,” said Ericson. “Thom and I wanted to make sure we gave every horse a chance to impress us.”

Brown is no stranger to winning on the line, but Foxy’s Magic Gift, known affectionately as “Jeter” by breeder John W. Kelly Jr., a Yankees fan, is proving to be particularly special. Co-owned by Kelly and Evelyn and Kimberly Maloomian, Jeter is a full Thoroughbred sired by Absolut out of Autumn’s Magic Fox by Castle Magic.

“There’s just something special when you see a really good one,” said Brown after an emotional win. “Everything’s special about this horse. He’s got a lot of sense—this is the real deal.”

“Foxy’s Magic Gift exemplified the best hunter type in the competition,” said Ericson. “His topline, structure and movement are first class. The colt stood perfectly throughout the competition and walked and jogged sensationally.”

Brown has previously handled two of Jeter’s brothers, Absolut Magic and Foxy’s Remember When, who won across the country as yearlings and 2-year-olds. While they earned their many titles competing regularly, Brown decided to take a different approach with Jeter.

“[His brothers] were obviously nice, but this colt’s really nice,” said Brown, who has worked with Jeter since he was a foal. “We’ve decided not to push him and just do the big shows. It’s been good for his mind. He’s only done five shows and hadn’t been to one since Upperville [Va.] in June until this weekend.”

Brown started working for breeder Kelly, who picked up the J. Arthur Reynolds Memorial Trophy with his win, in 1999 and is a huge supporter of his Thoroughbred breeding program.

“The majority of his horses he’s bred for three generations,” said Brown. “What he shows is what he’s bred, and so far we’ve had one hell of a run.”

Brown also applauded their joint decision to focus solely on the major competitions rather than showing Jeter every weekend. He plans to continue taking it slow after breaking the horse later in the fall.

“I don’t even need to work with Jeter that much anymore,” Brown admitted. “He’s a real safe horse, and when I go to jog, I more or less just start him, and he does the rest. In my opinion, a young horse on the line should look like he’s got a saddle on, and you should picture someone riding him. I think when this colt comes down that side, you can see someone posting as he trots.”

“It was so impressive how Foxy’s Magic Gift never lost his cool—always standing perfect, ears perked forward, balanced and correct,” Ericson noted. “He just looked like a miniature conformation hunter in every regard.”

Jeter’s calm, yet striking, demeanor earned him the overall championship over last year’s defending best young horse, Capitol Hill. Kenny Wheeler and his 3-year-old American Warmblood settled with the overall reserve championship.

Just Say Wow
California knows how to put on a stylish event. In a class set to music and celebrated with champagne, Leslie Nelson’s aptly named 2-year-old filly, Wow, won the best young horse title at the West Coast phase of the Sallie B. Wheeler breeding championship.

Handled by Richard Taylor, the Hanoverian-Thoroughbred stunned exhibitors and judges alike. “Gracie” is by Popeye K, out of Nelson’s successful Thoroughbred hunter mare, Holy Cow by Fire Jade. The striking bay earned her show name the moment she hit the ground.

“She was absolutely amazing,” said Nelson. “Everyone saw her and said ‘wow’ down the line. The reaction kind of stuck.”

The filly, who is currently leading the USEF national standings in hunter breeding, might be gorgeous, but her looks don’t come without some sass.

“Gracie’s so smart, but she’s been a little tough to work with,” Nelson admitted. “She has an opinion about everything, and she’s quite a diva. She’s definitely getting by on her good looks!”

Gracie kept her composure for the Sallie B. Wheeler championship under Taylor’s guidance; Taylor took over the reins for Ted Fieger after he became ill. Taylor got the call asking if he would fly out to California from his hometown of Montville, Va., five days before the competition.

“When [trainer] Diane Yaeger called me, I said, ‘Certainly. I’d be delighted as long as I can make the travel connections,’ ” said Taylor.

Fate was on everyone’s side, and Taylor arrived the evening before the championship, hopping back on a plane to fly home at midnight after a meaningful win.

Taylor, who considers himself to primarily be a “pony man,” didn’t enter the ring on Tuesday without some nerves.

“I had never seen the horse before, only a picture,” he said. “Not knowing her well, I was concerned that I’d be able to get along with her. I just needed to get through the day and present the horse as perfectly as I could. Gracie and I were able to show without any clash or confrontation, and I have to give credit to the horse for that. She was very well-prepared, quiet and cooperative.”

Nelson added, “We were so blessed that we got to work with Richard. He’s the classiest, most amazing man. He was a true horseman and a pleasure to spend the day with.”

Taylor will continue handling Gracie through the International Hunter Futurity Finals this fall in Kentucky.

Lisa Stroway’s Pop’s Panda, handled by Carleton Brooks, won the yearling class and took home the West Coast phase reserve championship.

Alexandra Beckstett