Michelle Coursin’s yearling colt dominates Devon’s breeding divisions.

When Michelle Coursin saw Perfect Qredit’s sale advertisement on Yancey Farm’s website, she immediately knew she had to have the young colt. More than a year later, her instincts proved right, and “Qredit” trotted off with the overall grand championship, Dressage At Devon’s highest breeding honor.

“It was absolutely amazing,” said Coursin, originally from Virginia Beach, Va., but now based at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. “I wasn’t expecting anything at all. I wanted him to put in a good showing and show off his amazing trot. When he won the yearling colt class I was jumping up and down and so happy. I could have gone home happy with that.”

But Qredit (Quarterback—Dream Rubina, Dream Of Glory) took the Devon, Pa., show ring by storm, Sept. 22-24, with his stunning good looks and lovely gaits. His many accolades included the blue in the yearling colts and geldings (79.70%), the Oldenburg class (83.80%), the young horse championship, the Born In The U.S.A award for yearling colts and geldings and the grand championship.

“It was my first time attending and competing at Devon,” said Coursin, 27. “I loved it. I’ve heard of it and always wanted to go and compete, so to see that come true was wonderful.”

Coursin purchased Qredit without even seeing him in person when he was a month old. A fan of his sire, Quarterback, for many years, she was impressed by the presence the flashy chestnut displayed in photographs alone.

She finally met Qredit in person four months later. Even though Coursin lives a long way from Hilltop Farm, Colora, Md., where she keeps Qredit and her two other horses, Regalia HM and Beatrix, she remains a part of their lives through e-mail and the telephone.

“They keep us up to date with bi-monthly reports and pictures,” said Coursin. “They answer my questions right away. I heard about Hilltop’s program right after I bought [Qredit] and decided it would be the best place to send them. I heard nothing but good things and gave them a shot. The whole Hilltop team has done an outstanding job, and [Qredit] couldn’t have done it without them.”

Qredit has been growing under the watchful eye of Hilltop’s resident trainer, Michael Bragdell. They plan to continue to show him on the line depending on how he develops and will begin working him toward his stallion approvals. Coursin hopes to point him to the young horse dressage divisions eventually and plans on having Bragdell start him under saddle.

“We really like how he’s progressing,” she said. “He was a bit standoffish when he first got there, but they’ve really worked hard with him and turned him around completely. He’s really laid back for a yearling colt. He takes everything as it goes and is very calm, sweet, and affectionate.”

Coursin, who works as an air traffic controller at Bagram, scheduled her three-week vacation to coincide with the breed show. A former member of the U.S. Air Force, she’s been working in Afghanistan for a little more than two years.

“It’s not bad here at all. The base gets attacked very rarely, and we’re in safe hands,” said Coursin. “This is a really beautiful country; it’s just a shame it’s being torn apart. My base is right in the middle of a mountain range, and it’s gorgeous scenery, especially when it snows. I love my job, and it’s really fun doing it here.”

Coursin learned to ride hunters in England when her father, who was in the Navy, was stationed there. While horses weren’t always available in her youth, she’s been passionate about them her whole life and is looking forward to starting her dressage career.

“I’ve always been fascinated by dressage,” said Coursin. “When I bought Qredit it seemed like the perfect time to switch from hunters.”

Even though Coursin has enjoyed working in Afghanistan, she’s looking forward to rejoining her husband of five years, Chris, who lives about two hours from Hilltop, and starting her new adventures in dressage with Qredit and Regalia.

“Chris isn’t into horses; he just puts up with my obsession,” Coursin said with a laugh. “I want to come home and enjoy my horses.”