United States Eventing Association

A Family Affair for KingsWay Farm at Galway Downs

This article was made through partnership with Athletux.

Galway Downs International was a family affair for Linda and Terry Paine, who operate a sport horse breeding program at their own KingsWay Farm in Temecula, Calif. Three full siblings, all products of The Paine’s breeding program, were entered to compete: Gin & Juice, Happy Hour and Five O’Clock Somewhere. Each of these horses are by the Thoroughbred Stallion Audio and out of Qtrapastree, who is also a Thoroughbred. Galway Downs was the perfect setting for the reunion as the horses were bred and raised just across the street at the Paine’s KingsWay Farm.

Linda and Terry Paine originally founded KingsWay Farm in 1976 as a training and rehabilitation center for racehorses. They laid eyes on the amazing 65-acre piece of land and never looked back. KingsWay started as a dream and vision and has turned into that and much more over the past 40 years, producing an incredible line of horses, three of which were shown off at Galway Downs. The Paine’s have always taken great pride in their breeding program and truly stand behind the quality of horses they produce. Whether ridden by a professional at the upper levels or taking a junior around her first Training Three Day, each horse displays a fantastic work ethic and want to please.

When you speak with Linda Paine, it is easy to tell how excited and passionate she is about her breeding program and her horses. “We were in the racehorse business but had to change business models and my husband (Terry Paine) loves fox hunting so we ended up switching to eventing.” Terry and Linda ended up with the centerpieces of their breeding program somewhat by chance. “The mare (Qtrapastree) is a California-bred racehorse and was actually in foal with Gin & Juice when the people just left her [at the farm]. We kept the mare and started riding and showing ‘Ginny’ to see what she could do,” Linda added.

Indeed, Gin & Juice, is the most experienced of the siblings and was back competing in the CCI3* at Galway Downs with Sara Mittleider in the irons. While she had an exuberant dressage test, Ginny once again proved the KingsWay produced cross-country excellence, and went double clear over Ian Stark’s three-star track. While unfortunately she had to be withdrawn before Sunday’s show jumping, the Paines were excited to be able to watch Ginny back in her element and doing what she loved. “ Ginny has nothing left to prove. She would probably run around again today if asked and we are so happy she is sound and enjoying turnout with Sara in Idaho,” explained Linda.

Ginny tearing around the Galway Downs cross-country. Photo via Linda Paine's Facebook Page.

While Gin & Juice was competing in the CCI3*, both Five O’Clock Somewhere (“Chunky”) ridden by Megan Compton and Happy Hour (“Happy”), ridden by Kaylawna Smith, were competing in the Training Three-Day Division B, which created some sibling rivalry all weekend. Both pairs laid down beautiful dressage tests on Thursday that ended with Megan and Five O’Clock Somewhere sitting in first place and Kaylawna and Happy Hour, hot on her heals, tied for second with her mom and three-star rider, Tamie Smith.

On Friday the Training Three-Day riders set out on a full endurance day with roads and tracks, steeplechase, and finally the cross-country. Both pairs were tackling a long format endurance day for the first time but you would not have known it. The riders were on their game and both horses came home with no penalties added. Kaylawna additionally was able to come in closer to the optimum time, breaking the tie for second she had with her mother and slotting Happy into the second place position.

Happy Hour and Kaylawna Smith. Photo by Deana Christensen, via Kaylawna's Facebook Page.

On Sunday morning, both horses passed the jogs with flying colors, and it was on to show jumping. Happy, lying in second, jumped first and left all the rails up to put the pressure on her brother Chunky. When describing how Happy Hour performed Kaylawna said, “I was really happy with Happy, she was a really good girl in the big atmosphere.” It was then Chunky’s turn to close out the division and he kept his cool and jumped a picture-perfect double clear round to seal the victory and the one-two finish for the siblings from KingsWay farm.

“Chunky was really on his game and I just tried to focus on keeping him forward because he is so fit and willing,” explained Megan when asked about how she felt going into Show Jumping on Five O’Clock Somewhere.

When asked how it felt to share the moment with Terry and Linda Paine, Kaylawna explained, “It was great to share the experience with Terry and Linda. [Linda] didn’t want to come out at first but I encouraged her because it’s a big moment for those horses to be one and two.” Megan echoed Kaylawna’s praise for both Terry and Linda saying “It was really fun for me to see them there. They still keep up with Chunky and appreciate him and enjoy seeing him out and I love that they are involved.”

Indeed, both Terry and Linda Paine truly enjoy seeing their homebreds out and being so successful at all ends of the eventing spectrum. Besides these three, they also have horses engaged in eventing as early as the USEA Future and Young Event Horse Programs, and have seen many with success through national and international levels. Linda voiced her joy adding, “It was very exciting to see them go one, two, and especially with the young girls riding them. It was so cute!” To add to the reunion, the Paines also had a half brother out competing in the CCI1* division. Stag Party, ridden by Tamie Smith, finished up the weekend impressively in 11^th place and gained valuable experience throughout the event. These horses are a testament to the amount of love, passion and dedication the Paine’s put into their breeding program. It was a very special reunion for all involved at Galway Downs and the first of many more to come.

You can learn more about Terry and Linda Paine’s program at KingsWay Farm by visiting their website, www.kingswayfarm.com