United States Eventing Association

The biggest headline that came from the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships, presented by VTO Saddlery, may have been Buck Davidson’s big win in the $40,000 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final. However, it wasn’t the story that Buck wanted to talk about.

In fact, the most meaningful story of the weekend wasn’t even in the upper levels – it was in the Novice Horse division.

“I want to say something that has nothing to do with this class,” Buck said during the Gold Cup press conference. “I think one of the coolest stories of this weekend is the horse that Andrea [Leatherman] is riding in the Novice named Mr. Poppers.”

Mr. Poppers, or “Sam,” was owned by Christine Brown, who was tragically killed in July of 2013 in an apparent riding accident while schooling alone at home. Her husband, Hagyard Equine Medical veterinarian Dr. Stuart Brown, was left with Sam as one of the strongest reminders of his wife.

“She had rheumatoid arthritis in her hands and this horse was really easy on her,” said a deeply emotional Stuart, who was grazing the gentle gelding outside the barns during his interview. Stuart travelled from his home in Lexington, Ky. to Tyler, Texas to watch Sam compete in the AEC with Andrea.

“She found him and picked him out, and she was bringing him along when she had her accident,” he said. “In the six months after she passed, I wasn’t quite sure [what to do]. He of course had a home for life. He was the last one to see her alive.”

Buck, a close friend of Stuart and Christine’s, offered to take the horse into training at his barn in Ocala, Florida.

“I saw Buck in Lexington [Kentucky] last fall and we were talking about what a nice horse he is,” Stuart recalled. “He suggested that it might be something fun to do in Christine’s memory - to bring him along and see what he could do. And it might be helpful to me [to see Christine’s horse] have a job and to stay involved in the sport.”

After a few months of training at Buck’s farm, Stuart went to visit Sam. It was obvious that the horse and Andrea, Buck’s fiancée, had formed a bond and a special partnership. So, Stuart and Buck agreed that Andrea should take over the ride.

“I have to say, it’s an emotional experience to be here and Andrea has done such a wonderful job with him all season,” Stuart said. “Christine had done some baby Novice stuff with Sam, and Buck wanted to see what he could do further up. He called me a few weeks ago and said ‘You’ve got to get a plane ticket and come to Texas.’ It was like a dream come true. Christine loved the AEC and one of her fondest memories was spending the week with her dad while competing at the AEC. She would be so tickled that Sam is here.”

Mr. Poppers and Andrea are currently leading the Novice Horse division and head into show jumping on a 21.5.

“Stuart knew that Christine would want someone to look after the horse and see what he can do,” said Buck. “So it’s really exciting for Andrea. Stuart is here this weekend to watch and to me, that’s what this sport is about; giving someone some joy through these horses. That for me is more of a story than me and Flower [winning the Gold Cup].”

Leatherman was as emotional as Stuart about getting to compete Sam, saying that there is no greater honor.

“Stuart said Christine would have wanted Sam in Buck's barn. She loved the way Buck cares for the horses,” said Andrea. “Buck and Stuart decided I could have the ride on Sam. It means more than riding any other horse I’ve ever had. The love Stuart has for this horse and for Christine is unbelievable, and you can see it in the way he treats Sam and talks about Christine."

Although Leatherman is an experienced upper-level competitor, she says that going Novice on this special horse is the most excited she has ever been about competing.

“I know it sounds crazy, but there’s not one day I ride Sam that I don’t think of Christine. It makes you think about the meaning of life and appreciate everything. Sometimes I’m having a bad day and I ride Sam and realize how incredibly lucky I am. Even though I am only riding Novice, in riding Sam, I’ve never felt more of a purpose.”