United States Eventing Association

The Road To Bromont CCI2*: Skyeler Icke Voss

Skyeler Icke Voss and her Dutch mare, Tika, have their sights on the CCI2* at Bromont. Skyeler’s blog series will document the journey of the Angelica Run Event Team as they head to Canada this prestigious event.

Hello US Eventing! I am very excited to get the opportunity to document the stories, tribulations, and inevitable entertainment that are bound to pave the Angelica Run road to Bromont. My name is Skyeler Icke Voss, and I am the owner and trainer at Angelica Run Eventing along with Sallie Spenard our incredible dressage coach, my moral support and voice of reason. Team Angelica will be heading to Canada with my horse Tika (CCI**) and students, Kristin Carpenter, her horse Trance (CCI**) and Erin Murphy with Say Wat (CCI*). While the two star was not my initial plan with Tika, we all know that this sport is quite humbling and plans are always open to change in the horse world. So here we go…….ears forward and sights set as we prepare to pack our bags for the ever so lovely and always inviting Quebec!

I will fill you in on a bit of my history and the horses (along the way) that have given me the chance to be where I am today. I began riding at age four, and seriously picked up the reins when my aunt gave me a pony for my fifth birthday. With that pony, Goldchip, I learned how to compete on the hunter circuit and most importantly how to balance getting dumped in the mud with the occasional win. There was no looking back from there and at age nine I began the transition into the event world. I went through many problem horses before I was lucky enough to get the ride on Julie Richards’ very small advanced mare, Savannah. She taught me everything and I owe my entire career to that horse. She took me from my first Training level event all the way to Advanced, as well as the NAYRC in the one and two star. My very first CCI*, at age 14 was a third place at Bromont and thus began my love for this event. I then was lucky enough to have Dillinger, who was my first real shot at the Advanced level. We went to Young Riders, winning the team gold (at Bromont 2003), and then on to the Foxhall CCI3* winning the Markham trophy for the highest placed young rider. Dillinger helped me complete the Fair Hill CCI3* and qualify for Rolex in 2005. Rolex was put on hold due to an unfortunate fall that set me back, but inevitably created an even stronger desire to make it back to the top.

I was in college, at James Madison University, during most of my young rider’s career. I had spent years as a working student and upon receiving my BS in Communications and Technical and Scientific Communications, I came back to my family farm at Angelica Run and started to build my business. Tika is my current upper level horse who I acquired while I was still a student at JMU. She is a Dutch mare only 16h high but with the attitude and intensity of a small army. Together we have climbed the Eventing ladder and currently have made the jump to Advanced. We had hopes of doing the CCI3* at Bromont this year, but due to a minor injury we were unable to complete the CIC qualifier. With a fit and sound horse just days after withdrawing from the Jersey CIC3*, the decision was made to make a go of the CCI2* at Bromont which has always been one of my favorite places to compete.

As much as I love the thrill and excitement of my own competition career, I have to say that the most rewarding and uplifting part of the sport is the bond and the teamwork that we are so lucky to have at Angelica Run. Sallie and I have worked to combine her Grand Prix dressage experience with my Eventing career in order to create an all encompassing program and a strong following of students. This year’s Bromont is made so special by the company of my students, Kristin and Erin, who will be competing by my side. I am so lucky to have the help of Jan Byyny, who I have been working with for years as well as the vets at Virginia Equine Imaging, Clark Equine, and farrier Brian Grady, who all combine their efforts to piece our team together in order to achieve our goals.

We all understand the challenge that faces us in keeping a sound and happy horse all the way to “Bromont week”, but the fun for us is knowing we have each other along the way. Kristin said it best, in her USEventing blog, when she said, “we keep each other sane and laughing” and to me you need that support to survive in such an unpredictable sport. We will keep you posted as the journey unfolds. Kristin and I will be reporting the highs, lows, and sheer comedy that awaits us as we continue to “KICK ON” all the way to Bromont 2011!