He’s competed at the Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L for the past three consecutive years, he’s never had more than one rail down in show jumping at an international event, and he recently won the CCI4*-S at Red Hills International – Cooley On Show is the USEA Horse of the Month. Cooley On Show (Ricardo Z x Jogantina) is a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding ridden and owned by Sharon White.
Based on his performance at Red Hills International along with the help from EquiRatings, Cooley On Show was selected to be the April USEA Horse of the Month. Learn more about the horse who has an extra-long tongue and loves attention from the crew at Last Frontier Farm.
About Cooley On Show:
“Louie”
“Anything that's in your hand.”
“[He’s] very extroverted, loves to be in the middle of all the action, loves to meet new people and horses. [He’s also] very curious, thrives on crowds and [loves] attention.”
“Food, hacking (bushwhacking more specifically as Sharon calls it), anything to do with his face - rubbing it, brushing, washing, toweling.”
“People in his stall.”
“He seems to have an extra-long tongue and loves to lick things, he's very clear about what he needs at all times, he's missing a tooth, he loves when it rains, he's very lazy at home but lights up at the shows, he's very intelligent, and knows how to train the people around him.”
EquiRatings Statistic:
Cooley on Show won his first international event of his career at the 2020 Red Hills International on March 6-8. He has competed in the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and the United States, with 33 previous international runs.
His very first international event with Sharon was at Red Hills in 2015. Exactly five years later, they returned to the same venue for their first international win.
Miss any of the previous 2020 horses of the month? Find out more about the USEA January Horse of the Month, USEA February Horse of the Month, and USEA March Horse of the Month.
The USEA is recognizing an event horse each month on the USEA website and social media. The USEA Horse of the Month is determined based on statistics and event results and announced at the beginning of every month. The April Horse of the Month was selected based on the performance at the 2020 Red Hills International.
Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?
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With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.