United States Eventing Association

USEA Horse of the Month: Excel Star Time to Shine

He’s won two championship titles in two months and finished with the best score out of every horse that competed at the 2019 USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Championships – the USEA November Horse of the Month is Excel Star Time to Shine!

Excel Star Time to Shine (Luidam x Lismore Bella) is a 4-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Dare To Dream Team and ridden by Courtney Cooper. He started his U.S. eventing career five months ago in May 2019 and has already racked up four wins. At 4 years old, he’s won every YEH competition he’s entered, was the Novice Horse Champion at the 2019 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC), and scored an impressive 91.30 to be the only horse at the 2019 USEA YEH Championships to break into the 90th percentile.

A confident cross-country horse who loves naptime and has a growing fan club - get to know Excel Star Time to Shine from Courtney Cooper.

About Excel Star Time to Shine

• Barn Name?

David.

• Favorite treat?

He is happy to try different treats, but his favorites are peppermints and carrots and he will mug you for them.

• Favorite phase in eventing?

He enjoys all aspects of eventing and has been gaining confidence on cross-country. I would say that is currently his favorite phase.

• Likes and dislikes?

David is a love in the barn and his favorite past time is napping.

He now enjoys his status as the number one horse in the barn after winning both the 4-year-old USEA Young Event Horse Championships and the Novice Horse division at the 2019 USEA American Eventing Championships and expects all the attention!

He also enjoys being a family horse. When he is not training seriously, he is happy to goof around with my husband, [Neal Camens]. For a 4-year-old, he is an unbelievably laid-back individual...the napping probably helps!”

• Any other fun facts that you’d like to add about Excel Star Time to Shine?

He was originally imported from my partners in Ireland. I am blessed to have him, Excel Star Fair Play, and Excel Star Double Clover in an ownership group. The Dare to Dream Team, composed of a group of individuals investing in the journey of bringing young horses to the top of the sport, has enjoyed an incredibly successful year!

David came to us as an unnamed 3-year-old. The girls who were working for us assumed the task of naming him. When Elizabeth Kantra came up with "Excel Star Time to Shine," it just felt right, so on paper it went! It was around Christmas and a second horse by the stallion, Luidam, shipped in with him. He was already named Excel Star Harry, so we decided to call Time to Shine "David," after the food and gift retailer Harry and David, inspired by receiving a package from them!

Miss any of the previous horses? Follow the links to read about the February Horse of the Month, March Horse of the Month, April Horse of the Month, May Horse of the Month, June Horse of the Month, July Horse of the Month, August Horse of the Month, September Horse of the Month, October Horse of the Month

About the USEA Horse of the Month

New in 2019, 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 November Horse of the Month was selected based on the performance at the 2019 USEA Young Event Horse Championships.