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Nov 02, 2019
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.
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Eventing News
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Chants of “War Eagle” were heard from end to end of the White Oak cross-country course as the overnight leaders and defending champions from Auburn University tore between the red and white flags Saturday to remain atop the leaderboard of the 2023 Intercollegiate Eventing Championship at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC).
May 27, 2023
News
Horse Owners Urged to Participate in Economic Impact Study for the Equine Industry
The last three years have been a time of great change throughout the country for homes, businesses and industries. Rising costs of living, shrinking of assistance and changes in demographics have affected so much of our world, and that includes the equine industry. However, not all of the changes are easy to identify. This is why the American Horse Council (AHC), together with the U.S. Equestrian Federation, has kicked off what could be one of the biggest studies in more than 50 years with the 2023 National Economic Impact Study (EIS) for the equine industry.
May 26, 2023
Intercollegiate
Tigers on Top: Auburn University Leads 2023 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship After Dressage
Twenty-three teams from 13 colleges and universities have traveled far and wide for the seventh annual USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, North Carolina.
May 26, 2023
About Us
Meet the USEA Staff: Programs, Partnerships, & Marketing
If you have been involved at a higher level with the USEA, you probably recognize the names of the two ladies that spearhead all of the efforts of the USEA’s Programs, Partnerships, and Marketing department: Kate Lokey, Director of Programs and Marketing, and Kaleigh Collett, Marketing Coordinator, but a new member of this team has also joined the USEA staff in Heather Johnson, Programs and Inventory Assistant. If you have considered advertising with the USEA or are involved in the USEA’s Young Event Horse, Emerging Athletes U21, New Event Horse, Adult Riders, Young Riders, Classic Series, or Grooms programs, you probably have or most likely will interact with one of these staff members.
