Riddle Master and Rebecca Howard named to Eventing Squad for WEGs

Submitted by Tracy Hanes on July 15, 2010 - 10:47pm
Riddle Master..
Riddle..
By Tracy Hanes

Canadian Sport Horse gelding Riddle Master and his rider Rebecca Howard have been named to the 2010 Canadian Eventing Squad for the World Equestrian Games following their second place finish at the Bromont International CCI***.

The nine-year bay gelding, owned by Caroline Bazley, and Howard are among nine horse and rider combinations named to the Canadian WEG Squad. They and the other squad members will participate in training sessions and preparatory competitions throughout the summer leading up to the final training camp, which will take place in September prior to the Games. The final team of up to six rider /horse combinations and alternates will be named in September just before the  Lexington ,  Kentucky Games.  The WEG eventing competition runs Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.

Blithe Hill Riddle Master (aka Rupet) is a 2001 gelding by Rodero out of the F1 CSH mare, Legacy III, by Eyes to Rule out of Azucar (by Pancho ’51). He was bred by Bazley and mother, Jean Watson, of Orangeville.  Riddle Master's Hanoverian sire Rodero (by the Ramiro son, Rabino) stood at Pangaea Farms and produced a number of exceptional individuals with correct jumping technique coupled with lovely movement.

Howard of Salmon Arm, B.C. has been a longtime friend of Bazley and Watson and they sent Riddle Master to her as a six-year-old. At the time, he had just a few pre-training events to his credit.

“He was a bit of a rogue and wasn’t always the most rideable, though he was a good jumper and good at cross country from the beginning,”” recalls Howard, who is equestrian director for The Fork Stables in  Norwood ,  North Carolina . “Once I did my first two star with him, I knew he was an advanced horse.” She brought him up through the levels and by after finished ninth at the Jersey Fresh CCI** last summer, Howard upgraded Riddle Master to advanced and finished the season at the Fair Hill CCI*** where they were top Canadians, placing ninth.
In February, Howard suffered multiple injuries when another mount, Roquefort, was involved in a rotational fall over a vertical gate at Pine Top Horse Trials, including two broken collarbones, several broken ribs and a punctured lung.
 
However, she had healed in time for Bromont and Riddle Master again demonstrated his talent for advanced competition. The pair sat in ninth place after dressage with a score of 54.6, picked up just 4.8 time faults cross country and mounted one of only three clean stadium rounds on the final day to move up to second with 59.4 points, less than half a point behind winner Will Coleman.