Photo: picsofyou.com
Each year the United States Equestrian Federation recognizes the top horses in each discipline and level the horse is competing at. For the second year in a row, Loretta earned the top spot in her division.
Loretta earned the 2024 Combined Driving HOTY at the Advanced Novice level [FEI 2*] after having won the 2023 HOTY at the Intermediate level [FEI1*]. I’m really proud of this “Fun Sized” little powerhouse Dutch Harness Horse that I started working with when she was a green 4 year old.
Much of the credit goes to Loretta’s people; Kathy & Joe Devine, and their daughter Tara Devine (who’s also my navigator.) Behind great horses are great teams that believe in the horse, and their trainer. The critical element on a team like this is the long-term vision to allow the horse to develop to their full potential over a realistic time period.
Photo: picsofyou.com
In today’s instant-gratification environment, the Devines are an exception to the rule. They have allowed Loretta’s fundamental development to take place over years, one step at a time. I am eternally grateful for their support for this awesome little horse, and for me as her trainer!
Loretta (aka. ‘RettaRooo!) is still building her physical and mental maturity, and I’m excited to see just far she can go. She has been one of the most enjoyable horses to work of my lifetime. She is absolutely full of personality from her incredible competitive drive to her snarky sense of humor (no one could ever match her pro-level stink eye!) She can be one of the easiest horses to be around on the ground, but when you point her at an obstacle, she goes into Full-Beast Mode (in a good way.)
This season we are looking forward to moving Loretta up to the Open Advanced Division [FEI 3*]. Hopefully “The best is yet to come” for this little horse “and won’t that be fine?”
If you see us out on course at a CDE, share the love with a big
“GO ‘RettaRoo!!!”
