Photo by: EQI Patricia Branan-Wendell
Jul 13, 2018, By: TIEC Admin
Mill Spring, NC – July 13, 2018 – It was the USA’s Brian Moggre who climbed to the top of the podium in the FEI $35,000 1.40m U-25 Final at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), as the sun set on day three of Tryon Summer V competition at the venue.
Moggre and MTM Flutterby flew through fast track timers in 34.64 seconds, two full seconds ahead of second place finisher Mattie Hatcher (USA) and her own 2009 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Click and Cash x Feliciano) Cristiano, who finished with a time of 36.56 seconds and with four added faults. Third place was rounded out by Megan McDermott (USA) and her own 2006 Caballo Deportivo La Silla gelding (Dollar de la Pierre x Polydor), Tizimin LS, who completed their first round of competition in 78.18 seconds and with four added faults.
Moggre and the 2007 Dutch Warmblood mare (C-Indoctro x Grace) owned by Major Wagner LLC, are newcomers to the venue, and the first experience has boded well with the pair. “She was amazing tonight,” he commented. “Izzy has the best heart out of any horse I’ve ever had. She’s so amazing.”
The duo rode around the Catalina Cruz (MEX) course in a timely manner, and were brought back to contest the double horse jump-off with ease. “If there is one thing that my trainers have taught me,” stated Moggre, “I will hold onto this for the rest of my riding career: playing it safe, if you have a rail, you’re too slow. Every time you walk in the ring you need to go in there with a mission. If you’re going in, you’re fast, you’re going to be clear, and you’re going to win. You can’t win unless you try.”
The seventeen-year-old rides and trains with Tracy Fenney and Mike McCormick, who originally bred the mare, and matched the two. “She originally came to our barn when I was young,” he said, “and she was a five-year-old. It wasn’t the best match at the time. I kind of matured as a rider and the horse matured as well, and when I was thirteen or fourteen I got the ride, and it just clicked. It worked and she’s been amazing ever since.”
He continued, “She’s very opinionated and I think that’s why we get along so well. We are both a little sassy. She just has a sassy attitude and she is so unlike any of my other horses. All of my other horses are big, gentle giants, a she’s this spicy little blonde girl.”