Wednesday March 26, 2003

The Heidelberg Cup

Michael Poulin and Chelan

They have been practicing the Grand Prix movements at home including 1-tempi changes, which confused Chelan in the 2-tempi changes required in the PSG/I-1 at the Heidelberg Cup. Poulin also went off course and lost a few points, but the rides were still good enough to take home two blues anyway. “He’s going to be a Grand Prix horse,” said Poulin assuredly. “He’s one hundred per cent sound.”

Chelan, called ‘Casper’ in the barn, is a 9-year-old Canadian Thoroughbred belonging to Maureen Fitzpatrick of Spruce Creek, FL. Eventually she will take over the ride from Poulin, who has been riding him for the past two years.

Though he didn’t have him at this show, Poulin has also been campaigning Bora 75, a Lipizzan owned by Gary Levinski of Florida, at third and fourth levels. “He’s a super talented horse and can walk for 9 and do his 3- and 2-tempis already,” he said. Next year Poulin plans to move Bora up to Prix St. George and I-1. “The judges complain a little about him, but once they see the quality they can’t complain,” he said. “His character is so much better than a lot of horses I’ve had. He scores 68% most of the time. I don’t want to push him because he’s not strong enough yet but he’ll be a fabulous Grand Prix horse someday.”

Poulin’s daughter Katherine married Matt Neff six months ago and Poulin is a proud father who said that his new son-in-law is “a great guy”. He is also proud of both of his daughters’ riding achievements, and rightly so: Katherine and her sister Gwen are three-time NAYRC Champions on three different horses.

Katherine won the Edgar Hotz Trophy for the Open divisions on Brilliant Too, half-brother to a Dutch stallion called Brilliant that Michael bought as a three-year-old many years ago. His wife trained Brilliant to Grand Prix and they sold him to put the kids through college, but he still holds a special place in the Poulins’ hearts. They bred five mares to him and have several of his offspring, all stallions, which the two girls have broken and trained themselves.