Now it’s Silva Martin’s turn, as showcased during Dressage at Devon last week.
The Martin who always had a franchise on the spotlight was Silva’s husband, Boyd, the Olympic eventer, with an outgoing personality that has won him friends and attention while riding with U.S. teams around the world.
Boyd Martin in action on cross-country. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Silva has been busy in the background with their two sons (if you’ve seen the videos of these lively kids, you know she has her hands full even with the assistance of a nanny), helping Boyd with his dressage and training a group of horses with potential.
That potential moved to the next level during DAD, most prominently with four-year-old Farouche’s title as the Young Horse champion, producing the best average score of any entry in the classes for four-, five-, six- and seven-year-olds. She hit 80 percent and above twice, receiving marks of 9 for trot (with rhythm and suppleness cited), submissiveness and general impression.
Farouche (Foundation X Carpalo 2) was discovered by Silva’s sister in Germany, who saw the mare in a video. Silva watched the video, then sent it to one of her owners, Christine Capano, who said, “You’ve got to get there.”
Silva flew to Germany right away and stayed for just 18 hours; trying the mare in the afternoon, catching a few hours of sleep, then riding her again the next morning. That was it. Christine bought the horse in the spring and “Lala” was on her way.
All eyes were on Farouche during the Sabine Schut-Kery clinic at Dressage at Devon. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
She is part of a developing string that is presenting opportunities Silva never enjoyed previously, but the trainer also has big responsibilities elsewhere.
“It’s a balancing act with the kids and with Boyd, trying to help him out, and do my own horses,” she explained.
At some point, perhaps, vying for a spot on the U.S. dressage team wouldn’t be out of the question.
“That was always on my radar; I kind of stepped back a bit when I had the kids and my head injury (which compromised her vision),” she said.
But now, “I have some beautiful horses, so why not? This is the time to do it, because I’ve never had that kind of group of horses that I have now.”
Of course, she has several years to wait with Farouche as the mare moves up the levels to Grand Prix.
“I’m going to take it a bit slow with her. She offers so much, I’m terrified I’m going to do too much with her,” Silva advised.
Meanwhile, she has other horses on which she can focus, with the help of Grand Prix veteran Tuny Page.
“She’s been so incredible. I think every person needs a person you can relate to and understand, and she’s been just amazing for me.”
Silva and Esperanto. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Silva earned two more blue ribbons at DAD with the seven-year-old Danish-bred Zaphir (Zodiac Z X Quaterback 6), owned by Janice Murdock. He was a star in his Fourth-Level classes, earning 68.552 in Test 2 at that level and 68.589 percent in Test 1.
While so many riders are looking forward to their winter in Florida to bring along their horses and compete, Silva can only go to Florida for two weeks because of the kids.
“I do have to be a mom,” she explained, noting despite the number of horses with which she competed, DAD was “like a vacation for me” because the kids were at home and all she had to do was ride.
Another winner for her was 14-year-old Esperanto (Jazz X Negro), also owned by Christine Capano.
“We call him Peanut, because he looks like a peanut,” she said of the chestnut.
“He’s a really good little horse for me, he’s really solid. He was a little bit wild when I first got him, but he’s really settling in. He’s really trustworthy now”
He was marked at 67.529 percent to win the 3-star Intermediate I and finished second with 69.363 in the Prix St. Georges.
“He’s ready to go Grand Prix,” said Silva, who may try some classes at that level next year. Eventually, Christine will take over the ride.
Then there’s Belrano Gold (Bellissimo X Serano Gold), who she calls, “a project. He gets very nervous in the ring.”
Competing under the lights with Belrano Gold. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Standing outside the arena, she said, “he works great out here but nobody wins the warm-up. If I can get him to relax and let me ride him, I think he’s going to be a good horse. I just have to hang in there.”
In the Grand Prix Freestyle under the lights, the horse owned by Pferdes LLC earned 69.130 percent, a big step up from his Grand Prix.
“I could not have been happier with how he went,” Silva said.
“This is very exciting and feel like I have something to work with now as we look ahead to the winter season.”
