After a short stay at New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania, event horse Dutch Times is back home in Branchburg, N.J., to recover.
The 15-year-old gelding, ridden by owner Arielle Aharoni, injured his right foreleg and Arielle pulled him up two fences from the end on cross-country Saturday at the MARS Maryland 5-star. It was Dutch’s debut at that level, following a second-place finish earlier in the year at the Bromont, Canada, 4-star Long.
Arielle Aharoni and her Dutch Times on course Saturday at the MARS Maryland 5-star. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Dutch was bought by Arielle’s mother as a weanling. She saw him as a sport horse prospect, and that dream came true. He has been successful in show jumping as well as eventing. But Dutch is valued beyond his athletic ability; he is a member of the family, and his welfare has been their focus.
“I never really go for time, I never really pushed the envelope,” Arielle said when discussing her Bromont experience, explaining her priority is getting around safely.
Dutch went from the Maryland event to New Bolton and spent several days there before returning to his family’s farm to recover and be spoiled with attention by those who love him.