Leading By Example

The Devon Horse Show has come and gone in my neck of the woods but a recent headline in the local Horse newspaper caught my eye: "Barbaro Half Brother Resurfaces in Show Ring."

It turns out that Man in Havana, half brother to Barbaro (and formerly owned by the Jacksons) has found a new career in the show ring. He recently competed at Devon as part of the Horse Hunt Team named Fat Chance Followers. His new owner is Joy Slater who rode him and said he was "a star." Horse Hunt Team is an event in which four horses jump the same course, one after the other, to simulate a fox hunt.

And how did she get this wonderful mount? "He was a give-away," she said. "Aren't I lucky to be able to play with a horse like that. What fun." The givers in this situation, are none other than Roy and Gretchen Jackson, who also owned Man in Havana's ill-fated brother, Barbaro.

It's funny. I remember interviewing the Jacksons a while back when Man in Havana was still in training with Michael Matz and hopes were high for his career as a race horse. But something happened and as Roy Jackson said, "He just didn't seem to want to run at all. We didn't see the point in pushing him." And so they gave him away to their neighbor Joy Slater for a pleasure horse.

Leave it to former Olympian Michael Matz to know a good pleasure horse when he sees one. He knew that Man in Havana was going to need time to mature and with age (he is now 6), he has indeed turned into an impressive competitor. He has racked up quite a few ribbons on the show circuit including some in Florida this past winter and his recent appearance at Devon shows he is indeed in the right place.

What a wonderful story that shows how deeply the Jacksons care about the animals in their charge. Man in Havana has found a new career that is bringing pride and pleasure to his new owner. "He's a really good guy," said Slater of her new mount. "His heart's in the right place. He just took a while to grow up. But aren't I really lucky to have him."

Works both ways, Joy. And aren't the Jacksons continuing to set an example for all horse owners as to how to do right by their horses.