74 SIDELINES OCTOBER 2011
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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ACE Private Risk Services
Honors Horses Lost In Blaze
By Lauren R. Giannini
On May 31, fre destroyed the barn rented by
international event rider Boyd Martin from Phillip Dutton at
True Prospect Farm (West Grove, PA). Of the 11 horses
stabled in the wood and stone bank barn, six perished in
the blaze. Lillian Heard, Caitlin Silliman and Ryan Wood,
who lived upstairs, managed to lead three horses to safety.
The fre had burned out of control for at least 30 minutes,
but Phillip rushed in and brought out Catch A Star.
About 10 minutes later, Boyd arrived on the scene and
engaged in “a bit of an altercation with the frefghters” (his
words), then dashed around the barn to try to save Neville
Bardos, the New Zealand Thoroughbred whose eventing
career had started with Boyd’s wife Silva in the saddle.
Phillip followed Boyd and the two of them managed to
bring Neville out of the blazing structure.
All fve horses were treated at the University of
Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. Neville Bardos, Boyd’s
partner for the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games,
sustained the worst injuries, especially his lungs. He
shouldn’t have survived, but he did.
“Neville’s breaking all the laws and defying all the odds
at the moment,” said Martin. “Initially, he was fghting for
his life and then a couple days later it looked like he’d
survive. Then a couple weeks later, it looked like we could
ride him again, and now we’re just taking it day by day, but
it looks like he’s about to take on the world’s toughest four-
star at Burghley in England. It’s exciting and emotional at
the same time with all the terrible tragedies that I’ve gone
through [His father, Ross Martin, passed away in early
July after being struck by a truck during a bicycle race in
Australia.]. It’s the one thing that’s kept me going.”
After the Fire
In the aftermath of the fre, the entire eventing community
rallied. Bruce Duchossois, who competes in the amateur owner
hunters, has owned several of Phillip’s top three-day horses,
including Connaught. Phillip, who earned team gold in 1996 riding
for Australia, became an American citizen in 2006. In 2007, he
earned team gold and individual silver riding for the USA. In 2008,
he piloted Connaught to frst place in the prestigious four-star
Kentucky Rolex Three-Day Event. About fve years ago Bruce
became partners with Phillip in the ownership of True Prospect
Farm.
Bruce learned that ACE Private Risk Services, the high-net
worth personal lines company of global insurance carrier, the ACE
Group – who settled the claim quickly and gracefully – planned
to make a donation in honor of the six horses. Several of those
horses were being considered to represent the USA for the 2011
Pan American Games and now would never have a chance to
prove themselves.
Stepping in to Help
Bruce is co-chair of the USET Foundation’s Development
Committee, which raises funds for the USA’s elite equestrian
athletes. His involvement with the horses and people at True
Prospect Farm and with the USET Foundation led him to pledge
to match whatever amount ACE Private Risk Services donated to
the USET Foundation.
“I think that what ACE Private Risk Services is doing is
phenomenal,” said Bruce. “Insurance – you can’t live with it, you
can’t live without it – and what these ACE people have done really
is above and beyond. It was a beautiful old stone barn, and the
horses – well, they were priceless. To settle the way they did and
then to come back and make a donation to the USET Foundation
in the memory of the horses – well, it’s unheard of. It opens eyes
Bob Courtemanche (Division President ACE Group Private Risk Services) presents the check for $10,000 in honor of the
fallen event horses to Bruce Duchossois, co-chair of the USET Foundation’s Development Committee, who will match the
unprecedented donation. They are fanked by Boyd Martin and Kirk James (COO Hub International) and Phillip and Evie
Dutton. Bonnie Jenkins, Executive Director of the USET Foundation (not present) said: “The generous gifts exemplify the
kindness and thoughtfulness of ACE and Bruce, and for which the USET Foundation is truly appreciative. We wish Boyd and
Phillip the very best as they courageously move forward in achieving competitive excellence, while always remembering the
incredible horses that make it possible.”