62 SIDELINES AUGUST 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Rebecca Walton/PMG
Seventeen year old Abigail McArdle has been taking the
junior ranks by storm this spring under the tutelage of Katie
Monahan-Prudent and her husband Henri. She earned back to
back championships during the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows
in the High Junior Jumpers with her brilliant mount Cosma 20
and has continued to earn top placings at the Devon Horse Show
and Spruce Meadows. Earlier in the year, Abigail captured the
championship honors with Bravoman at the beginning and end
of the prestigious Winter Equestrian Festival. In addition to her
talent in the jumper ring, Abigail also competes in the equitation
ring aboard Apartico, where Frank Madden is her trainer.
You are coming off a big month with Cosma 20 and you’ve
had a lot of success as a new partnership, how do you
feel?
I knew she was a great horse when we bought her and I
think it’s really wonderful to have a horse that can achieve the
greatness that you want. It’s up to you to prove it and keep
going with it. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to show at
all of these different venues. I look forward to hopefully having
her do much more for me in the future as well.
What is Cosma 20’s barn personality like?
When we frst bought her she was head shy and a little
unfriendly; but with all of our love and mothering she really
started to change into a different animal. She’s one of the
most intelligent horses we’ve ever had; she pays attention to
everything.
What is the best advice Katie and Frank have given you
so far?
Both Katie and Frank really pay attention to every little detail;
but we’re always looking at the bigger picture. What do we want
to accomplish? Both of them have helped me with stepping up
my riding to the next level. It’s great because Katie has opened
up a lot of doors for me in the jumpers, like coming to Spruce
Meadows and being competitive in the High Juniors.
What are some of your goals for the next fve years?
I’d love to keep going through the rest of this year and have
a successful Indoors; but I also want to take that with a grain of
salt. I know that isn’t the end of a career, it’s the beginning of
one. It’s really only a starting point. I have big hopes for Cosma
20 and I’d like to do some of the bigger classes with her next
year and in the future. I also hope to get some other horses for
the bigger levels as well to show in the grand prix events. I’m
just going to see what opportunities present themselves and
go with that.
What is your favorite brand of show apparel?
I love Santio Breeches; my sister and I both wear them.
They are a stain resistant pant and they are great for people
that are taller. I really love them. They stay white and they are
water resistant, which comes in handy at venues like Spruce
Meadows.
Junior Champion
Abigail McArdle
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Abigail McArdle
Photo by Parker/Russell
The Book LLC 2012