FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2012 59
for fun (he fnally has his own horse, Benjamin Button), Sarah
is an enthusiastic foxhunter and pleasure rider who hunts with
several different packs in Virginia and in Aiken, South Carolina.
Because Arden, 18, trains with Phillip Dutton who winters in
Aiken, the Wildasins snowbird there with all their horses who,
they emphasize, are members of their family. This leads to a
dynamic that provides an ideal situation for a rider/trainer intent
on competing on the international stage.
“I feel the horses should only be run if they’re ready, that the
rider should be ready and being “qualifed” doesn’t necessarily
mean ready,” stated Jim. “One reason why Arden has multiple
horses is a safety thing. If she has two or three rides, she’s that
much more experienced each time she leaves the start to go
around that particular cross-country. We’re very fortunate that
Arden has the opportunity to ride several horses.”
Sarah Wildasin cracks up as Clio, the character-building pony
that started it all, tries to break out
Mystery Whisper and Phillip Dutton, shown here at Pine Top
(GA) in February, before the partnership took off like a rocket
Photo by Beth Harpham/Equidigital.com
Twizzel and Will Coleman at Rolex Kentucky CCI**** 2012 -
en route to two double clear rounds, cross-country and show
jumping, writing their ticket to London
Ask a member of the Wildasin family or anyone who knows
Arden and they will tell you that she works really hard, respects
the horses, and she’s home schooled, which allows her to spend
more time doing what she has loved for the past fve years. She
also reaps the benefts of topnotch training. “It isn’t an accident
that the two people who have our horses are Will and Phillip,”
said Jim. “What we respect about both Will and Phillip is their
exceptional horsemanship. Right now, with both of them making
the team, there’s a lot of excitement in the family.”
According to Arden, Phillip as a coach doesn’t say much; but
what he says really means something. “I don’t think I’d be where I
am now without him,” she said. “I see him as a second father. I go
cross-country and he says do this; I trust him. Every competition
is about learning. I’m just really lucky that my parents are so
supportive. My goal is to ride in as many four-stars around the
world as possible. Right now I can’t wait to go over to the Olympics
and be behind the scenes. We’re all thinking so positively. We’re
hoping for the best. We want the horses to do really well and come
home safely and we want to feel proud that we tried our hardest.”
Rarely put into words, but as obvious as the elephant in the
room, is that the Wildasin family’s positive thinking and hopes
include a trip to the podium.
“It’s a great team,” said Arden. “We’re very excited.”
Photos: All photos by Lauren R. Giannini, unless noted