FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2013 133
Lesley Grant-Law and Billy Wiz, her “dragon.” They were 5th in Preliminary
at the American Eventing Championships, and are moving up to Intermediate
this spring.
Photo by Keith Cotton Photography
Liam Law – the next generation.
Photo Courtesy of Law Eventing
best way they know how: providing the best possible
preparation for competition and matching horse to
rider, working with their partners in England, Ireland,
Canada and Europe.
The Laws know all about the ups and downs of life
with horses, that genuine upper level horses are few
and far between, and that dreams of glory often take a
back seat to real life. They focus on training, sales and
outstanding customer service.
“We gave up a long time ago trying to become
millionaires out of our business [laughs] so we pride
ourselves in trying to fnd the perfect match despite
what our payout may be, in the hopes that the client
will return when they are ready for their next mount
or will recommend us to their friends,” said Leslie.
“Making an extra $1,000 does not really compare to
the feeling one gets when you read an email from
the happy person with a photo of their horse making
their dreams come true, whether it is getting to Young
Riders or completing their frst novice horse trial.”
Since their 2006 move to the U.S., the Laws have
been racking up wins and top 10 rosettes on all levels
with their horses and their students. Leslie won two
American Advanced Championships (2008, 2009)
and fnished 11th overall on the 2012 U.S. Eventing
Association’s Leaderboard. Lesley stays very busy
with their son Liam, who is three, plus competing,
coaching riders and producing top-level Young Event
Horses (YEH).They used to divide their time between
Virginia and Florida until opting to headquarter Law
Eventing in the blossoming three-day mecca of Ocala.
“The advantages of being in Ocala are numerous,”
exclaimed Lesley. “Coming from Toronto and the
U.K., we can never get over how lucky we are with the climate!
When we are hacking out in the winter in a polo shirt, I always
turn to whomever I am hacking with and say, ‘Aren’t we lucky
to be here doing this?’ I try to be careful that I don’t take it for
granted. The footing in Ocala is much better than the footing we
got up north in July and August when the ground would turn to
rock. We are also lucky in that numerous good events are taking
place now in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina at all levels so
we don’t have to travel too far to get what we need done.”
Leslie, however, travels extensively to teach. More than 20
clinics are scheduled so far for this year, and they tend to fll
quickly. Considered a gifted instructor, his stadium jumping
exercises are simple yet challenging to execute properly.
After the day’s work is fnished, Leslie and Lesley can be
found continuing their own education with videos, books and
other horsemen. “We aspire to excellence with our training and
teaching,” they admitted, adding that often they sit on their deck
late into the evening, discussing, for example, the best way to
execute a half-halt with a specifc horse.
“My concrete goals at present are to produce the lovely young
horses I have now that are supported by Iron Spring Farm and
Beatrice Rey-Herme and mold them into the very best horses they
can be,” stated Leslie. “I constantly ask myself what I can do to
become a better coach to my riders at home and clinician to the
riders who attend my clinics. Finally and most importantly, my goal
is to be a good father to our son Liam and to do right by my family.”
Lesley recalled when her horse was injured about 12 hours
after she believed she was going to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“I learned the hard way that I can’t always be in control of what
happens with the horses and my goals,” she said. “I tell my
students that I can’t always be assured that I will have an upper
level horse, but whatever level I am riding, if someone were to
walk past me, I want them to think to themselves, ‘wow, what a
lovely and effective rider.’ My goal with horses is to be the best
I can be and to continue to produce lovely young horses. My
second goal is to fnd balance and harmony in our lives between
my riding, running the business and having a happy family.”
Sidelines staff writer Lauren R. Giannini is an award-winning
writer specializing in stories and photos about the equestrian
world. Crazy about horses her entire life, she lives in the horse
and hunt country of Virginia. Lauren’s motto is “write, ride - not
necessarily in that order!”