62 SIDELINES MARCH 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
“Emerald Valley extends
their best wishes for a
successful show season
to Jonathan McCrea and
Windsor Show Stables.
Thank you for your passion
and dedication to the sport.”
Waldman, a Californian who lives in Holland. “He’s been my
biggest aid in fnding the right horse,” said Chris.
Windsor Show Stables competes two stallions: their frst job is
sport, but they might breed on the side. Chris has been in the
ribbons with Victor E and Wannick WH, another rising star, now
10. “We’ve had him since he was fve and it’s exciting to see him
reach this new level,” said Chris. “He was a bit of a naughty wild
boy in the beginning, but he’s really more focused now. He’s a
quirky guy and he can really jump. I love him.”
In & Out of the Saddle
It wasn’t easy for Jon when he was sidelined with a hip problem
for the last part of 2012. “I was very frustrated. I had jumped
Colorado in Gold Cup qualifers and had 29 points, but they told
me I wasn’t going to get any better unless I had the surgery,”
he said. “I’d be going to the barn on crutches, I drove the tractor
and longed horses. I convinced the doctor to let me get back on
a horse a month early. My hip’s a lot better than it was. A little
twingey, but it’s only been since October 12
th
.”
Jon’s uber-competitive, but he was right there, supporting and
cheering for his wife. At the Alltech National Horse Show in the
fall of 2012, Chris tied with Lauren Hough for leading lady rider
honors. She piloted Romantovich Take One to the only other
double clear in the six-horse jump-off which placed the duo second
in the Alltech $250,000 Grand Prix (won by McLain Ward/Antares
F). From Kentucky, they headed to Ontario, Canada for the 90
th
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair where Chris fnished the highest-
placed American in the Royal’s inaugural $100,000 Hickstead FEI
World Cup Grand Prix.
The McCreas are in Florida for the Winter Equestrian Festival,
where every day they work together, ride together and go home
together. The horses are the focus of their lives, and their working
relationship has evolved. “We both have our things. Jon likes to
fsh, I watch TV, go shopping, hang out with girl friends,” said
Chris. “It’s important to have our own time.”
Different personal strengths also factor into their thriving
partnership. “We’re able to read horses in different ways,” said
Jon. “We have a good understanding of each other and how the
horses work. We get to do what we love all the time. I think we’re
very lucky. It’s as close to heaven as you’re going to get.”
Jonathan competing in the
2012 Pfzer $1 Million Grand
Prix on Colorado – in which
he placed third.
Photo by
Alison Hartwell Photography