42 SIDELINES JULY 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Lauren R. Giannini
The 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event showcased several
new stars: Donner completed his frst 4-star with double clear
jumping rounds for Lynn Symansky (Virginia) – 5th place and
second-best American duo; Pawlow with Will Faudree (North
Carolina) placed ffth (19th last year); Meghan O’Donoghue
(Illinois) and Pirate also made their debut, rocketing from 25th
after dressage to 12th place overall. There are many success
stories, but none quite like the miraculous partnership of Catch A
Star and Caitlin Silliman.
It takes years of hard work, dedication, determination and
passion to get to the three-star and four-star level of eventing.
That’s where the best horses and riders become candidates for
team consideration, get tapped for special training, and eventually
fnd themselves on long and short lists for the Olympics, Pan Ams
and World Equestrian Games.
In 2011, Caitlin Silliman and Catch A Star (aka Hoku, Hawaiian
for Star) were on their way to qualifying for Fair Hill International
and the prestigious October CCI*** which decides the USEF
National 3-star championship. On May 31st the fre that destroyed
Boyd Martin’s barn at Phillip Dutton’s True Prospect Farm
claimed the lives of six event horses. Caitlin, Lillian Heard and
Ryan Wood, who shared the barn’s apartment, led three horses to
safety. Later, they accompanied fve survivors to the University of
Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Veterinary Center. Worst injured were
Catch A Star, rescued by Phillip, and Neville Bardos, muscled to
safety after 45 minutes in the blaze by Boyd and Phillip.
“When we pulled in, there was a team of vets ready to unload
the horses,” recalled Caitlin. “They took Hoku into the main
trauma room because she had serious head injuries and burns.
Lacerations from her ears down the front of her face – you could
almost peel her face apart and see her whole skull.” Hoku, sedated
for shock, looked critical. “I said to the main trauma vet, please tell
me if you can’t save her, I don’t want to put her through more,”
recalled Caitlin. “The vet said, we can save her, she’s going to
be fne. From that point on, I was totally committed to her and
followed all their directions. Hoku has a huge personality. I think
from the second she walked out of that burning barn she knew
she was going to make it. I owed it to her to help her in any way
I could.” Hoku suffered second-degree burns over nearly 30% of
her body. Her face wasn’t burned, just her ears. She had the facial
laceration, but amazingly her eyes were okay. The left side of her
neck, belly, back, hip and hindquarters was burned the worst.
Catch A Star at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Veterinary Center. The mare suffered second-
degree burns over nearly 30% of her body as a result of a barn fre.
Photo by Caitlin Silliman
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Eventing
Catch A Star - Four-Star Miracle