72 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Peter learned his early habits, which
have stayed with him, at Fran and Joe
Dotoli’s stable in Medfield, Massachu-
setts. “I feel like it’s very important for me
to have a substantial involvement with ev-
ery horse in my stable, that’s one reason
why I have always kept it to a manageable
level - between 15 and 20 horses. In ad-
dition to the time I spend on the back of
each horse, I’m involved with the feeding,
care and grooming. I don’t necessarily do
it all myself, I have a very skillful staff, but
I still stay personally involved. I communi-
cate with the blacksmith and vet and if I’m
not able to be there, I have a conversa-
tion with them before and after they see
my horse.”
Back In The U.S.A.
Peter moved his stable back to the U.S.
at the end of 2012 from Elmpt, Germany
where he had been training and compet-
ing for the past 12 years. He felt the time
was right when his good friend, Missy
Clark, asked him to join the team at her North Run Stable. Peter
had worked with Missy before when her clients bought the tal-
ented mare Fein Cera. He won the team gold medal riding Fein
Cera at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
While competing in Florida with Missy last winter, Judith Goelkel
asked Peter to ride a horse for her. She mentioned that her Winley
Farm in Millbrook, New York was not being used and when she of-
fered Peter the use of her beautiful facility, he said, “To be able to
recreate what I had in Germany at such an incredible stable I felt
was an offer I couldn’t pass up.” With his partner, Eduard Mullen-
ders, they operate their business of Mullenders & Wylde Horses,
LLC, from Winley Farm.
The move was great news for Peter’s fans in America who had
the opportunity to watch him compete throughout the Northeast
this summer after HITS Ocala. He also competed in the hunter
divisions, which featured his beautiful riding style that helped him
win the McClay in 1982.
His own riding goals were not his only reason for coming back
to the United States. It brings him closer to the operations of the
United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Emerging Ath-
letes Program (EAP), where for the last five years Peter has vol-
unteered as clinician, regardless of where his stable was located.
The EAP program’s purpose is to iden-
tify and nurture talented young riders and
to provide them with support and assis-
tance in achieving their full potential. Peter
is now vice president and head clinician of
the EAP and he is very pleased that horse-
manship is emphasized in the program.
During the regional and final competitions,
young riders are totally responsible for
their horses. They do all the care and feed-
ing, beginning with early morning chores
before inspection by the stable manager to
the last night check. From an early age,
Peter was comfortable with all aspects of
caring for his horse.
Involved With The Horses
He says, “When I was about 12, I would
get up very early in the morning, braid my
Peter Wylde is Back
in the U.S.A.
Photos by Tracy Emanuel,
Winley Farm
Continued on page 74
Getting to Know Peter Wylde:
What scares you?
I think it’s my concern about the health and well being of those dear to
me.
Note: Peter indicated his answer reflected the fact that his father was in
the hospital at the time. John Wylde passed away on September 7th.
He was a major influence in Peter’s life and was said by friends to be
the “nicest, kindest man they had known.”
I wish I could. . .
Have more time to help as many people as I’d like to help, but as time
goes on I realize how fragile time is. I guess my answer is that I wish I
had more time in life.
I wish I could stop. . .
Close mindedness. I wish I could stop hatred in our world.
If you could be invisible for one hour, what would you do?
(Laughs) That’s a good question! I’d sneak into the White House. I’d
love to have a conversation with the president. . .
What is your fondest equine related memory?
Fein Cera winning Best Horse at the World Equestrian Games in 2002.
She jumped clear with all four of us in the Final Four, the only horse to
do so. It made me so proud to watch how beautifully she went for all of
us.
If you could trade places with someone for the day, whom would
you choose?
The Great Gatsby.
Growing up, who was your equestrian idol?
Conrad Homfeld. I still continue to learn from him to this day. He is by
far the most insightful horseman I met in my entire career.
Where is your favorite place to vacation?
Islands between Greece and Turkey. Heaven.
