116 SIDELINES MARCH 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
other one percent is comprised of horses Scott wants Tori to ride
and Don Juan, who does both hunters and jumpers. Tori is still
going strong in the hunter divisions and has competed against
and beaten her trainer, Scott. Her sponsors include Equifit, Essex
shirts, Grand Prix, Tad Coffin Saddles and Tucci Riding Boots.
Artist Linda Luster, who painted commissioned portraits of
Monsieur du Reverdy and Way Cool, made astute observations
about Tori and her connection with horses. In both sets of photos
taken by Linda for reference, Tori can’t stop caressing the
horse, wrapping an arm around its neck, cupping its muzzle. Her
connection with horses is obvious, and the actual portraits are
brilliant.
“I went to Rivers Edge Farm to take photos of Tori and Way
Cool for the painting for Betsee and I just love Tori’s hands in
every one,” Linda said. “I think her hands are part of why all the
horses she rides respond so positively to her. Tori is very straight
forward and open – with horses and with people. She’s a very
unique and beautiful person. I first noticed her hands when I took
photos of her and Frenchie for the painting commissioned by
Karen Long Dwight. Tori’s hands were lovely in every shot then,
too. It was at Capital Challenge (2012) and they had just won the
North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup.
Tori was so happy with her horse.”
What matters to Tori is horse and rider doing the best they
can. Having “feel” is not always an easy gift, neither is putting
your horse first, but that’s exactly what Tori did at the 2013 North
American Junior & Young Rider Championships. She hadn’t had
Don Juan very long, but they knew something was bothering him.
The vet had treated the swollen area on his jaw as an infection,
but Don Juan was always very sensitive. When Tori rode into the
ring for their first round at the Kentucky Horse Park and her horse
stopped at the first fence, she knew what to do. She excused
herself, which resulted in her elimination.
“Don Juan is a really nice horse, and we hoped he would be
okay to go, but after I started out, I thought, no, this is all wrong
– he doesn’t feel good,” said Tori. “After we got home, the dentist
discovered that he had a small piece of broken jawbone that had
to be taken out. We’ve been trying all different bits, but he’s going
really good with the hackamore and we’ll probably stick with that
for now.”
She hopes to do Young Riders with Don Juan next summer.
“It was my first time at Young Riders and it wasn’t very good, but
there are so many other horse shows and it’s not good to waste a
horse on one show,” Tori said. “I was really disappointed, but then
I realized that it wasn’t the end of the world.”
That someone so young has developed such a great attitude
towards life’s inevitable ups and downs is mind-boggling. Children
really do live what they learn, and Tori said, “My mother’s probably
why I am like this. She helps me with everything. She trained me.
I’m with her 24-7 at the shows.” In addition to being an uber-
talented rider, Tori is articulate, smart, shy, sensitive and polite
– a nice kid.
Tori rode in the 2014 George H. Morris Horsemastership Clinic
at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, December
31-January 4 in Wellington. In her rider bio on USEFNetwork.com
she replied to the question about having a hidden talent: “I can
read the words behind the 3-D without the glasses.”
Add humble and great sense of humor to her list of attributes.
If a positive attitude and work ethic are any measure of potential
success, if all the stars align, Tori will more than fulfill her dream
of someday riding in Nations Cups and representing the United
States in the Olympics. Meanwhile, her drive to improve her
horsemanship skills makes Tori Colvin a star right now, whatever
might happen in her future.
Monsieur du
Reverdy, artist
Linda Luster,
Tori Colvin (in
saddle), and
Karen Long
Dwight who
commissioned
the duo’s portrait
which is visible
on the left,
unveiled at the
2013 Upperville
Horse Show.
Photo by
Brigid Colvin
