FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES APRIL 2014 13
recordings help a lot. He is fantastic and has
made me much more calm than I used to be.”
In addition to getting back in the saddle,
Christa is excited and very motivated by a
sponsor who bought four young horses for her.
“Zoila Cubas is the person everyone wants
and searches for to have on their team,” Chris-
ta said. “I met her in January 2013 when she
purchased a Canadian Warmblood from me.
She kept “Jeff” with me all season in full train-
ing and hopefully will be out competing him
in some lower level events as well as in Wel-
lington at some dressage shows. Zoila loves
horses and the sport in every aspect. She is a
great supporter and friend. I am so fortunate to
have her on my team.”
Christa grew up riding with the Paynes: Mar-
ilyn and her offspring, Doug and Holly. She
re-
called getting to prelim “semi-successfully” with
a horse that was alternately great and
awful.
Then, good fortune struck and Christa
ac-
quired a horse that gave her the eventing
bug.
“The Federalist – “Roo” – was Holly’s first
ad-
vanced horse that she got her Young Rider
medals,” Christa said.
What goes round, comes round. Roo was
sold, then the Paynes received a call that the owner was a work-
ing student with Phillip Dutton and that Roo was for sale. The
Paynes bought him back and Christa ended up leasing him.
“Roo was the horse that got me successfully to prelim. He was
a cross-country machine and really the first horse that made me
love this sport,” said Christa. “He gave me the confidence I needed
to get where I am today. Roo made me work for the dressage and
truly taught me about eventing. He was the best teacher. I think
Governaire (fourth), Christa and Camenicci (first) after Intermediate at 2013 Rocking
Horse Spring Horse Trials.
Photo By Heather Neeld
the biggest thing that I have learned is that horse and rider need to
have a partnership that will allow them to be successful and safe
at every level, especially at the upper levels. The biggest jump is
from training to prelim. Some horses and riders are not meant to
move up. When riders push or rush, that’s when accidents hap-
pen. Having partnership with your horse, being realistic, allows
you to have fun at your comfort level.”
