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Friday, August 12 2016 / Published in General, Sidelines Feature

One in a Million: Show Jumper Rich Fellers Shares His London Experience and Dishes on Flexible’s Staying Power

 

Rich and Flexible in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Photo by Kim MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

Rich and Flexible in the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Photo by Kim MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

By Lauren R. Giannini

When asked what advice he gives to young riders gung-ho to pursue equestrian glory, Olympic show jumper Rich Fellers said, “I focus on horsemanship and horse care. My biggest thing is kind of simple, but I think it really works — if you always always always do what’s best for the horse, you’re going to come out ahead in the long run. If you do what you want to do, what you think is best for your career or for the owner or for whatever, I think you end up losing. Because the horse is vital to success, it matters what you’re doing.”

Rich, a member of the 2012 U.S. London Olympic Show Jumping Team, isn’t into talking about his achievements. His priorities are his family and the horses. He limits how much time he spends on the road and enjoys staying at home, training and teaching and riding. His focus is on doing his best, but even he admits that 2012 was a very special year, one he’ll always remember. That was the year Rich and Flexible, the smallish (16-hand) stallion, already long-listed for London, went to The Netherlands in late April where they became the first American duo in 25 years to win the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final.

Back in the U.S.A., Rich and Flexible proceeded to win all four of the designated observation classes that were part of the Olympic selection process. These classes included the $100,000 Hermes Grand Prix of Del Mar in May and, the following month at Spruce Meadows, the $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix. Two days later, when the USEF announced the show jumping team for London, Rich and Flexible were on the list. They finished in eighth place overall, the best of the Americans.

Rich, on Flexible, said his London experience was memorable as a horseman and as a family man. Photo by Kim MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

Rich, on Flexible, said his London experience was memorable as a horseman and as a family man.
Photo by Kim MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

Special Time In London

When asked if riding in the Olympics was a dream come true or just another competition, Rich said, “I have a common-sense perspective on competition. It doesn’t matter if you’re at a schooling show in the training jumper ring or in the Olympic Games and you’re the last one to go and need a clear round to qualify for the final — it’s all the same. It’s all about execution, and good execution yields good results. I don’t get too excited about where the competition is, who’s there, how big it is or how much prestige and so on. I just do my best to execute. But it was a little of both — just another competition and also a little bit of a dream come true, to qualify, to represent the country at the Olympic Games.”

It was a memorable time for him as a horseman, but also as a family man. “My wife, Shelley, was there, and both my children. We did all kinds of fun stuff all over London,” said Rich. “I don’t think any of us will ever forget what a really special time it was. Some friends we hadn’t seen in years flew over to watch and support us. London was pumped up for the Olympics and the atmosphere was very special.”

The USEF named Rich 2012 Equestrian of the Year and Flexible, owned by Harry and Mollie Chapman, was honored as International Show Jumping Horse of the Year.

Rich and Flexible Photo by Kim MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

Rich and Flexible
Photo by Kim MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

One Course At A Time

Rich first competed on the international stage in 1991 when he contributed to the U.S. winning the bronze medal at the Pan Am Games in Cuba. Although he limits how much he shows, he remains one of the most successful riders on the West Coast. Rich and Flexible are still competing and adding to their career highlights.

“Flexible is a very, very special little horse — that’s all I can say — and I’m learning along with all of his fans as we proceed how very special he really is,” said Rich. “Because he’s doing things now that are just unheard of.”

On June 15 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Rich and Flexible competed in the $500,000 Rolex/FEI five-star Grand Prix that was also a Canadian team selection trial for Rio. Flexible jumped two clear rounds and finished third. He also jumped clear in the Thursday evening $215,000 qualifier for the Grand Prix.

“Twenty-year-old horses don’t do that in our sport — he didn’t have a pole down all that week and was fresh as a daisy,” said Rich. “He just loves this new facility. We bought our own farm and moved in last December. The barn’s up on a rise and he has a stall with access to his own paddock and thinks he’s the king now. He’s so enthusiastic, I laugh. I’m learning from that horse every day.”

Rich likes to give his horses variety, and the new farm is perfect with different places for under-saddle work. “Every day, Flexible gets ridden out on the trails, in the grass field, in the covered arena and finishes in the really big outdoor ring for his gallop work,” said Rich. “In the afternoon, he gets a walk-trot ride, same thing with lots of variety. I’m just taking it one day at a time. I’m in a never-ending dream and I have this horse. He’s enthusiastic, strong, capable, still jumping really well. He tries his heart when he competes. He’s still competitive with the best in the world. He’s one in a million.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Double D Trailers Info

Tagged under: flexible, lauren r. giannini, olympics, rich fellers

What you can read next

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Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! W Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! We're proud to offer exceptional modern Sporthorse stallions, with wonderful temperaments and quality gaits to North American breeders.
 
Among our stallions are Cum Laude and Kaiman. Cum Laude (Apache x Weltmeyer) is a winning FEI horse and sire of quality dressage horses, breed show champions, and offspring scoring 9.0s on gaits.
 
Kaiman (Dark Pleasure x Gribaldi) earned high scores at his stallion testing and in the young horse classes. He's also the sire of a Licensed Oldenburg stallion. Kaiman's first North American foal crop is arriving now and they are gorgeous!
 
If you're looking for top international bloodlines please check out our 2023 stallion collection, now available fresh, frozen, and by the dose.

Among our stallions are Cum Laude and Kaiman. Cum Laude (Apache x Weltmeyer) is a winning FEI horse and sire of quality dressage horses, breed show champions, and offspring scoring 9.0s on gaits.

Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! We're proud to offer exceptional modern Sporthorse stallions, with wonderful temperaments and quality gaits to North American breeders.

https://www.ironspringfarm.com/biolink/

@iron_spring_farm 

#stallion #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #equine #dressage #pferd #equestrianlife #mare #hengst #horseriding #instahorse #cheval #pferde #equinephotography #horselove #dressagehorse #pony #horselover #caballo #foal #quarterhorse #aqha #arabianhorse #showjumping #photography #caballos #horseofinstagram #sidelinesmagazine
❗️George Williams column❗️ The FEI World ❗️George Williams column❗️
The FEI World Cup Final in Omaha is coming up quickly. That means that it’s starting to heat 
up as the end of the qualifying period for both the Western European League (WEL) and the 
North American League (NAL) nears. I started to write this column before the Amsterdam CDI- W, and I was using the FEI Ranking List from January 15 as a reference. As I sit down to finish 
my column, I’m now looking at the results from Amsterdam. While the list of the top contenders 
for the WEL hasn’t changed, they’re definitely moving around on the ranking list. The WEL has 
three more legs, as they’re referred to: Neumünster February 16–19, Goteborg February 23–26, 
and ’s-Hertogenbosch March 9–12, and they could change things dramatically.
Looking at the top 12 athletes from the WEL as they were ranked on January 15, there are five 
from Germany, three from the Netherlands and one each from Great Britain, Denmark

➡️Read Georges's full column by clicking the link in our bio, and never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine 🦄 

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #Sidelinesmagazine
Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Gre Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Great American $300,000 Grand Prix at HITS Ocala!! 🏆🥇

Crowds filled the stands at the HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring on Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s top athletes compete in the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix. The day concluded with a thrilling five-horse jump-off featuring athletes 
representing four countries. In the end, it was Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Ivaro N who produced the only double clear effort of the day, claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. Scott Keach (AUS) and Noble De La Chapelle earned the second-place prize with the fastest 4-fault jump-off, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Obi Wan placed third as the day’s pathfinders.

“I'm still on cloud nine, I still can't believe it – I’ve used up all my luck for the year,” smiled Goldman-Smolen after her win. “I've been knocking on the door a long time in these bigger classes. I am so proud of my horse – he gave every ounce of effort.”

Sunday’s Great American $300,000 Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 HITS Ocala circuit. HITS CCO Joe Norick concluded, “We are so excited about the new HITS, with 2023 as the launch. New footing, many new arenas here, and a lot of our facilities across America are getting a lot of love and new footing. Our partnerships with Worldly Martin and others across America including our footing leader Bart Poles overseeing our operations – it really makes a big difference for us. Today is about Ocala and these three riders sitting next to me who supported us this entire winter. We want to be a proud destination for our exhibitors and our friends. We know we have to provide them a beautiful showplace to work from that's horseman friendly, and that's our go goal. 

Congratulations to all of the riders, horses, owners, and groom who participated in this prestigious class!!! 🎉
📸 @esi_photography 
#horseshow #horses #horse #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #horselove #horsestagram #instagram #showjumping #equestrianlife #equine  #horsebackriding #dressage #horselife #pony #of #horserider #horseshoe #horsemanship #horseshowlife #riding #instahorse #horseaddict #horseofinstagram #sidelinesmagazine
It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

 ✨PF'S DIAMO BLUE✨
Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
17.0hh, Oldenburg International Hunter Derby/ Jumper Stallion
An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
WBFSH/ Rolex top ranking Jumping Sires 2017 thru 2022
Standing at Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, in California

For more information, you can contact 
🖥Ryanpedigosporthorses.com
🖥Ryan.p.f@hotmail.com
☎️(714) 357-2714

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

@ryanpedigosporthorsespf_

#stallion #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #equine #dressage #pferd #equestrianlife #mare #hengst #horseriding #instahorse #cheval #pferde #equinephotography #horselove #dressagehorse #pony #horselover #caballo #foal #quarterhorse #aqha #arabianhorse #sidelinesmagazine
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