Every now and then, DeCordova will get a little wild when Erin Renfroe leaves the start box at an event, but she just laughs it off.

Because at age 20, the flashy pinto gelding is still gamely tackling intermediate courses with as much gusto as when she first bought him 12 years ago.

“He’s felt better the last two years than he did in his 13 to 17 years,” said Renfroe. “It seems like he’s figured out, and we’ve figured out the right program for him. Every event is just a bonus. He doesn’t owe me anything. Every time we go out I’m just happy to do it.”

This weekend, they’re running at The Fork Horse Trials (N.C.), where they’re in a tie for eighth after the dressage in the intermediate division. A few weeks ago, the pair were out for their second run of the season at Pine Top (Ga.), where they finished eighth in the open intermediate-B division, which was filled with four-star horses and riders.

Renfroe, of Concord, Mass., grew up riding hunters and jumpers, but got hooked on eventing after a student of hers wanted to try the sport. After she’d competed to preliminary on a couple of horses, Renfroe decided to find a schoolmaster to teach her the ropes at the upper levels.

She came across DeCordova when he was competing with Mark Weissbecker at the advanced level. He’d found the U.S.-bred Thoroughbred-Dutch Warmblood gelding by Fine Art as a yearling and brought him through the levels.

Weissbecker and “Andy” had started their career together at training level in 2001 and went on to finish fifth at the 2003 Bromont CCI** (Quebec) and win the intermediate division at the 2004 U.S. Eventing Association American Eventing Championships (N.C.).

DeCordova and Mark Weissbecker won the 2004 intermediate championship at the USEA American Eventing Championships (N.C.). Photo by John Strassburger

At first it took some time for Renfroe to figure out Andy, but within their first year together in 2005, they qualified for the preliminary division at the AEC and placed fourth.

“He was a little wild. It took a while to get used to it. I was definitely terrified in the beginning,” she said. “Mark did a great job just teaching him to go. Sometimes on cross-country I wasn’t necessarily feeling in control, which I think was probably a good thing for me. As he’s gotten older, he still does that, but we’ve come to a compromise. I’ve come to appreciate that it means he’s thinking for himself.”

Throughout their long career together, Renfroe and Andy have dabbled at the advanced level, but have mostly stuck to intermediate for the last few years.

“I don’t know if we’ve missed any full seasons. He’s had a couple of injuries, and I’ve had a couple of back problems, but pretty much since he was 8 until now he’s been running every year,” she said. “I’ve figured out that at his age, the fitness required for [advanced] is probably not the best thing for him. He seems really comfortable going around at intermediate. But it was really great to feel that I could do that with him. I think I didn’t figure out how to ride him until he was about 16, so I wish I could have figured it out a little bit younger, but he still jumps everything more easily than any other horse I sit on. I just worry about the wear and tear on him.” 

Erin Renfroe and DeCordova at the 2012 Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships (Ga.), where they finished 11th in the intermediate division. Photo by Lindsay Berreth

Andy has a good base of fitness from his years of competing, so Renfroe, 40, tends to use long walk and trot sets to keep him in top shape. She’s also careful in how much she competes him and likes to run him while she’s in Aiken, S.C., for the winter where the footing is good.

Renfroe, who runs her family’s Water’s Edge Farm in Concord, says that Andy is quite the character, but also very focused on his job. “He’s a funny horse,” she said. “He’s very personable, but he definitely has his opinions and we kind of agree to disagree on things. I know when to stay out of his way, and he knows when he has to listen.”

Renfroe takes it one event at a time with Andy, and she’s just enjoying the ride.

“He’s been the one that I can take out that reminds me how to ride,” she said. “He’s always the one that I can go out and make a mistake, and he’s forgiving about it. That’s why I keep running him. He seems happy, and he wants to do it, but it’s also for me. He’s the horse that reminds me how it’s supposed to feel. I have a bunch of other horses, but none of them have ever felt quite like that on cross-country.”

The Chronicle’s Lindsay Berreth is at The Fork CIC and Horse Trials—follow along on www.coth.com and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for all the news!