PrintCurrently, Augustin is on top of the U.S. Equestrian Federation national standings for leading hunter breeders, and he’s been there since 2004. That’s mostly due to the Rio babies he’s bred.
One example is Rio Bronco, who was the 2002 USEF Amateur-Owner Horse of the Year and 2002 and 2003 Amateur-Owner Hunter, 18-35, Horse of the Year for Stepping Stone Farm.
“Some of the nicest young horses I’ve ridden have been by Rio Grande,” said Martin. “The babies I’ve had could always jump really big, but they’re so pretty, and they move well that they don’t make it past the hunter ring. All the ones I’ve ridden have jumped big jumps anyway. They’re quiet, super movers, beautiful and good jumpers.”
This year there are 10 Rio offspring listed with USEF that are earning points for him in the hunter ring, but it’s not just the Rio jump that puts them in the ribbons. It’s their quiet attitude that makes them so suitable for amateur riders.
| These Rios Would Make Their Father Proud Victoria Watters LeBlond is legally blind, so she’s pretty careful when it comes to choosing a horse to compete in the adult amateur hunters. But Eye Remember Rio, a 12-year-old, Hanoverian gelding (Rio Grande—Sandros Girl), has won her heart and dozens of adult amateur titles and tricolors for LeBlond. Their latest victory came at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show where she won blue in the NAL Adult Hunter Finals. “He’s quite the family horse,” said LeBlond. “My mother trail rides him. My 9-year-old took two or three rides on him this summer and decided that’s his horse. He doesn’t want to ride his pony anymore.” LeBlond said he’s the best horse she’s ever ridden. “You ride him with your fingertips,” she said. “He’s so flexible. You can add two steps or leave out two strides. Nothing fazes him. I could make him jump into a standard, and he’ll forgive me and go on with the rest of the course.” LeBlond’s eyesight certainly leaves her at a disadvantage when it comes to finding her distance, but her “Rio” more than makes up for her. “I can go a little long, a little short, a little left or a little right, jump up his neck, and his confidence isn’t shattered,” she said. “He jumps it the same way. If I’m a little bit off on my angle, Rio will cover it up for me.” And LeBlond is so happy with Rio that she decided to breed her mare, See 4 Yourself, to Rio Grande. Their filly, Out To See, was born last spring. Brad Wolf is just as passionate about his Rio, Rio Renoir. “I have never sat on a horse that canters as smoothly as him,” he said. “I rode him in this little bitty ring for the first time. It was like sitting in a rocking chair. You can tell that when he goes around the ring. It’s a perfect, smooth rhythm, and it helps me find the jumps.” Wolf and the 9-year-old Canadian Sport Horse (Rio Grande—Dunja) took home grand amateur-owner honors at the Devon Horse Show (Pa.) this spring, the first time that Wolf had competed at Devon. “It took me many months to just hang on over the jump,” admitted Wolf. “I was sort of a beginner, but it never bothered him a bit. I could chip, miss, and do all kinds of things, and it doesn’t faze him. I’ve chipped so badly that I almost fell off, and he’ll canter down to the next jump. He will clock me around the ring like there’s no tomorrow.” |
That good attitude was something that Rio Grande was known for around the farm.
“He knew he was a special horse,” said Christine. “He was the king of the barn. He had a great mind. He wasn’t difficult to handle. He was a pleasure to ride.”
Because the Walches bred so many Rio foals, Christine and Augustin have a good feel for how they generally turn out.
“They’re easy to start, easy to ride, not spooky,” said Christine. “They’re very trainable and rideable.”
They had actually stopped using Rio too much for breeding to their own horses at the end of his career because so many of their broodmares are his descendents.
“The temperament is key because 95 percent of our horses are ridden by amateurs at some point,” explained Christine.
“When the horse has the willingness to perform and do everything, it doesn’t matter how he looks,” agreed Augustin. “The nicest horse, if he doesn’t want to work, you can do nothing.”
Another hallmark of Rio Grande offspring is their versatility. Although his hunter get are the best known, there are many Rio jumpers out there and even some Rio dressage and event horses.
Catwalk is one of his best-known jumpers. Out of a Landgraf mare, the 10-year-old, Oldenburg mare, ridden by Darren Dlin, led the Jump Canada Series in September after victories in the $70,000 Grand Prix Jumping du Quebec World Cup Qualifier held at the Blainville CSI-W (Que.) and the $100,000 Caledon Equestrian Park World Cup Qualifier (Ont.).
In the dressage world, a Canadian Warmblood named Grande Crimson (Rio Grande—Ruby II) is making her mark. Last year she took home top honors in the central region USEF/Markel Young Dressage Horse Selection Trials in the 6-year-old division (Ohio).
“He knew he was a special horse,” said Christine. “He was the king of the barn. He had a great mind. He wasn’t difficult to handle. He was a pleasure to ride.”
Because the Walches bred so many Rio foals, Christine and Augustin have a good feel for how they generally turn out.
“They’re easy to start, easy to ride, not spooky,” said Christine. “They’re very trainable and rideable.”
They had actually stopped using Rio too much for breeding to their own horses at the end of his career because so many of their broodmares are his descendents.
“The temperament is key because 95 percent of our horses are ridden by amateurs at some point,” explained Christine.
“When the horse has the willingness to perform and do everything, it doesn’t matter how he looks,” agreed Augustin. “The nicest horse, if he doesn’t want to work, you can do nothing.”
Another hallmark of Rio Grande offspring is their versatility. Although his hunter get are the best known, there are many Rio jumpers out there and even some Rio dressage and event horses.
Catwalk is one of his best-known jumpers. Out of a Landgraf mare, the 10-year-old, Oldenburg mare, ridden by Darren Dlin, led the Jump Canada Series in September after victories in the $70,000 Grand Prix Jumping du Quebec World Cup Qualifier held at the Blainville CSI-W (Que.) and the $100,000 Caledon Equestrian Park World Cup Qualifier (Ont.).
In the dressage world, a Canadian Warmblood named Grande Crimson (Rio Grande—Ruby II) is making her mark. Last year she took home top honors in the central region USEF/Markel Young Dressage Horse Selection Trials in the 6-year-old division (Ohio).
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