Boyd Martin has handed over the reins of his experienced four-star partner, Remington XXV, to his assistant trainer, Caitlin Silliman.
Martin and “Remi,” a 16-year-old Hanoverian (Rubinstein I—Weserpalme, Wenzel I) owned by Ron and Densey Juvonen of Henley House Stables, completed the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** three times, finishing 12th, eighth and ninth. Martin also rode Remi to seventh in the Pau CCI**** (France) in 2010.
“Today I met with Remi’s owners, Ron and Densey Juvonen, and we all agreed that Remi has done more than we had ever dreamed he would, and enough is enough for ‘The Hanoverian Hurricane’ right at the top level,” wrote Martin in his blog. “He has been super sound and tried his heart out doing two three-day events a year since we partnered up in 2007. Ironically our partnership started with Remi as a sales project, but we never managed to sell him due to failed vet checks. Even though it’s tempting to get another big performance out of him, it’s a nice feeling parting ways while he is still on top.”
Silliman, 22, has been doing some of the flatwork and fitness work with Remi since she’s been working for Martin.
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“I’m definitely still in shock a little!” she said. “We’d been talking for a little while that there was a chance I’d get to lease him when Boyd was finished for the first leg of his retirement—and after me he’ll go to Ron and Densey’s granddaughter, Camilla Grover—but I didn’t know when it was going to happen. Boyd talked to me about a week ago when we went to gallop, and he asked if I wanted to get [Remi] going. I don’t think it’ll sink in until I take him to an event. I think he’s got a lot to teach me.”
Remi and Silliman are aiming for the open preliminary at the Maryland Horse Trials in September, and Silliman’s looking to do the Plantation Field CIC** (Pa.) later in the fall and then a spring three-day with the horse if all goes according to plan. She’ll also be campaigning her advanced mare, Catch A Star.
“He’s a pretty cool horse to ride with Boyd because Boyd sort of trained him from the beginning,” said Silliman. “Boyd can tell me exactly what to do with [Remi] on the flat. Hopefully, I’ll be trainable enough to follow his instructions.
“I’m only able to do this because of Seema Sonad sponsoring me,” added Silliman. “I have to thank her and Boyd and the Juvonens for giving me this opportunity.”
