Veteran jumper feels right at home
Howard continues winning ways at Spruce Meadows with Encana Cup
Leslie Howard has been coming to Spruce Meadows for nearly 30 years and, after capturing Friday’s Encana Cup, there was a special surprise in store for the veteran rider.
The only thing? No one knew it, but the 60-year-old veteran show-jumper used another horse to stand in for her winning mount Donna Speciale during the championship presentations.
Energized by the other horses around it, the fill-in horse bodyslammed Howard and knocked her over on the ground, much to the surprise of Howard and the afternoon spectators.
“Usually, you don’t need an ambulance for the victory lap,” the Darien, Conn., native said with a chuckle. And, of course, Howard wanted to set the record straight.
“That wasn’t the horse that won,” she added.
“I don’t want to give her a bad reputation.”
That’s because Donna Speciale was on her best behaviour during the 1.45-metre competition at the National Tournament, producing a stellar jump-off performance that was enough to best fellow Americans Adrienne Sternlicht and McLain Ward for the top spot.
Howard, of course, wasn’t injured following the brief dust-up and was beaming over the final outcome of Donna Speciale’s performance.
“She’s been a winner the whole time I’ve had her,” Howard said of the partnership that has been developing over the past 18 months. “I wanted to start her back easy this week and move her up to the 1.45m next week. We’ll see where that goes this circuit.
“She’s naturally careful, scopey and very smart. A super smart horse.”
Howard is taking Saturday off but plans to ride Donna Speciale, a nine-year-old grey Dutch warmblood, again in Sunday’s 1.45-metre ATCO Classic speed class.
“I was anticipating Donna to be right up there (Friday),” she said. “Of course you never know with horses. But she just, once again, proved what a champion she is.”
She is also excited for her Derby horse, Moondoggie, whom she plans to ride in the National Tournament’s finale — Sunday’s CNOOC Nexen Cup.
Moondoggie is undersized but, Howard added, don’t let that fool you.
“He has the heart of a lion,” she said. “He’s a cute little horse. The thing about the Derby is you must have a good horse and he really does fit the definition of a Derby horse.”
Howard would know. At the Spruce Meadows National, she has won the Derby competition three times (2013, 2011 and 2001) and six times overall during the summer series.
She is also among the Top 20 money winners at the venue, collecting more than $2 million at Spruce Meadows since she first started coming in 1988.
“It helps to know the drill,” said Howard, a two-time American Olympian.
“Spruce Meadows is unlike any other venue. They have their idiosyncrasies. You know to make sure not to get on too early if ‘Name the Foal’ is in the ring before the jump-off.
“Maybe the foal might run around or kick somebody.” But in all seriousness … “The venue has changed dramatically,” Howard said. “The amount of improvements that Linda and her team do on a yearly basis … when you come back, it’s always better … they run it like the military.
“I’m just happy to be here.”