Galway Downs Equestrian Center

Meet Ian Stark

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As a six-time Olympic silver medalist and renowned international course designer, Ian Stark has seen a lot. One thing he hasn’t seen is another equestrian venue stage a clinic anything like the Galway Downs fundraising affair set for Jan. 19-21.

“It’s quite brilliant,” he says. “All these clinicians putting something back to help develop the sport and its venues.”

This year’s gathering marks the 26th year and Ian’s been there from the beginning. In fact, his connection to Galway Downs pre-dates the clinic because he’d flown over the year before to coach riders here.

He loves the knowledge ripple effect of the clinic. “Some of the riders are giving instruction themselves, and then I have them riding with me, too. Everybody benefits from that. It’s all encompassing and very positive.

“I think nearly all the more experienced riders are very keen to help all the young riders – to give some information and share their experiences,” Ian continues. “Our sport has always been great from that point of view and the Galway Downs clinic epitomizes that.”

Galway Downs’ Growth

Visiting every January and designing Galway Downs’ cross-country tracks for many years, Ian has had a front-row seat for the venue’s evolution. “Galway Downs has grown beyond all recognition,” he observes. “The whole venue is quite impressive.” Ian first came long before Ken Smith purchased the property and began investing in it as a multi-faceted special events site. While community soccer fields now occupy some of the original space for cross-country, Ian sees positives in that.

“There are so many great things going on out there now. With the soccer pitches being in grass, it does mean the footings change a little bit for the horses. And that means the riders have got to ride accordingly – their horses might react differently.” It’s an opportunity for competitors to develop the adaptability required in eventing.

Galway Downs’ evolution parallels the evolution of the talent pool preparing in the West. “The quality of the horses and riders has always been reasonably good, and it’s gone into another stratosphere now,” Ian observes. “The riders have so many more opportunities and now the West Coast can compete very competitively on the East Coast and against those based in the East.  In the beginning, they were quite behind on that. I think a lot of that comes down to the dedication of people like Robert Kellerhouse and the other great organizers of West Coast competitions.”

One consequence of riders’ progress is that Ian has fewer opportunities to playfully admonish people for counting strides on cross-country. Early on, that was an obsession for many, not just at Galway Downs but among American riders in general, Ian shares. “I’d ask them to jump certain jumps on cross-country and they’d ask me how many strides? I’d say, I have no idea! Go and ride it and react to what you’ve got.”

Walking courses is useful for knowing whether a combination is a forward or holding distance, and evaluating terrain that affects that, he says. “But I’d much rather people rode from feel. You have to react to however the horse jumps into a combination, then make it happen for the rest of the combination.

“I like to tease American riders about being hellbent on knowing and riding for certain striding, but there’s a lot less of that now.”

Ian’s approach draws on his own training system. “My training has always been to ride around the farm, go out hunting, jump everything, get on with it and react.” He acknowledges, however, that “there is a lot to be said for both approaches. Instinct and feel are, for me, more important than the number of strides. But when you walk a course, you’ve got to know whether it’s an open or short distance, then have the feel to react if your horse jumps in too boldly or a bit backward and be able to make happen what needs to happen.”

As a competitor and a course designer, Ian has seen the whole sport of eventing evolve. “It’s a different sport, to be honest,” he says. “When I was competing, we still had roads and tracks and steeplechase and the courses at Badminton and Burghley were 13 minutes long. We don’t get courses that long anymore. Cross country day was speed and endurance. It’s still difficult to make the time and gallop clean around many of our courses, but it’s not quite the stamina affair it used to be.

Course Design Finish Line

“Everything evolves,” Ian concludes. That includes his course designing career. Fair Hill International this October will be his last course designing assignment. He’s facing the reality with mixed thoughts and emotions.

Until a few years ago, the International Equestrian Federation, the FEI, mandated that officials retire at age 70. That extended to 72, then the limit was removed all together.  Yet, Ian had geared this life plan toward retiring at 70 and he’s sticking to that despite considerable pressure to continue.

“I think it’s a good decision. I’ve always been very aware of and anxious about hanging on to something for too long,” he shares. “Knowing when to quit is never easy. If you hang on too long you could lose your edge and stop younger people from coming through. I’d rather go when people still want me!” He acknowledges there are different perspectives on this question but feels good about his own.

His family’s Ian Stark Equestrian Centre and his adult children and four young grandchildren tilt him toward the original retirement timing. Plus, he’ll keep a hand in course design’s future as a mentor to younger designers.

Ian hopes the pipeline of younger designers will get fuller. Since the FEI implemented more levels of course designer certifications and requirements, “it’s become even more difficult for young ones to get to the top levels,” Ian observes. “It worries me that it takes too long to move up to the higher levels and I hope there will become a way for the very talented ones to be fast tracked.”

Course design is not a track for the faint of heart, he cautions. “When you’re riding, you get a knot in your stomach until you get on and get that adrenaline going. As a designer, you don’t get that release of pressure. And the pressure is enormous.”

The work’s rewards come at day’s end. “The most gratifying aspect of course design is when a rider comes up at the end of the day and says their horse was a bit green at the beginning, but it improved throughout the round and finished with a smile on its face.”

Busy “Retirement” & A Brilliant Career

Even without designing around the world, Ian has plenty to keep him busy. Run by his wife, Jenny, the Ian Stark Equestrian Centre is located on 500 acres in the Scottish Borders’ town of Selkirk. It offers lessons and a full calendar of competitions and events.

Helping Great Britain earn team silver at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was a launch point for Ian’s international riding career. His resume includes six Olympic silver medals; World Championships team gold and silver and individual silver; and six team golds, plus individual gold and silver, at the European Championships. He is a three-time Badminton winner and remains the only rider to have finished 1st and 2nd in the same year, which he did in 1988.

Ian retired from team riding in 2000 and “mostly” retired from riding in 2007. The allure of the saddle, however, is such that Californians have seen him campaign or school a horse or two over here in the years since.

Snow skiing fulfills Ian’s free time these days, making up for the years when he abstained because of its injury risks.

His many honorifics include MBE from the Queen of England in 1989 and OBE in 2000; Honorary Fellowship of the British Horse Society and induction into the Halls of Fame of Sporting Scotland, Sporting Scottish Borders, the British Horse Society and the Event Riders’ Association.

In short, he’s a living legend in our sport and the wisdom and wit he’ll share at the Galway Downs fundraising clinic is not to be missed.

Volunteer Spotlight – Mike Murray

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Staging reliably well-run events requires reliable people in several positions. One of those key players for Galway Downs is volunteer Mike Murray. Over 10 years, Mike has held almost every volunteer position, but he’s most often found in the hot seat of the cross-country starter’s box.

Riding in New Zealand

He’s the guy counting down the seconds to each rider’s start time, allowing each to approach the start line in whatever way best suits their horse. Once the countdown hits zero and the horse and rider are off, Mike records the time and turns his attention to the next pair getting ready for their turn.

Simultaneously, Mike monitors the radio as jump judges throughout the track report clears, disobediences, falls or other issues to the controller in the tower. If any of those issues result in a delay for the next pair, Mike lets the rider know and keeps them updated on how long it will be.

Mike is seasoned enough in this stressful-seeming post to know when to talk to the riders and when to stay quiet. He plays that by ear. “Sometimes I say good morning or good afternoon, but I never want to interrupt their minds when they are thinking about their horse and the course ahead. I really leave it up to them whether they want to have a conversation.”

“The younger riders and the Beginner and Beginner Novice divisions are always the most fun,” he says. “They need encouragement and sometimes there are things to explain to them.” Conversely, the more experienced riders are well versed in the countdown procedure and rarely require his help.

Seeing The Best

Mike’s favorite moments involve seeing some of the world’s top riders and horses and that happens frequently at Galway Downs. “Especially at the 4*s, we see Olympic gold medalists and a high level of competitors on a regular basis.”

Mike’s interest in horses brought him to Galway Downs. He grew up in the Midwest where they were part of his life on the farm. On retiring 10 years ago, he returned to riding and purchased several horses at his property in Mountain Center, near Idlewild.

Western riding was Mike’s initial discipline of choice, but he soon became a horseman of diverse interests and abilities.  He got hooked on jumping during vacations to New Zealand. There, he enjoyed hunting on the country’s preferred “Station” horses, a half -Thoroughbred/half-draft that “is an excellent riding horse.” At home, he owned horses trained and campaigned by others in eventing, continued jumping himself and dove deep into carriage driving. He even took his “amazing” Morgan pair to the Morgan World Championships in Oklahoma City.

Mike sold his ranch and his horses in 2018 and admits to missing them.

He is one of Galway Downs’ most reliable volunteers. Along with the vouchers and branded swag Galway offers its volunteers, Mike gets that much-needed horse fix and a front row seat for great equestrian action.

Meet Our Team – Chris Bullard, Hospitality Coordinator

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Making it look easy is the art of hospitality and Chris Bullard is a master at that. As Galway Downs’ hospitality coordinator, Chris is the friendly face greeting people at the Grand Prix Arena’s VIP Pavilion throughout the year. Or, at the new bar in the tented viewing area right next to it.

When there isn’t an event going on, Chris might be found updating inventory for the bar or the generous volunteer snack supply or reviewing menu options and bartender resumes. She might be tackling the considerable task of ensuring spectator and VIP seating is clean and tucked away. She might be at Costco, scouring for the best deal on things that are mundane but important — like garbage bags.

Chris Bullard, right, with teammate Kristi Fetzer

In between, she maintains the swag supply of embroidered and branded Galway Downs gear and manages reservations for the 49 RV spots that are usually sold out for eventing competitions.

In short, Chris is kept busy handling the many details and preparations that make things look effortless and elegant by the time competitors and guests arrive on the property. 

An Expansive Perspective

She works for all three of Galway Downs’ key people – facility manager and eventing competition organizer Robert Kellerhouse; hunter/jumper show organizers Ali and Francie Nilforushan; and Galway Downs owner Ken Smith. Led by Smith’s vision, they’ve all been instrumental in transforming the property into a world class equestrian competition and special event venue.

Chris began playing her part in that transformation in 2020.  Early in the year, she’d brought her corporate hospitality experience to a Temecula winery as general manager of their special event center. Literally one or two days after she started, COVID hit. 

Around the same time, Chris moved to Galway Downs. Living on site with a firsthand view of the daily goings-on, she casually asked Robert Kellerhouse if he might need a little help. He did. And so did the Nilforushans and so did Ken Smith, leading to the multi-faceted responsibilities she now fulfills so well.

“They’ve all done a fantastic job,” Chris observes. They all work well together and are “cut from the same cloth” in their vision for Galway Downs.

Working especially closely with Ali on the extensive hospitality plans for his eight weeks of hunter/jumper shows, Chris praises his vivid vision for details large and small — from the color of the decor to the installation of the new individual restrooms that have received rave reviews. And that’s outside of the concerts, cocktail hours and game nights that are part of the Nilforushans’ commitment to elevating the horse show experience. “It’s been really fun and interesting to work with Ali because he is always doing something innovative.”

An Expansive Perspective

As hospitality coordinator, Chris interacts with the different horse people who enjoy Galway Downs. “They all ride different disciplines and are different people, but they’re all very nice.”

The VIP experience was new to the eventing community a few years ago and has now been embraced to the point of sell-outs during the last few competitions. Managing the VIP Pavilion, Chris has seen the evolution from eventers initially balking at the upfront cost to recognizing the benefits of all-day access to hot meals and snacks and a lovely place for themselves, their clients and guests to enjoy the event.

Working during the Masterclass in the Wine Country with Ingrid Klimke exposed Chris to yet another segment of the equestrian community — passionate fans of the German Olympic eventer and dressage rider. “It was huge and they were so excited to be here,” Chris exclaims. Organized by Entrigue Consulting, the early December educational weekend drew between 700 and 800 fans, including a sold-out VIP area that showcased Galway Downs at its dressed-up, holiday best.

Chris’ horsey background is centered on Arabians. Her daughter Keeley competed on the Arabian Youth circuit and now trains professionally. Keely recently moved back to Southern California after six years in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her training business, KK Equestrian, is thriving. Three of Keeley’s youth horses enjoy retired life at Green Acres. It’s right across the street from Galway Downs and Chris usually visits them twice a day.

Living at the 242-acre property is “lovely,” Chris shares — especially during the off weekends. “When there’s no shows going on, I can sit with my coffee overlooking the racetrack and watch the babies run in the morning. It’s beautiful and very peaceful.”

Living on site also makes her a go-to girl for impromptu requests to check on this or that. “That’s OK,” she laughs. “It’s all part of the deal.”

Ready For Prime Time

Getting back to the art of hospitality, Chris says organization is the key to making it look easy.  She takes pride in having a space or place for everything, keeping everything clean and anticipating and juggling the many details involved in upcoming events.

Galway Downs is ready for discovery by the general public, Chris asserts. She observes that many locals have little idea the full scope of activity going on throughout the year. “They might know about the youth soccer, the wedding venue or the equestrian competitions, but they usually only know of one of those. You can’t see us directly from the main road, so there are still a lot of people who have no idea we’re out here.

“It’s all about keeping people happy and I think we do a really good job of that,” Chris concludes. “I think we have a great team out here, with fearless leaders and we all work well together.”

Sponsor Spotlight – Mrs. Pastures Cookies For Horses

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Joanna Russell was already excited to get a call about a potential job at Alltech®.

She “literally screamed” when she learned the position was account manager for Mrs. Pastures® Cookies for Horses, she recalls with a laugh. “That’s my all-time favorite horse cookie!”

The 38-year-old brand of health-conscious horse cookies often evokes that kind of reaction from its fans. People love them because their horses love them. That’s why they’ve gone from a simple goodie made in a horse mom’s home kitchen to an easily identifiable, red-lidded container recognized by both horses and horse people throughout North America.

The crunchy treats are now sold in everything from 8-ounce pouches to 50-pound tubs and their devoted fans include Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome, who still receives regular shipments of Mrs. Pastures at his home in Japan.

Made of simple, all-natural ingredients, Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses were originally created by California horsewoman Patricia Burge, who was seeking a wholesome treat for her daughter Maggie’s horse Poncho. Poncho was incredibly picky, which inspired Burge to refine her recipe to horse-approved perfection. The ingredients of her original cookie recipe remain the same — apples, oats, cane molasses, rolled barley, water and wheat middlings — a nutritious byproduct of the wheat milling process.

No preservatives, corn or soy have ever been used to produce the timeless treat.

An Ongoing Legacy

Patricia Burge officially started the Mrs. Pastures business in her home in 1986 at age 66, and trailblazed its growth to a national brand for 30 years thereafter. Burge’s daughter, Maggie Carroll, continued the legacy when her mother passed away in 2016..

Alltech – a global leader in the animal health and nutrition industry – acquired Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses in 2021 to help grow its “hoofprint” in the equine industry. The company shares a similar origin story of being founded by passionate, goal-oriented individuals. Alltech was started by Irish biochemist Dr. Pearse Lyons in 1980 and has since grown to employ over 6,000 people worldwide, while remaining a family-owned company.

Alltech’s support of equestrian sports came front and center as the title sponsor of the 2010 and 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games. The Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park continues to showcase the sport and Alltech’s enduring commitment to the equine industry. Above all, Alltech’s Lifeforce™ equine supplements, feed products and specialty ingredients support and promote equine health and performance.

Health conscious cookies play their part in the horse-human bond.

After Alltech initially purchased Mrs. Pastures, Maggie Carroll served as a close advisor to ensure that customers could continue to count on the high quality and good taste for which the treats are famous.

In The Oven…

The winning combination of a home-kitchen developed recipe, plus Alltech’s experience and global scope, positions Mrs. Pastures to meet the equine industry’s evolving needs and preferences.

For example, a new recipe variation was designed to give more health-conscious horse owners a superfood-packed option in treat form. The new Super Cookie™ is made with the same time-tested process as the original cookie, but it has no molasses or other added sugar. Sweet potatoes, turmeric and kelp add “super” nutrients for overall horse health.

Supporting the bond between horses and their humans was a founding inspiration for Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses. The treats are a popular incentive in ground-based and under-saddle training methods that use positive reinforcement.

“We are learning more about how horses learn and what types of reinforcement and motivation affect them,” Joanna observes. “I’ve used Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses to turn around a mare who came to me with some emotional baggage. They helped me mentally rehabilitate her. I’ve also used them to teach horses to stand still at the mounting block, among other things.”

Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses has grown significantly under Alltech’s umbrella, and that’s “just the beginning,” says Joanna. Horse owners should stock up on cookies and stay tuned for several more exciting developments planned for the New Year.

Exhibitor Spotlight – Harper Padgett

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When 15-year-old Harper Padgett arrived at the USEA’s U21 Emerging Athlete national camp this week, she didn’t know what horse she’d be riding. The Seattle-based rider’s three horses are in Florida for the winter, so she’ll be participating in the session with US Olympic gold medalist David O’Connor on a catch ride.

“It’s kind of fun!” said Harper of the awaiting surprise. Plus, she believes that the more experiences she has, the better ride she can give her own horses and the better prepared she’ll be to attain her long-term goal of representing Team USA.

Catch riding is part of Harper’s plan, as is competing on the jumper circuit and taking lessons with dressage and jumping experts.

This past summer, Harper competed jumper division catch rides at Thunderbird Show Park in British Columbia and loved it. “I think it’s an important part of improving and getting a feel, not just for my main horse, but for riding and developing younger horses.” Along with eventing work, she’ll be contesting the Winter Equestrian Festival jumping circuit in Florida this season.

Variety

Even without catch rides, Harper enjoys plenty of variety in her own horses. As her longest time partner, Captivate has been Harper’s best coach. Formerly her mom Leonie Padgett’s horse, Captivate passed to Harper when she was 12 and helped her rapid ascent from Novice and Training to Preliminary and 2* in their first year together, at only 13.  “Being able to trust him and having him be so steady at the level has helped me feel so confident in bringing up a young horse to that level.”

He’s a relatively calm character. “It’s nice having a horse that can make the time in Prelim but you don’t feel like he’s running away with you.”

Harper is “super excited” about that younger horse, Cooley Starship, who is the opposite of Captivate personality-wise. “He’s a fiery, super sensitive hot horse,” says Harper.  “I’m learning how to ride him and calm him down.”

At the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs last November, this pair was 2nd in the USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships at the CCI1*-L level, and third overall in the division. “I think he is going to be one of my long-term horses,” Harper shares. “I haven’t wanted to rush anything with him. The Young Rider Championships were easy for him and I’m very excited for Preliminary and 2* with him this year.”

Harper also has a newer and more seasoned horse in Cooley Co-Presenter.  Her first few months at home with him have been encouraging. So much so that she expects him to be her Intermediate and 3* partner now that she’s entered her 16th year and is eligible for those divisions.

At-Home Horsemanship

Harper keeps her horses at the family’s Seattle area farm. With academics an equal priority to riding, Harper has help with barn chores during the week. She enjoys doing all the conditioning work in the afternoons and handling the horse care responsibilities on the weekends.

Their property has hills for stamina and strength building and Harper uses the time riding on her own to absorb and apply lessons learned from her coaches. “Obviously, horsemanship is not just about the riding,” Harper observes. “Being with the horses 24/7 helps build our bond and developing their ground skills is important to producing our partnerships.”

When she’s home, Harper works with jumping professionals Lauren Crooks and John Turner and dressage coach Debbie Dewitt. This winter, she’ll compete one of her horses on the Winter Equestrian Festival jumping circuit in Florida under Lauren’s watch. She admits the jumper world is tempting. “I love the jumping and there are a lot more girls my age on that circuit. But I love eventing, too, and I wouldn’t want to give up the momentum I have there. Plus, I love the people in eventing. Everyone is so supportive.”

US Olympic eventer Phillip Dutton is Harper’s coach when she’s in Florida. She’s been working with Phillip since meeting him at a clinic at Galway Downs three years ago. Phillip and Liz Halliday have helped source Harper’s horses.

Emerging Athlete

Last year’s accomplishments align perfectly with Harper’s big goals. She was the top Junior Preliminary rider in the country and in USEA Area VII.

Earning a spot in the Emerging Athlete national camp enhances those competitive accomplishments. The 18 participants for the January national camp are drawn from a larger pool selected for five regional camps held earlier in the year. The Jan. 2-6 camp at Kings Way Farm, across the road from Galway Downs, marks the USEA’s second staging of the session and Harper was selected both times.

She appreciates the camps’ half riding and half lectures format. Harper has referenced notes taken in last January’s deep dives on dressage, jumping and cross-country throughout the year. She’s pleased that the USEA offered that depth of education at the regional and national camps, so that more up-and-coming riders can benefit from it. 

Networking was another focus of the non-riding sessions. “They talked about the publicity aspect of getting your name on those lists when it comes to grants and being able to advocate for yourself. Building your own connections was a big topic last year.”

Above all, the camps’ focus on training and development basics — including the German training scale — are invaluable as she ascends the levels, Harper says.

Harper recalls being passionate and driven from the start. Her mother Leonie Padgett had evented while growing up in New Zealand. She steered Harper in the eventing direction early on and continues to be a super supportive horse mom and an amateur competitor herself.  Harper enjoys sharing the sport with Leonie and having a daily brain storming partner when it comes to training challenges, highs and lows of life with horses and career goals.

Harper started riding a pony at 8 and “I just loved the competition and wanted to do my best all the time.” Prioritizing high school and riding, and maintaining a healthy balance between the two, is an intense juggling act, she acknowledges. But she wouldn’t have it any other way.