By TPH Blog Editor SARAH WELK BAYNUM
If you attended the Kentucky Three Day this year, it might have been hard to miss a much smaller version of the equine athletes that went around the most exciting day of the weekend: cross-country day.
Briggs Surratt’s mount, Corture, who know as Haute at the barn (and appropriately pronounced “Hottie”) is 14.2-hand Holsteiner cross mare.
Haute has some pretty well-known connections in the eventing world. Haute’s dam, Leap of Faith, was an advanced mare competed by Elisa Wallace in 2003-2007. Her lineage is also linked to Tad Coffin’s Olympic gold medalist, Bally Cor, through the steeplechase stallion Cormac.
But what this pony lacks in height, she makes up for in mare power, personality, and a whole lot of heart. In fact, Surratt actually got bucked off the first time he got on Haute. But despite that not-so-perfect first ride, Surratt knew the little mare had scope.
Of course, this isn’t the first time a pocket rocket pony has shown the eventing world that size doesn’t matter. Teddy, the CCI5* pony, was famously ridden by Karen O’Connor.
During the cross country phase of this years Kentucky 3-Day Event, Briggs had his leg knocked by the brush before a bounce up at one of the jumps which caused him to get pretty unseated momentarily, his arms wrapped around Hautes’ neck while we held our breath before he settled back into the saddle and continued around the course.
But Corture didn’t flinch, and still had zero jump penalties by the end of their round that day! By the end of the weekend, they ended up in the 28th place slot, a testament of her ability at this level already. According to Wallace Eventing, they are carefully planning her CCI4*-L debut at Rebecca Farm.
The rise of popularity for Haute began several years ago as she and Briggs started competing at the CCI3* Level. Haute continues to ignites the love of pony’s across the USA and the world!
Haute even has her own fan club now. The fan club has three levels of membership, all with their own benefits for joining.
“The amazing worldwide attention Briggs and Haute received after their spectacular CCI4* cross country performance at Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event has been overwhelming!” Wallace Eventing had posted on social media not long after the Kentucky 3-Day.
We hope to see this partnership tearing up the cross country course again at next years Kentucky 3-Day and other eventing trials to come!
