Smart Time, who competed at the young rider Europeans and gave Dani Stewart-Richardson (née Evans) her first Badminton completions, has been put down, aged 22.
“He taught me what a true five-star horse is – it’s not all about the size of their movement and jump,” said Dani. “It’s what’s between the ears and the want to do it, the ability to be quick over the fences, reserve energy, be trainable and the will to get better.”
Dani’s uncle, horse agent and producer Tim Warren, bought “PJ” from Ireland and Dani rode him as a young horse when she worked for Tim.
“He was sold to his owner Luana Edge and Polly Williamson was his rider, but sadly she had an accident that stopped her riding. I was then asked to take the ride on him,” Dani told H&H.
“When I was riding him as a four-year-old he was tiny, narrow and sharp. But he never looked back, he only ever looked forward and was always going.
“He was a quiet, unassuming little horse, never made a fuss, just wanted to work and then sleep and eat.”
The pair won the under-25 CCI2* (now CCI3*-L) at Tattersalls in 2013 and finished 11th at the young rider Europeans in Jardy in the same year.
In 2015, they were second in the under-25 CCI3* (now CCI4*-L) at Bramham Horse Trials and were selected for the British squad for the senior Europeans at Blair Castle Horse Trials. However, Smart Time was withdrawn on the day of the trot-up as he “wasn’t quite himself”.
Dani Stewart-Richardson and Smart Time regrouped with a trip to Boekelo in the Netherlands that autumn, finishing fifth in the CCIO3*-L (now CCIO4*-L). They repeated that Boekelo placing in 2017.
“My rounds at Boekelo are my best memories with PJ – everything comes up quickly and you have to be fast from the first fence if you want to be competitive,” she said. “PJ was so good at reading the question and being quick to answer it, land and move onto the next. He always jumped so well the last day of a three-day, never tired and just went straight back to work.”
Dani Stewart-Richardson (née Evans) and Smart Time on the way to 17th at Badminton 2018. Credit: Peter Nixon
Smart Time also completed Badminton Horse Trials twice, Dani’s first finishes at the British five-star, placing 17th in 2018, the final international run of his career. In addition, he was seventh at Blenheim Horse Trials CCI3* (now CCI4*-L) in 2016, fourth at Barbury CIC3* (now CCI4*-S) that year and sixth at Bramham CIC3* (now CCI4*-S) in 2014.
“He was the perfect horse to get me from young riders to seniors – he was on the young rider squad one year and selected for the senior team two years later. How lucky is that?” said Dani.
“Thank you to Luana for asking me to ride him at a young age and setting up my career as a professional event rider.”
Smart Time suffered an injury when he was 16.
“We decided to rehab him, but let him stay a low level. Lorren Chinnock had him and she treated him like a king until the very end. She did Pony Club Championships, hunting, fun rides and just hacking in the more recent years,” said Dani.
Smart Time was put down last month, in the field where he had been spending his retirement.
“PJ had deteriorated one night and wasn’t happy in the morning,” explained Dani.
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