The technical delegate at the Jackson Hole Horse Trials, Ulrich Schmidt, described the cross-country phase of the Western DeBroke Preliminary champion Leslie Neuhoff's ride as "picture perfect". On her 10 year old thoroughbred Byron (x Speed Play), the 42-year-old director of the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole rode the challenging cross country course designed by Capt. Mark Phillips with the precision of a seasoned event competitor, although she has only been eventing for three years.

Neuhoff has owned Byron for 7 years, buying him as a three-year-old with the ultimate goal of eventing. "We did only dressage for the first three years I had him" she explained. "It is what keeps us packaged in everything else that we do." Stabled at the Spring Creek Equestrian Center, the location of the event, she was able to benefit from the strong emphasis on dressage where the center's owner Robin Weiss and rider Kris Montgomery maintain a top level riding and training program.

Neuhoff finished the difficult stadium course with one rail down and several "rubs". She wasn't even sure which rails remained in their cups and which ones did not. Her cheering squad let her know that she had maintained her first place position in the prestigious USCTA Championship for preliminary competitors.

Western DeBroke Champion Moves East

While competing the entire weekend at The Jackson Hole Horse Trails, her home of the last three years was being packed and prepared for her family's move east. Married to Cortland Neuhoff, a chiropractor who sometimes works on her horse, they have a three-year-old daughter Haley. After being the Director of the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, she will soon begin her new position as the director for the Winterthur Museum Garden and Library in Delaware.

"Phillip Dutton has agreed to take us into his barn", Neuhoff said of future plans for her horse, "We will wait to see what Phillip thinks of him before setting any schedule. I have a big job to focus on, this next year, and I am thrilled we will be getting the opportunity to work with him." Dutton, the Australian 1996 Event Olympic Team Gold Medalist rider now residing in America, will not be disappointed. "This is an extremely talented young horse with the potential to move on." Technical Delegate Ulrich Schmidt observed.

Her view from The National Museum of Wildlife Art overlooks the Elk Refuge located in the center of Jackson Hole where herds of wildlife come into the town in the early fall and stay for the winter months. This view will soon be replaced by autumn colors and the soft rolling hills of the east. What a way to end an era in one of America's most beautiful locations before moving on.

Related Links
National Museum of Wildlife Art
www.jacksonholenet.com
More Coverage of the Jackson Hole Horse Trials at the
Chronicle of the Horse