Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Ocala Winter Horse Trials 1 at The Florida Horse Park

Janet Andrews and Cosmic Diamond Beat Field of Olympians at Ocala Winter I Horse Trials
Text and photos By Shaneen Kohler

Since then, Andrews has been helping Cosmic Diamond develop her natural “really nice” gaits, while encouraging her to have fun and relax in the ring and be more confident. “She is big but leggy,” explained Andrews, “and she has the tendency to be spooky.” But, her mind and body are coming together now.

It was Cosmic Diamond’s dressage score that earned them the win in the Open Training class. Williams and his mount, Sweepea Dean, were only 1.5 points behind them. So, if Hill gives the OK, Andrews might be advancing to the Preliminary Level for the Feb. 17-19 event at the horse park.

Andrews hopes to take Cosmic Diamond all the way to the top, just like she did with the mare’s mother until a career-ending injury occurred. The mother, a Hanoverian named Gaisha, was the U.S. Equestrian Team Mare of the Year in 1993. “I took her through Intermediate, but after coming back from a pregnancy, she suffered an injury while competing,” said Andrews of Cocoa, Fla., who co-owns Cosmic Diamond with Mary Jo Herhold. “I think (Cosmic Diamond) has the jump to go all the way,” said Andrews.