The Legacy Cup Is On
Special Coverage by Diana DeRosa

Tammy Provost and Cabachon Win Go Round & Finals

After winning two days in a row Tammy and Cabachon’s owner Stephen Martines were thrilled. At 17, this 16.3H, bay, Oldenburg mare, who they call Alyce in the barn, showed she still has what it takes.

“She is really straightforward and very smooth to ride with an incredible feeling in the air,” explained Tammy about the mare who she considers a “beautiful mover with a beautiful stride and nice expression.”

Cabachon’s main job is taking Stephen around the Adult Amateur 50 and older fences, which she was also doing at this show.

“It’s a treat to ride a made horse,” added Tammy noting that after her win she was “so excited even though I kind of expected that I could count on her because last year she was 2nd.”

Cabachon resides at Our Day Farm in Elgin, IL with Stephen’s trainer Lynn Jayne. Steve purchased the mare when she was around eight and imported her from Germany. He explained that it hasn’t always been easy to find the right horse for him. “It takes a special horse for my size and the way I ride and my trainer Lynn has an eye for that. Alyce is such a classic horse, smooth and so sweet and willing to please.”

Surprisingly, it was Peridot, another horse owned by Stephen and ridden by Tammy, that almost won the Go Round but a missed lead and bobble by the seven-year-old, 16.2H, bay Oldenburg gelding moved him into 21st. In the Finals Peridot proved he also has the skill and finished 2nd.

Peridot is a new ride for Stephen since he’s only had the horse a couple of months. “He was out of Quarantine and in Florida for only three days before I owned him. I haven't shown him yet,” commented Stephen who admits even before purchasing Peridot he owned quite a few horses. In fact he has 23.

“I’ve never sold a horse. I have mares, babies, retired horses and show horses,” he explained. Some live on his own farm (15) and his show horses stay with Lynn. When on the Florida Circuit Stephen brings six of his horses down to his farm in Florida.

“He’s a lot like Alyce. He’s smooth,” explained Tammy about Peridot. “Even though he is seven he acts like an older horse. “He's normally a perfect lead changer and because he's so smooth it took me a minute to realize he had missed his lead because he got it and then swapped off.”

For the Finals although Peridot started to play just a little bit around one corner, his lead changes were perfect.

Stephen, who has been riding for 30 years now, recalls the day he first rode Peridot. “When I tried him I came over to Lynn and said I am so comfortable I could go into the show ring right now."