Nancy Pugh Later

Following a Successful 2007, Nancy Pugh Later Looks forward to 2008

Nancy Pugh Later is a highly successful FEI competitor, but interestingly, when asked of her highlights for the past year, it’s not a competitive win that first comes to mind, but her involvement in fundraising. Nancy is a strong believer in supporting good causes helping to raise money for numerous charities.

Most prominent in her mind in the past year was her Grand Prix freestyle exhibition during a fundraiser for the Bear Spot Foundation at Bear Spot Farm in Concord, Massachusetts. The Foundation provides therapeutic services for children, adolescents and their families. Nancy has been very supportive of the Foundation and its CADI (Children of the America’s Dressage Invitational.

Maggie Batievsky, one of the organizers of CADI, had high praise for Nancy’s support saying that it is “an example of how a generous, open-minded and serious equestrian´s work can make a difference in the development and love of the sport in future generations. The North American coaches and riders who took part in this event not only donated their high-level trained dressage horses to the children who traveled from South, Central American and the Islands FEI Groups to compete, but also assisted in coaching them during the week, all the way from barn management skills to polishing their freestyle presentation, and interacted very positively with the accompanying parents and tutors from their countries.”

Batievsky served as translator for Nancy as she coached Venezuelan rider Maria Waleska, who has since taken additional training with Nancy.

In addition to supporting good causes, what also excites Nancy are the opportunities that come her way to enjoy some great horses. She lists among her past year highlights the opportunity to compete with Wasmut for Mary and Lynn Evangeliste. “He is a really powerful horse and it was amazing to have the opportunity to show him for a bit,” Nancy said.

She also kicked off the 2008 season showing what Nancy calls a “super cute Dutch gelding by Jazz named Chic Omar. She showed him early this year in Prix St. Georges and was very pleased with how well he has come along. Chic Omar is owned by Judith Behren. “Judith is a very dedicated student, so I do not get a lot of time in the saddle. However, Chic Omar is really coming along and I plan to show him more next winter and perhaps when Judith is traveling over the summer,” Nancy said.

One of Nancy’s current fabulous mounts is Inshalla, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Cecilia Hesketh. “He was sidelined in the beginning of this winter because of a foot problem, but he will be showing this summer in the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I. He is starting to do all of the movements for Grand Prix,” Nancy said. And she has a super youngster of her own coming up the levels. At the November 2007 Horses Unlimited Auction, she bought a four-year-old mare by Glorioso Noir. “Graci is very tall and still growing,” Nancy said. “I will start showing her next year. She is totally elegant with the best work ethic ever.”

When asked of her future goals, Nancy said she’s aiming to get back in the Grand Prix ring with her horses in order to gain more experience at the top level. “My dream is to have a special horse before I am too old to compete at a high level for international competitions.”