Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Moving on from the Running Order Era at DPE

Photo by Sommer Wilson via Facebook

I'm not sure I can adequately put into words the disappointment and disheartenment I've felt over the past few weeks over the loss of Running Order from DPE. As nearly everyone in the eventing world is aware, I've been in the process of forming a syndicate to purchase Running Order. Syndication is a difficult process; no one likes to ask for support, but it is a necessary evil in the modern sport. We were able to form a great group of supporters to purchase him, but due to unforeseen circumstances we were unable to do so.

Running Order has been a part of my life for 4 1/2 years. He has taken me places I couldn't have dreamed about the day he arrived in April of '08. I am forever indebted to him for the experience I've gained through his efforts. Things happen for a reason in life and as hard as this one was to swallow, I'm beginning to see the light. During Richland Park this past weekend, we had the opportunity to speak with David O'Connor. He told us that this very well might be the best thing that has happened to me. His advice correlated strongly with that of a number of other riders who have been in this situation before, all encouraging me to move forward.

With all of this in mind, I'm getting more and more excited about the future of DPE. Running Order was just about the closest thing to a sure bet that we'd get to the top. I'm now in the process of reforming our syndicate to purchase two horses. The ultimate goal is to reach the top of the sport, and with two horses involved our odds of success will be significantly higher. Their current levels of competition don't really matter, as long as they are the most talented horses available. We have a great track record of getting the most out of our horses.

I've never been in the fortunate position of seeking out a horse; in the past I have worked with whatever horses I happen to come across. I'm very excited about finally getting this wonderful opportunity, made better by sharing this process with my most ardent supporters. My friends will inevitably get tired of hearing me describe how great these horses are, but syndicate members will not!

I'm looking for people who would like to join this new syndicate. This new group's goal is to purchase one horse who is roughly at the intermediate/CCI** level and one who is just beginning the process (5 yr old-Training). If either horse reaches its maximum potential before the 4* level, the goal would be to find him an appropriate home and reinvest the funds into a suitable replacement.

Would you like to join us? If so, send me an email or give me a call at 908.399.9112. I am looking for a motivated group of people who are excited to join the process and want to win! I fully intend to make the best of this unfortunate situation and ask you to support my journey to the top. Each shareholder will own a portion of each horse. The initial buy-in will be roughly 15-20k with an annual maintenance fee of 4k. This will allow each shareholder to have a stake in two horses for the price of one.
Best Regards,
-D