The season for horse shows has just begun, but Plant City’s Black Dog Farm Connemaras and Sport Horses already has garnered some national acclaim.
The farm qualified three horses and sent two riders to the American Eventing Championships in September, in Chattahoochie Hills, Ga. Both riders placed in the top five in their respective divisions.
“We were hoping for top-10 finishes and were really happy with the way things turned out,” owner Beth Davidson said.
Black Dog Farm trainer Lauren DeNeve competed with Cindy One in the novice horse division and placed second nationally. Cindy One is owned by Jody Harwood. Nataly Pacheco, rider and owner of horse Monte Cristo, pulled out a fourth-place win nationally among 56 entries in the beginner novice rider division.
This was the first year riders from Black Dog Farm qualified for the competition.
Black Dog Farm specializes in eventing, an Olympic sport rooted in military tradition. The 25-acre farm has one barn with 20 horses. Most are show horses, but some are foals, yearlings and retired show horses that act as “babysitters” to the young horses.
A lifelong equestrian, Davidson rode as a child but quit in high school. After college, Davidson opened her own barn and trained many former riders from the Walden Lake equestrian center. After several years, she met her husband, Alan.
Together, they decided to acquire more property. Davidson found a 40-acre piece of land on Barton Road in Plant City but didn’t want so much property. She told friend and Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham and his wife, Devon, about the land. Devon asked if she would like to split the property. Davidson took 25 acres, and the Higginbothams took 15.
When DeNeve started to board her horses at Black Dog Farm, Davidson took notice of her skills in eventing. Davidson asked DeNeve to teach her the style and has been practicing eventing for two years. DeNeve, who has participated in more than 50 preliminary and intermediate events, has been riding for 20 years and has worked with Olympic-level riders such as David and Karen O’Connor, Jim Graham and Kyle Carter.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
Black Dog Farm Connemaras and Sports Horses
ADDRESS: 6306 Barton Road, Plant City
PHONE: (813) 365-0250
WEBSITE: blackdogconnemara.com