Baylee McKeever’s Formidable lives up to her name at WEF

Baylee McKeever and Formidable took the win in the Final Grand Prix of the U25 series at the Winter Equestrian Festival [WEF] by sticking to the plan.

Baylee McKeever and Formidable closing week 10 at WEF with a win in the Final of the U25 Series. Photo: Sarah Eakin

First to go of only two in the jump off in the last class of WEF week 10 in the International Ring, Baylee took the advice of the world-ranked number 10 showjumper McLain Ward and it paid off. “McLain told me to stay and stick to the plan,” Baylee said. “Don’t do anything crazy. Just put the pressure on slightly and he said eight times out of ten it will work out and sometimes it won’t work. But you just have to stick to the plan. I tried to do that as much as I could and my horse was just perfect.”

“She will always be one of my favorites.” Baylee and Formidable share a special bond. Photo: Sarah Eakin

It turned out to be one of the eight times when Carlee McCutcheon and Coco Mercedes – the only other combination out of the 29 entries to jump clear in the first round – had a rail in the jump off to give Baylee, 19, the win.

Baylee, whose father Lee McKeever is McLain’s Show Manager and right hand man, started her journey with Formidable after the 14-year old Dutch Warmblood mare had colic surgery. It led to a strong bond and partnership.

“I didn’t know her much before the surgery so that was an advantage. I just had a fresh start with her,” Baylee said. “We just took it really, really slow and she brought me to the level I am today. She’s the only horse I’ve really jumped big jumps with and we’ve built a really strong partnership and that’s really helped us in the ring. In the barn I’d say she’s like a pet and in the ring she knows exactly what to do.”

Formidable will be taking some time off this summer when Baylee will be home from college in Alabama where she is studying Communications at Auburn University – while also riding on their Division 1 equestrian team. “She’s been going hard for the past 10 weeks so she definitely deserves that time off,” said Baylee. “She’s a really special horse. She’ll forever be one of my favorites and she just felt on top form today.”

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