Aaron Vale returns to Florida with time to reflect

Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25 have been together for a little over 13 months, so they’re getting to know one another, and their teamwork is beginning to yield optimal results on the international stage nowhere more so than in Dublin this summer. Back at his base Thinkslikeahorse in Williston, Florida, the veteran rider reflected on the pair’s instrumental role in the United States team winning the FEI Nations Cup Ireland CSIO 5* at the RDS Dublin Horse Show last month.

Ready for his moment! Carissimo 25 is poised for the action in Dublin.

“I’ve had him for just about a year now, for this level, we’re still getting to know each other,” said Aaron of the charismatic 11-year old Holsteiner gelding, aka ‘Ducky’. “I feel like I kind of found some things here training before Dublin. It all kind of showed itself with our performance there.”

Aaron Vale, McLain Ward, chef d’equipe Robert Ridland, Spencer Smith and Lucy Davis claimed the Aga Khan Trop;hy. Photo: courtesy of Dublin Horse Show

The opportunity to be part of the U.S. team took on special meaning for the 56-year-old, who was the traveling alternate for the U.S. Olympic team in Paris this summer.

“I was maybe one or two horse shows short of making the team for Paris,” Aaron said. “We could’ve used a bit more experience. It’s getting better and better every time we compete.”

After competing on the US FEI Nations Cup teams in Italy, Sweden and France, the combination made the most of those previous experiences in the series, when they went to Dublin.

The scopey son of Cascadello x Clinton, demonstrated his athleticism, as Carissimo 25 went swimmingly around the course, showcasing his talent over the 1.60-meter jumping efforts, helping to seal the US victory for the team also lining up Spencer Smith and Keeneland, Lucy Davis and Ben 341 and McLain Ward aboard Callas, whose final clear round clinched the prize of the Aga Khan Trophy, ahead of Ireland in second.

“I ended up as the emergency reserve for the Olympics, that was number five, and four horses got to jog and three got to be present at the games, and only three ended up jumping,” said Aaron. “The consolation was to get to go to Dublin. Dublin is a top horse show with all the same riders that do the Olympics. That was a great consolation (not having competed in the Olympics). We finished it off with a really good performance there.”

Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25 aka ‘Ducky’ are working out the details now – pictured with Ben Taylor.

‘Ducky’ was previously nicknamed ‘Curly’ but Aaron chose the new sobriquet as a reflection of the fact that he is the horse that has been ducking him his whole career. “These bonds and relationships that we have with these horses, it takes a long time when you get to that super top level,” said Aaron. “There are so many things that you have to know about the horse, and they have to know about you. It felt like we’re starting to get those little, tiny details that make a big difference, work out.”