Page 38 - The Hunt - Summer 2024

“I started riding almost as soon as I learned to walk. But I wanted to do more.” —Hunter Holm
A quick study, Harris began riding horses when she was 8 years
old. Since then, she’s quickly moved up—and across three continents. “Generally, Grace will travel to every competition with me and the horses,” Dutton says. “We go over the times that I’m competing on that day and then make a plan. Sometimes it may require Grace to meet
me with another horse as I finish with the previous one. Each day of competition is a little unique.”
Lots of packing is involved before traveling to competition. Normally, it’s a three-horse trailer, with Dutton driving separately in his own car.
“I start thinking about it a week in advance, then start packing the trunks two or three days in advance,” says Harris. “We tidy up the horses and get the trailer ready.”
International competition is a whole other world. “Horses have to have passports—just like people,” Holm says.
For all international Fédération Equestre Internationale events, those passports are issued by the USEF. “The transport companies come to the airport to pick up the horses,” Harris says. “Usually there’s quite a wait to get them off the plane and into the lorries.”
While Withoutmoreado may not possess an international passport, he still has the need to feel special. “The main thing is to keep an animal happy,” Holm says.
Withoutmoreado even has his own support animal. As with some other high-spirited horses, the prize-winning mount hangs out with a miniature pony to help keep him grounded and happy.
36 THE HUNT MAGAZINE
summer 2024
Sometimes, even a groom needs additional assistance. TH