Introducing our Dedication to Training Award for 2025
Desi’s Spirit Dances!
This award is dedicated to Desi (Spirits Desert Storm), a spicy little gray Arab gelding who became an inspiration to many in The International Horse Agility Club.
Desi was born at Briarrose Stables in Prince Edward Island, Canada, and remained there to organise and run the stables for all his 19 years. He began competing in The International Horse Agility Club in the very first year of the Club’s beginnings and continued competing for many years working his way up the levels and winning several year-end awards during that time.
Desi loved the challenge of the obstacles and embraced the sport with his whole heart. Liberty was by far his favourite! They would go out to the arena, turn up the music and dance together! His eyes would glow, and his tail and feet would dance over, under and through the obstacles. He did it with a slightly twisted mixture of joy, obedience and exuberance!
Thanks to the carefully laid out progression of the IHAC, moving into other sports like Working Equitation and Mounted Archery were an easy progression for him. Beth Smith says it was a delight to share her life with him and she would love to tell the world to go dance with your equine partners and see the magic that happens! Thank you, Desi, for sharing your love of life with the Horse Agility world!
This is a limited-edition award for 2025 and rewards consistency in training. Every Team (Member plus equine) who enters one class per month for all 12 months of 2025 will receive both a virtual badge for their profile and a beautiful rosette in Desi’s colours. All classes count including Summer of Sport, Young Horse and Junior.
Please enjoy these lovely clips of Desi Dancing with his human Beth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PPGxlh_Z8A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1i0vdQzA5o
Thank you to everyone who emailed and commented to nominate a very special Horse Agility equine. Dama fra Litla Hvammi I, Reuben, Redwings Apollo, Charlie, Enzo, Zyta, Beau, Bianca and Mikey.
We had 77 wonderful pairings achieve the 2024 award – The Secret to Success. Let’s make it even more in 2025!
