Meet Our Team Horses
African Oak
"Frank"
Frank, sometimes known affectionately as Franklin, is a 1995 Thoroughbred gelding standing at 17.2 hands. Frank is owned by Christina Caruso, and the USC Equestrian Team is very thankful to have him as one of our mounts! A seasoned jumper/equitation show horse, Frank is a fun ride. He is full of energy and loves to jump. Frank is very athletic and will gallop up to the spookiest jumps without any hesitation. He is one of the favorite mounts for our intermediate and advanced riders. He made his IHSA debut in 2014 and is one of the favorite Open draws.
"Frank"
Frank, sometimes known affectionately as Franklin, is a 1995 Thoroughbred gelding standing at 17.2 hands. Frank is owned by Christina Caruso, and the USC Equestrian Team is very thankful to have him as one of our mounts! A seasoned jumper/equitation show horse, Frank is a fun ride. He is full of energy and loves to jump. Frank is very athletic and will gallop up to the spookiest jumps without any hesitation. He is one of the favorite mounts for our intermediate and advanced riders. He made his IHSA debut in 2014 and is one of the favorite Open draws.
Très Chic
"Bella"
Bella is a 1997 warmblood mare standing at 16.2 hands. Bella was generously loaned to the team by the Green family. She was a star junior hunter before joining the USC team and is now the princess of our barn. When Bella isn't being pampered, she helps team riders of all levels gain confidence and experience. Although she has a sassy side, she is one of the most talented and athletic horses in our barn and is a straightforward ride. She made her IHSA debut in 2013 in the Open and Intermediate divisions and was a show favorite!
"Bella"
Bella is a 1997 warmblood mare standing at 16.2 hands. Bella was generously loaned to the team by the Green family. She was a star junior hunter before joining the USC team and is now the princess of our barn. When Bella isn't being pampered, she helps team riders of all levels gain confidence and experience. Although she has a sassy side, she is one of the most talented and athletic horses in our barn and is a straightforward ride. She made her IHSA debut in 2013 in the Open and Intermediate divisions and was a show favorite!
The King and I
"King"
King is a 2002 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by current team member Mady Burger. Standing at a stout 17.2 hands, King hails originally from Ireland, and did primarily fox hunting and jumping until the age of six, when he was imported to the US to train as a jumper in Florida. After working the circuit for a few years, he was sold and switched to the eventing discipline. He joined the team in the fall of 2015 and has since then won everyone over with his good looks and charm. He had a terrific first season, making an epic debut in the Intermediate and Open fences divisions, and is a favorite draw at shows.
"King"
King is a 2002 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by current team member Mady Burger. Standing at a stout 17.2 hands, King hails originally from Ireland, and did primarily fox hunting and jumping until the age of six, when he was imported to the US to train as a jumper in Florida. After working the circuit for a few years, he was sold and switched to the eventing discipline. He joined the team in the fall of 2015 and has since then won everyone over with his good looks and charm. He had a terrific first season, making an epic debut in the Intermediate and Open fences divisions, and is a favorite draw at shows.
Bad Bad Leroy Brown
"Brown"
Brown is a 2008 Thoroughbred gelding that stands at 16.2 hands. Brown is owned by team member Cory Cochran. Although he is only 8 years old, Brown is an exceptionally honest, straightforward horse with a wonderful mind. He joined our program in March 2013 and is steadily becoming a team favorite to ride in the flat, Novice and Intermediate divisions while making great strides in his training. We are so excited to watch him develop and grow over the upcoming years.
"Brown"
Brown is a 2008 Thoroughbred gelding that stands at 16.2 hands. Brown is owned by team member Cory Cochran. Although he is only 8 years old, Brown is an exceptionally honest, straightforward horse with a wonderful mind. He joined our program in March 2013 and is steadily becoming a team favorite to ride in the flat, Novice and Intermediate divisions while making great strides in his training. We are so excited to watch him develop and grow over the upcoming years.
Rocky
Rocky is a 15 hand, 2007 Thoroughbred gelding who came to our team in 2015 with current team member Emma Wang. While he is a bit of a grump on the ground, Rocky has proven himself as a superior mount in the show ring for flat and Novice riders alike, and had many winning rides during his inaugural IHSA campaign. At home, he is definitely a favorite to ride in team lessons because of his forgiving nature and "pleaser" attitude under saddle.
Rocky is a 15 hand, 2007 Thoroughbred gelding who came to our team in 2015 with current team member Emma Wang. While he is a bit of a grump on the ground, Rocky has proven himself as a superior mount in the show ring for flat and Novice riders alike, and had many winning rides during his inaugural IHSA campaign. At home, he is definitely a favorite to ride in team lessons because of his forgiving nature and "pleaser" attitude under saddle.
Marco Polo
"Polo"
Polo is a 2008 Thoroughbred gelding. Polo is a young horse that Kat and Jose rescued a year and a half ago when he failed as a polo pony. He is nervous on the ground and takes time to trust. He has truly thrived in the USC program and is quickly becoming one of the team's favorite mounts, willingly taking even our most novice riders around a course of jumps.
"Polo"
Polo is a 2008 Thoroughbred gelding. Polo is a young horse that Kat and Jose rescued a year and a half ago when he failed as a polo pony. He is nervous on the ground and takes time to trust. He has truly thrived in the USC program and is quickly becoming one of the team's favorite mounts, willingly taking even our most novice riders around a course of jumps.
Baseball
Baseball is a Thoroughbred gelding generously loaned to the team by Mandy Forelock. At 18 years young, Baseball was a competitive eventing horse in his younger days, and excelled in cross country and the jumpers. This "jack of all trades" has jumped over a picnic table, chicken coop, set of tires and has even done some team penning. He is loyal and sweet, and a fun mount for both walk trot and advanced riders.
Baseball is a Thoroughbred gelding generously loaned to the team by Mandy Forelock. At 18 years young, Baseball was a competitive eventing horse in his younger days, and excelled in cross country and the jumpers. This "jack of all trades" has jumped over a picnic table, chicken coop, set of tires and has even done some team penning. He is loyal and sweet, and a fun mount for both walk trot and advanced riders.
Springtime VII
"Shorty"
Shorty is a 1990 Holsteiner gelding standing at 18 hands. Shorty was Kat's Grand Prix horse and is our gentle giant. He has jumped in international World Cup competitions and took Kat through the big jumper divisions in Spruce Meadows. Now, he helps teach team members of all levels. He loves his new job, as well as being pampered with the USC team, and is a great horse for riders to learn what it feels like to sit on an extremely well-trained horse
"Shorty"
Shorty is a 1990 Holsteiner gelding standing at 18 hands. Shorty was Kat's Grand Prix horse and is our gentle giant. He has jumped in international World Cup competitions and took Kat through the big jumper divisions in Spruce Meadows. Now, he helps teach team members of all levels. He loves his new job, as well as being pampered with the USC team, and is a great horse for riders to learn what it feels like to sit on an extremely well-trained horse
