JOLLY!
I bought Jolly as a partnership horse for Cara Ezzel and her friend. The friend sold out to Cara, then Cara eventually sold him to me, but still is very much in love and involved in his life. He was still on the track and a stallion when I bought him. He had actually won at least one race during his flat track racing career, but his feet had gotten progressively worse with a long toe and under-run heels. So it was time to find a new career.
It took me a couple of years of therapeutic barefoot trimming and many bouts of abscessing to refashion his feet to normal shape and give him back his heritage of greatness.
Eventually, he started in Endurance training and started doing some races. His personality was so sweet and willing, and he was also the perfect gentleman, carrying the children on our trail rides at Cypress Trails Ranchas well as a varying array of Endurance competitors.
However, I have to give a ton of credit to my Namibian daughters’ belief in his International Racing future. Kordula Voigts and Olivia Matthaei decided he had what it took to go to the World Equestrian Games in The Endurance discipline in 2010 for Team Namibia. We knew we were starting late on his qualifications, but all of us were optimistic that he could get it done. And even though he helped get the girls their qualifications, Alas, a race in California was his last chance to qualify, and he went out with a muscle cramp at the last vet check. What a huge disappointment that was for all of us.
Since 2010, he has carried me through 100 milers as well as top level International riders from Norway and South Africa. The most amazing thing, though, was how he had come back from a coffin bone infection in 2013, and subsequent partial removal of the infected coffin bone.
I was certain this was the end of his Endurance career, and not even sure he would be pasture sound. Dr. Cliff Honnas, world-renowned surgeon located in Bryan, Texas, where he owns and operates Texas Equestrian Hospital, assured me from the beginning that he could make a full recovery.
Regarding that, also give a ton of credit to Chad Larsen, who was willing to go in immediately after the operation, and place a removable boot on him that could be taken off easily for routine doctoring each day. I will always appreciate Dr. Honnas’ cooperation in allowing this new therapy modality instead of nailing a shoe on with a removable plate.As I was traveling and competing a good deal at that time, Jolly was moved to the nearby ranch of Cameron Holzer, where she and Chad continued care during this miraculous recovery. I can remember Cameron sending me regular videos showing an amazing soundness within two short weeks.
Soon he was back at Cypress Trails Ranch and was quickly back at work carrying kids and light customers on our trail rides.
Barely 6 months later, he did his first 50 miler in strap-on boots. He finished well and received Best Condition. I really felt like keeping him barefoot was the key to his recovery, as well as ensuring his continued success. The rest is history. He’s done multiple races since 2014 and boosted at least two International riders, and caught Eilish’s eye in 2016 when she was looking over my herd for a potential horse to take her to the Young Rider World Championship in 2017.
Eilish proved to be a great partner for him. Her light weight and excellent riding style suit him perfectly, especially since his back needs some care during cold weather. She knows Jolly well and understands his competitive nature. They earned their Certificate of Completion in South Carolina in 2016, and followed it up with another fantastic race on a brutally muddy course in Texas in April 2017.
With all that said, here’s another amazing Jolly By Golly horse who made his mark in International Endurance. Jump to 2026, and he’s now one of the all-time favorite trail ride horses at Cypress Trails. Approaching 24 years old, he remains one of the hardest-working horses on the farm and a top pick for young novice riders.
Darolyn – Cypress Trails Ranch
