HORSEcorner by Winter Hoffman
CAVALIER ROYALE TRANSMISSION GINA XIV
COR DE LA BRYÉRE LIGUSTRA DIAMOND SERPENT UNKNOWN
legend Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. A dedicated show jumper, Sheika Latifa is an Ambassador of the international humanitarian outreach organization Just World International. Marion’s dream is to clone Transmission so that future generations of riders can benefit from his rarified skill and exceptional attitude.
Bred and trained in Kilkenny, Ireland, by Marion Hughes, Transmission won the Seamus Hughes Memorial Trophy in Ireland as an outstanding four-year-old, before he crossed the channel to achieve great success with British Olympian Nick Skelton.
Transmission O
n January 8, 2016, my wonderful and talented show jumper Transmission, whom I care for in his dotage, traveled to the extraordinary South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas (home of the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Las Vegas in November) to receive the California Professional Horseman’s Association ‘Equine Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame Award.’ As the 2015 honoree, he joins the legendary Robinson, Double Take, Petrus, Glen Eagle, Amadeus, Y2K, Flexible, and Rumba in an elite cadre of equine superstars. Bred and trained in Kilkenny, Ireland, by Marion Hughes, Transmission won the Seamus Hughes Memorial Trophy in Ireland as an outstanding four-year-old, before he crossed the channel to achieve great success with British Olympian Nick Skelton. Later purchased by Meadowgrove Farm in Los Angeles (Dick Carmin, Susie Schroer, and Francie Steinwedell) for talented young rider Richard Neal, Transmission went on to a great career stateside in Florida and California. The duo quickly qualified for the developing rider traveling team where they continued to top the ribbons in Europe before returning victorious to the States. Currently partnered with Miguel Bravo, Marion Hughes now trains Sheika Latifa Al Maktoum, daughter of Godolphin Stables’ racing
82
· january/february
Recapping the historical timeline, Gina (by Diamond Serpent), the dam of Transmission, was sold by Seamus Hughes (Marion’s dad) to the eminent Swiss horseman Max Hauri. Amongst the esteemed group of horses trained by Max and Seamus were Special Envoy and Loro Piana Vivaldi, ridden by Nelson Pessoa; and Jessica, ridden by Heidi Hauri Robianni to a bronze medal at the LA Olympics. Max returned the mare to Seamus when she was retired, and her first and only foal, by Cavalier Royale, was Transmission. Gina was scheduled to be bred back to Cavalier Royale, who was standing at Williamstown Stud. While being loaded onto the van with Transmission by her side, Gina had a fatal accident. Transmission, now an orphan, relied on humans for his survival, and in so doing developed a close bond and a delightful attitude towards both riders and barn staff. This wonderful demeanor persists to this day, making him beloved of all, and eminently deserving of this special award. Thank you to the CPHA for singling him out; and thank you to riders Richard Neal, Marion Hughes, Nick Skelton, Mitch Endicott, Julie Welles, Laura Kraut, Leslie Howard, and Victoria Cohen for being a part of Transmission’s life. I have the great privilege, through my daughter Zazou Hoffman, an assistant trainer at Meadowgrove Farm, of being the current owner and caretaker of this exceptionally joyful and still talented show jumper.
This Page: Nick Skelton and Transmission winning the 2009 $25,000 Fidelity Investments 1.50m Classic at the Winter Equestrian Festival, photo © Randi Muster Photography; Opposite: Transmission with owner Winter Hoffman