It was fortunate that immunologist Amy Richwine did not heed the advice she was given to sell Fursten Vino when he was a youngster. Now eight, the Oldenburg gelding by Fürstenball x Sir Donnerhall has matured into a reliable, capable competitor, and the pair cruised to the AA Second Level Championship with 69.048%.

Photo – Amy Richwine ignored advice that Fursten Vino was not a suitable AA horse and won the Second Level AA Championship with 69.048%. (SusanJStickle.com)

“We found ‘Vinny’ when I was shopping for another horse and saw him as a three-week old baby in Germany,” said Richwine, who names all her horses following the wine theme. “I bought him as a weanling shortly after, and I left him there. They started him as a three-year-old, and they told me he was not adult amateur friendly and that I should sell him. Instead, we brought him here and started working with him. He’s been slow to develop, but here we are.

Pocket Pet

“This was the first time he really let me ride him,” continued the Indiana-based Richwine, who trains with Jennifer Conour. “Vinny loves people and is a pocket pet, although in the ring he’s a little bit of a chicken. He started to spook because he doesn’t like that ring. He looked to me for confidence, and we went for it.”

Richwine, who has a PhD in immunology, works at Elanco Animal Health and counts horses as her hobby, adding, “It’s tough with a lot of late nights riding after work but I love it — and my husband Brad King is an equine vet, so it’s a team effort.”