Theodore O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Theodore O'Connor (1995–2008), nicknamed "Teddy," was a 14.1¾ hand
pony
(though of horse
phenotype
) who competed internationally at the highest level of eventing
. Ridden by Olympian Karen O'Connor
, he performed exceedingly well at such events as the Rolex Kentucky Three Day
and the Pan American Games
. His success and small stature earned him the nickname "Super Pony."
stallion Witty Boy, who finished his racing
career with a record of (40-5-1-3) and earnings of $50,518. Witty Boy went on to sire more than 300 horses in the United States, including winners in-hand, hunters
, eventers
, endurance horses
, jumpers
and dressage
horses. Notable progeny include the show hunter
I Don't Know (2000 USAEq National Champion) and the Anglo-Arabian
VSF Otis+/ (completing 100-mile endurance competition).
Theodore O'Connor was out of Chelsea's Melody, a 13.0 hh 1/2 Thoroughbred, 1/4 Arabian, and 1/4 Shetland Pony mare. The sire of Chelsea's Melody was a racing Thoroughbred by the name of Honest Turn, a great-grandson of Bold Ruler
. Her dam, Esker Electra, was by the stallion JR Lyraff, who was strongly linebred to the extremely influential Arabian stallion Raffles
, son of Skowronek
.
at three-years-old by his breeder, and began his competitive career as a show hunter
, later showing a bit as a jumper
. He began eventing
when he was six, and continued up through Preliminary under rider Nicole Villers, before Christan Trainor rode him on through the Advanced level and finished in 8th place at his first CIC**. Olympian Karen O'Connor then rode him at the Advanced level, eventually taking him to his first CCI**** at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day
where he finished an impressive 3rd, with only 4.4 time faults cross-country. He then qualified for the Pan American Games
, as part of the US Eventing Team, where he won not only the team gold, but beat out several more experienced horses to also win the individual gold. He finished 6th at the 2008 Rolex CCI****, and was short-listed for the Olympic Team.
2007
2006
Hand (unit)
The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
pony
Pony
A pony is a small horse . Depending on context, a pony may be a horse that is under an approximate or exact height at the withers, or a small horse with a specific conformation and temperament. There are many different breeds...
(though of horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
phenotype
Phenotype
A phenotype is an organism's observable characteristics or traits: such as its morphology, development, biochemical or physiological properties, behavior, and products of behavior...
) who competed internationally at the highest level of eventing
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
. Ridden by Olympian Karen O'Connor
Karen O'Connor
Karen Lende O'Connor is an American equestrian. She was born February 17, 1958. Her family includes Joanne and Phillip Lende and brothers Steven and Chip. She grew up in Bolton, Massachusetts....
, he performed exceedingly well at such events as the Rolex Kentucky Three Day
Rolex Kentucky Three Day
The Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event is an eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The Rolex Kentucky is a CCI**** eventing competition, and the only four-star show in the Western Hemisphere. Four stars is the highest level of competition, the same level of...
and the Pan American Games
Equestrian at the Pan American Games
The Pan American Games are similar to the Olympics, consisting of teams from nations across the Americas. Held every four years, the equestrian sports have been hosted since the first Games, which took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1951....
. His success and small stature earned him the nickname "Super Pony."
- Color: Chestnut
- Markings: star
- Height: 14.1¾ hh
- Sex: Gelding
- Breed: 3/4 ThoroughbredThoroughbredThe Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
, 1/8 Arabian, 1/8 ShetlandShetland ponyThe Shetland pony is a breed of pony originating in the Shetland Isles. Shetlands range in size from a minimum height of approximately 28 inches to an official maximum height of 42 inches at the withers. Shetland ponies have heavy coats, short legs and are considered quite intelligent... - Breeding: by Witty Boy (TB) by Anticipation; out of Chelsea's Melody by Honest Turn
- Breeder: P. Wynn Norman
- Owner: The Theodore O'Connor Syndicate
- Riders: Nicole Villers (2002–2003), Christan Trainor (2004–2005), Karen O'ConnorKaren O'ConnorKaren Lende O'Connor is an American equestrian. She was born February 17, 1958. Her family includes Joanne and Phillip Lende and brothers Steven and Chip. She grew up in Bolton, Massachusetts....
(2005–2008)
Breeding
Theodore O'Connor (or "Teddy") was by the 16.2 hh ThoroughbredThoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
stallion Witty Boy, who finished his racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
career with a record of (40-5-1-3) and earnings of $50,518. Witty Boy went on to sire more than 300 horses in the United States, including winners in-hand, hunters
Hunt seat
Hunt seat is terminology used in the United States and Canada to refer to a style of forward seat riding commonly found at American horse shows. Along with Dressage, it is one of the two classic forms of English riding. The Hunt seat is based on the tradition of fox hunting...
, eventers
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
, endurance horses
Endurance riding
Endurance riding is an equestrian sport based on controlled long-distance races. It is one of the international competitions recognized by the FEI. There are endurance rides worldwide....
, jumpers
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
and dressage
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
horses. Notable progeny include the show hunter
Show hunter
The show hunter is a type of show horse that is judged on its movement, manners, and way of going, particularly while jumping fences. The horses are shown in hunt seat style tack, and are often of Warmblood or Thoroughbred type, though a hunter-style pony is also seen in youth classes...
I Don't Know (2000 USAEq National Champion) and the Anglo-Arabian
Anglo-Arabian
The Anglo-Arabian or Anglo-Arab is a crossbred horse that now also has its own status as a horse breed. It is a Thoroughbred crossed with an Arabian. The cross can be made between a Thoroughbred stallion and an Arabian mare, or vice-versa...
VSF Otis+/ (completing 100-mile endurance competition).
Theodore O'Connor was out of Chelsea's Melody, a 13.0 hh 1/2 Thoroughbred, 1/4 Arabian, and 1/4 Shetland Pony mare. The sire of Chelsea's Melody was a racing Thoroughbred by the name of Honest Turn, a great-grandson of Bold Ruler
Bold Ruler
Bold Ruler was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse.Bred by the Wheatley Stable of Gladys Mills Phipps, Bold Ruler was foaled on April 6, 1954 at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky to Nasrullah and Miss Disco by Discovery...
. Her dam, Esker Electra, was by the stallion JR Lyraff, who was strongly linebred to the extremely influential Arabian stallion Raffles
Raffles (horse)
Raffles was an Arabian stallion foaled in 1926 and imported to the United States by Roger Selby in 1932. Raffles was bred by Lady Wentworth of the Crabbet Arabian Stud.-Background:...
, son of Skowronek
Skowronek
Skowronek was an Arabian stallion foaled in 1909. He was bred by Count Józef Potocki who owned the Antoniny Stud in Poland. He was imported to England as a young horse. Upon purchase by Lady Wentworth, Skowronek became a foundation stallion at Lady Wentworth's famed Crabbet Arabian Stud...
.
Pedigree
Competitive career
Theodore O'Connor was startedHorse training
Horse training refers to a variety of practices that teach horses to perform certain behaviors when asked to do so by humans. Horses are trained to be manageable by humans for everyday care as well as for equestrian activities from horse racing to therapeutic horseback riding for people with...
at three-years-old by his breeder, and began his competitive career as a show hunter
Show hunter
The show hunter is a type of show horse that is judged on its movement, manners, and way of going, particularly while jumping fences. The horses are shown in hunt seat style tack, and are often of Warmblood or Thoroughbred type, though a hunter-style pony is also seen in youth classes...
, later showing a bit as a jumper
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
. He began eventing
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
when he was six, and continued up through Preliminary under rider Nicole Villers, before Christan Trainor rode him on through the Advanced level and finished in 8th place at his first CIC**. Olympian Karen O'Connor then rode him at the Advanced level, eventually taking him to his first CCI**** at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day
Rolex Kentucky Three Day
The Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event is an eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The Rolex Kentucky is a CCI**** eventing competition, and the only four-star show in the Western Hemisphere. Four stars is the highest level of competition, the same level of...
where he finished an impressive 3rd, with only 4.4 time faults cross-country. He then qualified for the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
, as part of the US Eventing Team, where he won not only the team gold, but beat out several more experienced horses to also win the individual gold. He finished 6th at the 2008 Rolex CCI****, and was short-listed for the Olympic Team.
Achievements
2008- 6th Rolex Kentucky Three DayRolex Kentucky Three DayThe Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event is an eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The Rolex Kentucky is a CCI**** eventing competition, and the only four-star show in the Western Hemisphere. Four stars is the highest level of competition, the same level of...
2007
- Individual and team gold medal at the Pan American GamesEquestrian at the 2007 Pan American GamesThe Equestrian events included three disciplines: dressage, eventing, and show jumping, and were held at the Deodoro Military Club.The competition is broken down into an individual and team competition for each discipline, for a total of 42 medals awarded...
- 3rd individually at the Rolex Kentucky Three DayRolex Kentucky Three DayThe Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event is an eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The Rolex Kentucky is a CCI**** eventing competition, and the only four-star show in the Western Hemisphere. Four stars is the highest level of competition, the same level of...
- 1st The Fork CIC***
2006
- 7th at the Poplar Place CIC***
- 9th at the Jersey Fresh CIC***
- 7th at the Fork CIC***
Death
Theodore O’Connor was humanely euthanized on May 28, 2008 as a result of an injury sustained at Karen and David O’Connor’s barn in The Plains, VA. The attending veterinarian stated:- "He spooked at something while being ridden and bolted. The rider came off and the horse ran toward the barn. He got into a freak accident and slid into the side of the barn and lacerated his right hind leg about 4 inches above the fetlock on the back of the leg. It looked like a knife cut it; he severed the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, ligaments, cut both branches of the arterial blood supply, and nerves. My experience with injuries like this are that the chances of reattaching the vascular supply and nerve supply and reattaching the tendons and ligaments is almost zero. Even if there has been a 10% chance of us being successful to recover him (from surgery) ... but with the nature of the injury, that wasn't going to happen," said Allen sadly. "Karen would have done anything for that pony."