Lady rider of year takes part in area training sessions

A 17-hand, 14-year-old gray Irish-bred Irish Draught may just be the horse that gives Kim Severson her fifth Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI victory. The four-time United States Eventing Association Lady Rider of the Year is taking part in the United States Equestrian Federation High Performance Training Sessions at Three Runs Plantation.

Jim Wofford, a two-time winner of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI, has referred to Severson as one of the best riders the United States has ever produced. The native of Tuscon, Ariz., won the individual Silver Medal in eventing at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympic games and a team bronze medal as part of the U.S. eventing team.

The combination of Severson and Plain Dealing Farm's Winsome Adante are the stuff legends are made of. The duo won the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI Four-Star on three occasions (2002, 2004 and 2005), and the rider is hoping for a strong showing in 2011 with Tipperary Liadhnan, or Paddy as he's known around the barn.

"He's been going very well," said Severson. "He's been back in work since November. I just spent three weeks in Florida with Katie (Prudent, who works with the High Performance Riders on their show jumping) to work on my show jumping, and that was terrific. I had a great lesson with Mark (Phillips, the U.S. eventing team's Chef d'Equipe) this morning. He was right on with what my horse needed. He's going well."

Severson has worked closely with Prudent to improve Tipperary Liadhnan's show jumping, and he's shown a marked improvement, said Severson.

She has been working with Phillips to improve his dressage.

In comparing Winsome Adante with Tipperary Liadhnan, Severson said there are differences but there are also similarities between the two horses.

"They're night and day, except for their heart and their will," said Severson. "The heart and the will is the key. Physically and mentally they're very different horses. In the key ingredients they're the same."

For Severson, it will always be about the best interest of the horses.

"I have certain goals with Paddy, I want to show jump clean with him," said Severson. "With the young horses, you want to see how much they can do, and how much they want to do."