Prestige Training

Herzjuwel

“Herzjuwel” is a 16 hand Black American Trakehner Mare by “Tempelritter” out of “Herzkrone”. “Herzjuwel” is a German term for “Heart Jewel” because she was born on February 14th and has a star on her forehead in the shape of a heart.

She is also known as “Missy” and was originally purchased by a client of Prestige training named Kim Decker. Kim had bought her as a 6 year old Training Level horse and put her into full training with Jim to advance to Preliminary Level. “Missy” had a rocky beginning with Jim, but her talent kept Jim searching for answers of how to ride her.

In 2000, Kim Decker decided to sell her because of committments to a Ph D Program, and Prestige Training found a way to buy her. Jim rode her in the Spring of 2000 to 8th place at the Camino Real CCI* in Buffalo, Texas but missed out at Radnor that Fall due to a soft tissue injury. “Missy” won “High Point Intermediate Horse” for the American Trakehner Association that year.

Next he rode her that Spring in 2001 again at Camino Real CCI** and finished a respectable 4th. Moving her up to Advanced that Summer, they won Goose Downs I, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Johvale’s High Country Horse Trials CIC*** in Pritchard, British Columbia, and High Prairie in Parker, Colorado. They were also 7th at the AHSA National Horse Trials Championship at Wayne Horse Trials in Wayne, Illinios and 7th at Jackson Hole in Jackson, Wyoming. That Fall , “Missy” had another soft tissue injury at Fair Hill CCI*** and had to withdraw at the Vet Box.

With a successful first season at Advanced in 2001, she was 3rd overall for USCTA “Mare of the Year”, “High Point Advanced Horse” for Area IX USCTA as well as Central Colorado Chapter of MSCTA, and “Reserve High Point Intermediate Level” American Trakehner Association. At Advanced in 2002, ”Missy“ was 19th at the final Trojan II and 31st at Foxhall CCI*** 3-Day Event in Georgia. She continued the year trying to get pregnant to Darren Chiacchia’s Trakehner Stallion ”Windfall“ owned by Timothy Holecamp. She succeeded on September 11, and the embryo was transferred a week later to a surrogate mare. The foal is due in August 2003, and much appreciation is given to Timothy Holecamp who made it happen and will be 25% owner of the foal. ”Missy“ finished the season by placing 2nd at Wayne, 4th at Jackson Hole, and 2nd at Guernsey Field. She placed 4th overall for USEA ”Mare of the Year“! She did miss Fair Hill CCI*** in the fall due to a bowed tendon!

In 2003 Missy recovered from tendon surgery to again compete at the Advanced Level. She placed10th at the final Jackson Hole HT and 14th at Copper Meadows HT. She was then sidelined again with a hind suspensory ligament injury which the veterinarians thought would end her career. She did return like the Energizer Bunny to do only one event in 2004 placing 8th in the Advanced Division at Red Hills in Tallahassee, Florida. In 2005 she placed 13th at Maui-Jim Wayne HT and 4th at Rebecca Farm, but she still was not sound enough to do an FEI Event. In 2006 “Herzjuwel” was Reserve Champion “Horse of the Year” at the Advanced Level for the American Trakehner Association. In 2006 she has come back even stronger to place 14th at Twin Rivers, 3rd at Galway Downs, 2nd at Abbe Ranch, and 3rd at Rebecca Farm. In 2007 she started the year with a 5th place finish in the CIC** at Galway Downs in California in March.

In July of 2007 Jim decide to sell her to one of his young rider students, Jacqueline Tiffany of Littleton, Colorado, and Jacqueline is currently campaigning her at the Preliminary Young Rider Level. She had a long ride at the Advanced Level and deserves an easier job educating our youth!