Thursday Morning Feed from Fleeceworks

A big Horse Nation welcome to event rider Caitlin Silliman, the newest member of Team Fleeceworks! The story of Caitlyn and her horse Catch a Star (Hoku) is an amazing one indeed.

Top photo: Caitlin and Catch a Star at the Richland Park CCI ***.  Photo by Samantha Clark.

Caitlin’s journey hasn’t been easy. In May of 2011, Hoku was among the horses rescued from a fire at Phillip Dutton’s True Prospect Farm. Hoku sustained third-degree burns and was one of the three horses hospitalized at New Bolton Center. Caitlin’s dedication, patience, ingenuity and never-give-up attitude along with the care  at New Bolton and Fair Hill Therapeutic Center was the recipe that pulled Hoku through.

There was one more contributing factor to Hoku’s return not just to health, but to a competitive career as well: Fleeceworks.

Hoku’s back has significant scarring and areas where hair has not grown back. To protect the weaker tissues and prevent skin breakdown, Caitlin used Fleeceworks sheepskin directly over the affected areas whenever she rode.

“The sheepskin used by Fleeceworks is what has made me able to ride my mare again after her terrible injuries from the fire at True Prospect Farm,” Caitlin says. “Many thought she would not be able to be ridden again, and not only is she being ridden, but she competed at Bromont CCI*** earlier this spring and is aiming for Fair Hill CCI*** this fall.”

Fleeceworks sheepskin decreases friction, which can cause skin breakdown, rubs, heat callouses ( those little bumps seen along the top line) and the white areas of hair. Fleeceworks sheepskin also has thermal balancing properties that pull warm sweat and heat away from the skin.

Catlin is Boyd and Silva Martin ‘s longest standing employee. She has worked up to the position of assist trainer over a six-year period. She credits Boyd and Silva’s positive attitude, support and guidance as the reason she has made it to the three-star level so soon after the  fire.

Good luck to Caitlin and Hoku in their next competition, Plantation Field Horse Trials, taking place this weekend in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Caitlin will also be competing Boyd Martin’s former Olympic short-listed horse, Remington XXV.

“I am so excited to be joining the Fleeceworks team!” Caitlyn says.

“What she has accomplished is very special,” says Judith McSwain, president of Fleeceworks. “Fleeceworks is lucky to have Caitlin join our team. We look forward to supporting her, following her career and sharing her stories.”

For more information about Caitlyn, see this great article in the September/October issue of Warmbloods Today, and keep up with their adventures on the Fleeceworks website and Facebook page.

Go Caitlin, Go Fleeceworks, and Go Riding!