Why Beezie Madden Loves Darry Lou

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden talks about her newest equine superstar Darry Lou.

November 3, 2017 – Two-time Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden placed third Thursday in the $130,000 CP Grand Prix with her new mount, the 9-year-old KWPN stallion Darry Lou. Since it was Darry Lou’s first indoor show, she played it conservative, trying to get a good piece of the prize money while remembering that Saturday’s class is more important, both in terms of money and as a qualifier for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Paris next year.

Darry Lou, a Dutchbred stallion by Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve, was previously ridden by Mexico’s Alberto Aldana, whom Beezie knows as “Tito.” She started competing the stallion last May at Old Salem, and the two went on to the biggest shows of the summer in Europe, as well as competing on Nations’ Cup squads in Dublin and at Spruce Meadows, and the Nations Cup final in Barcelona.

Beezie Madden was third in the grand prix with Darry Lou.

Here she answers a few questions about how she came to ride Darry Lou and what makes him special.

Q: How did you find Darry Lou?

A: Nick Dello Joio came back from Mexico during Wellington with a video of him. We liked the video and we went and tried him, and Abigail Wexner has been so wonderful and she stepped up and bought him for us.

Q: What did you like about him in the video?

A: He jumped a lot of clear rounds [laughing]. He looked careful, scopey. He looked like an all-around nice horse.

Q: He’s not originally from Mexico. Where is he from?

A: He was bred in the Netherlands. He has very good breeding and he’s a stallion so that’s actually a bonus. Tito bought him when he was 3. He’s been in Mexico since he was 4 or 5 years old. Tito did a beautiful job training him.

Q: What’s the horse’s character like?

A: He is sweet. He’s easy. He could probably be a hunter. He jumps in beautiful style. He’s quiet and yet he has enough blood that he can jump all week long. He’s wonderful. We love him.

Q: Are you thinking World Equestrian Games with him yet?

A: We bought him thinking he’d do big things. I’m a little surprised that he’s doing them this quickly. So yes, it’s looking hopeful for the WEG, knock on wood.

Q: And what about the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Paris next spring?

A: I’d have to decide where my horses [including Darry Lou and 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding Coach] are in their programs at that time. If it’s a good experience for them to do a championship then it would be great to do. I’d love to go to the World Cup™ Final.

Follow our coverage of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Lexington and the CP National Horse Show on Facebook. We’ll bring you videos and photos of your favorite horses and riders, along with the latest news and results.

BONUS: Enter to win a trip for two to the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Paris, France, April 10–15, 2018. To earn an additional 10 extra bonus entries, send a selfie that you take while you are at the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Lexington and upload it to the entry page. 

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