Sporthorse Stars: Azure

Seven-time Olympian and five-star eventing legend Phillip Dutton talks about the training strategies and overall wellness routine that keep Azure performing at the top of her game.

Fast Facts:

  • Nickname: Azure
  • Occupation: CCI5* Eventer
  • Hometown: West Grove, Pennsylvania
  • Basic Stats: 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare
  • Sire: Omar
  • Dam: Cavalier Roselier

Azure’s People:

  • Owner: Anne, Caroline and Michael Moran
  • Rider: Phillip Dutton 
  • Groom: Hannah Black
Five-star eventer Phillip Dutton competed with Irish Sport Horse mare Azure at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event last April. ©Madison Hoffman 

Azure’s Background

After competing through the CCI4* level with Irish eventer Esib Power, Azure was acquired by Phillip Dutton in time for the 2022 season. The pair came out swinging in their first FEI event together, finishing fourth in the CCI4*-S at Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida, and going on to finish third in the CCI4*-L at the Tryon International Three-Day Event late that season.

Dutton emphasized that he doesn’t necessarily look for a certain type of horse in prospective eventing mounts. Instead, he relies on his decades of experience selecting horses for top-level competition to identify characteristics that are favorable for the job.

“I would say there is a correlation between a forward-thinking horse and a five-star horse,” he said. “There’s only so much leg you can use on cross country, so they need to have their own engines. But they need to be trainable so you can harness that forward thinking. You also want a horse who enjoys the work.”

Dutton noted that Azure ticked all of the boxes from day one. “She’s a Thoroughbred type—a great galloper with great endurance, and she’s a good mover and jumper,” he said about the gray mare. “She’s got a lot of talent, and now my main role has been to harness all that energy and enthusiasm and mold that with the training in all three phases.”

Focus on Fitness and Recovery

Dutton typically plans his weekly and daily training sessions based on where the horse is in the season, and he also strategically plans out his competition schedule to prevent fatiguing his horses.

“We focus a lot on fitness. So, Azure typically does four or five days with fitness work incorporated. That might include running on the track or going up hills depending on where she is with competitions,” he explained. “Two days a week, she’ll do some longer, strengthening work like trotting or slow canters. We jump once or maybe twice a week, and she does flatwork in between.”

While Azure and most of Dutton’s horses typically get one day off a week, the horseman believes in active recovery and compares the fitness of event horses to that of marathon runners who incorporate active recovery and light work into their regimen. He’s found that simply walking is one of the best active-recovery exercises because it helps keep his horses limber and promotes blood circulation. He ensures his horses spend some time on the walker every day.

Dutton pays careful attention to his eventing horses’ feet because of the weight they bear during the cross country and show jumping phases. ©Amy K. Dragoo
During Azure’s fitness training before a big event, he ensures she gets one day off a week that includes active recovery like walking. ©Amy K. Dragoo

“I think walking is greatly underestimated for the fitness of event horses,” Dutton said. “A lot of the racehorse trainers have used walking for many generations. So that’s a big part of our program, and having a walker makes it a little less labor-intensive.”

To keep Azure happy and healthy, Dutton always focuses on their feet first. “Their hooves must be in good condition because all of the weight they bear,” he noted. “Keeping your horses in good health is not something you can just pick up for a week and forget about. It takes a long time. So right from the get-go I ensure my horses are healthy and prioritize their well-being.”

Importance of Nutrition, Gut and Joint Health

Dutton credits the expertise of Triple Crown’s experts, who have provided his horses with individually tailored diets. This allows him to tweak their diets for specific needs. With Azure as well as all his horses, he’s passionate about proactive prevention for joint and digestive health. Taking steps to prevent issues like ulcers or needing joint injections equate to long-term health and soundness.

“Ulcers are a huge thing in sporthorses, and we always try to manage gut health in a natural way. There are treatments for ulcers, but it’s better to prevent them,” Dutton said. “We spread their meals out and strive to keep their lives as natural as possible with turnout. We also often give chaff before grain so they have fiber in their stomachs first. Transport is probably the hardest thing. We make sure they don’t ship on an empty stomach and provide plenty of stops to break up the trip and allow the horses to put their heads down.”

Dutton believes joint health is important for the sport of eventing and credits Cosequin® for supporting Azure’s long-term joint health. ©Amy K. Dragoo

Dutton also credits his long-standing relationship with Cosequin® for supporting Azure’s joints. “Joint health is important for the sport of eventing, so supplements play a key role in my management program,” he said. “This year, I’ve been using Cosequin® ASU Balance to support my horses’ joint, immune and digestive health. Since Cosequin® puts so much research into their products, I really trust the science behind what we’re giving our horses.”

He keeps Azure’s skin healthy with EQYss grooming products as well as UV therapy from Equilume. “My father, who was a great horseman in Australia, always told me that you can tell a horse’s health by looking at their coat,” Dutton noted. “The EQYss products really make her look good and keep her skin healthy. And I have no doubt that the UV therapy also keeps her coat in better condition.”

When it comes to overall competitive success, Dutton emphasizes the importance of all the work you put in at home to create a strong health and wellness program.

“You always have to be prepared,” he advised. “And you prepare for competition by making sure your horses are healthy and fit enough. Your training program should always line up with the long term and what’s best for the horse.”

Phillip Dutton & Azure’s Major Accomplishments

Won the 2023 MARS Bromont CCI4*-L • Top-15 finish in the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5* • 2024 MARS Maryland 5 Star

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