Anthony Forrest Equestrian

07/12/2024

Such an awesome first outing for Big Joe (Quantum Leap Z) at the Maryland Horse Trials 5 Year Old Qualifier this morning!

Big Joe laid down a lovely test and was quite the professional from start to finish! Though there is always some room for improvement, I really could not be more thrilled with how he feels at home and in a show environment.

After losing this spring with the colic surgery and the brutal conditions so far this summer, we opted to just do the dressage for today. Big Joe feels very confident in each phase and has proven to be a very quick learner but still feels a few weeks out from tackling each phase with real confidence.

I like to use these early shows as ‘litmus tests’ to see where we are in our training and for the experience!

Always best to come away from the shows thinking “we could’ve done more” rather than “we should’ve done less” !

Lots to look forward to this year!
shop

07/08/2024

Welcome Home Diamo AWH aka “Danny” !!

07/04/2024

Happy Birthday to the greatest country in the world 🦅🇺🇸🎆

07/02/2024

So impressed with Big Joe in his very first real cross country school! He has proven to not only be athletic, but incredibly brave and trainable as well!

Huge thank you to for letting us school around your beautiful facility!
shop





Majyk Equipe

06/20/2024

It is with great excitement that we welcome the newest addition to AFE, “Diamo AWH” !

This impressive Dutch 🇳🇱 bred 4 year old has been thoughtfully produced by and Sophia Lincoln of in the UK 🇬🇧

We are excited to welcome this lovely horse to the USA and cannot wait to produce him through the sport alongside Big Joe!

05/02/2024

I am very excited to have my old buddy Chip entered into the Upperville C**t & Horse Show ‘s inaugural “Irish Hunter Hack” this year! This is an exciting new addition to showcase the traditional Irish horse and it is right up Chip’s alley!

Thank you to everyone who helped to make this possible and to those who will keep the division growing for years to come!

📸:
Middleburg Photo
Dillon Keen Photography
Eleszabeth E. McNeel Photography
Scott Canard
Alice Porter

04/29/2024

While the last 12 weeks have been a real roller coaster with this fella, I am delighted to say Big Joe is rounding the turn home to full health and the finish line is in sight!

I am not only incredibly thankful to the veterinarians and surgeons who helped Big Joe through surgery and post-op care, but to all of our friends and family for the prayers and support when it was needed most.

Big Joe has been an absolute champ throughout everything and I cannot wait to continue to grow as a team together. Cheers to ride #7 and we cannot wait to make a return to the competition arena later this year!

02/29/2024

Happy leap day from the flying Irishman ☘️

02/24/2024

Big Man Joe has recovered in good spirits and was keen to get his polo mints during my visit this morning ( thank you Stacey Ragan for giving him a taste of home 🇬🇧) !

Long journey ahead for him but it is off to a good start and the vets are very happy with how he is doing. Thank you all for the continued prayers!

02/23/2024

Prayers up for Big Joe today as he undergoes emergency colic surgery following a sudden colic this morning.

After a wonderful week settling in and starting some light work, Big Joe suddenly fell ill with a severe colic. Thankfully, we were quick to take him to Morven Park Equine Hospital where they decided surgery was his only option.

We are awaiting more details but regardless the road ahead is long and many prayers are needed!

02/10/2024

I am incredibly blessed and excited to announce my new partnership with the stunning Quantum Leap Z from England 🇬🇧

“Big Joe” is an impressive 5 year old, 17.2h 🇳🇱Dutch 🇳🇱 bred Zangersheide gelding. He has been thoughtfully produced by Tim and Toni Warren at Warren Eventing in the UK before making his trip to the USA!

I simply cannot thank Katie Gilsenan enough for making the connection and to Tim and Toni for their hospitality during my visit! I am very excited to continue producing Big Joe through the levels of eventing and look forward to developing as a pair!

Big Joe’s arrival is well timed as it is right on the heels of the birthday of my late brother, Johnny. Before I could walk, I would watch Johnny’s therapeutic riding lessons and beg my mother to let me ride. Over 20 years later - here we are! I owe my love of horses to Johnny and, though he is sadly no longer with us, he is certainly watching over us every day! We miss and love you buddy ❤️

02/02/2024

Freddy sporting our new halters today out for our first hunt of 2024! Looking forward to a fun season ahead!

01/30/2024

When you get turned out with the other thoroughbreds and realize you aren’t as ‘thoroughbred’ as you should be….. 😴 😴 😴

Safe to say Peanut and Freddy’s friendship is based on the need for feed over speed 🙄🤣

?

01/26/2024

I am very excited with my brand new Antarès ( ) helmet just in time for the spring show season!

After an unfortunate string of rotational falls this past month, it is no surprise that my helmet lineup was rather depleted.

I was very lucky to walk away from not one but TWO rotational falls within two weeks without serious injury to any part of my body, especially my head. This was all because I was wearing proper helmets at the time of the accidents. In the second fall, I was lucky to be wearing my Antarès helmet! Not only are their helmets very comfortable and elegant, they are incredibly safe!

At not point did I have any headaches, dizziness, or other adverse affects from the fall. I do not want to know what would’ve been the alternative outcome. Thank you Antarès for not only keeping us looking sharp but also SAFE every time we are in the saddle!

01/25/2024

When Peanut terrorizes the then-FRESH of the track 4yr old Thoroughbred but they become best friends instead……

01/06/2024

🪄 HOW MAJYK EQUIPE SAVED MY HORSE FROM SERIOUS INJURY ✨

I just wanted to make a quick post and share how my Majyk Equipe boots SAVED my horse from SERIOUS injury!

On Wednesday, I was schooling a young horse over fences. The footing was perfect, the horse was jumping well, and the jumps rode nicely. After jumping the last fence of the last course for the day, I gave a gentle half-halt to rebalance the canter in preparation for the cool-down trot.

In an instant, my horse took a misstep, tripped, proceeded to step on himself, and flipped over with me still on him. Thankfully we are both without injury. Luckily this was all caught on tape.

I immediately called a vet out and showed him the video. We put it in slo-mo and on a large screen. The vet was clear to note this was not at all related to any lameness, physical issue, or issue with the footing. Just pure happens stance.

Thankfully, we are both ok and the horse only suffered a minor bruise to a small tendon due to stepping on himself in the fall. The vet specified that the horse is sore but *NOT* injured and gives FULL credit to the Majyk Equipe boots that we were wearing! He said without them, the tendon would easily have been severed completely. Thank you Majyk Equipe for not only helping us when we shine, but also when we fall. I will never ride my horses in anything else!!

*here is a photo of the exact boots we were wearing*

12/31/2023

Thank you to all of our friends and sponsors who made 2023 a year to remember🎉 🎆

The year was filled with many up and downs, new experiences, and great memories with friends both old and new!

Here’s to ringing in 2024 with new beginnings 🎊🥂

12/13/2023

Thank you Dillon Keen Photography for this awesome shot of our 4yo OTTB “Freddy” out with Piedmont Fox Hounds!

Freddie is sporting our brand new Majyk Equipe sheepskin shimmable contour pad!

12/10/2023

Congratulations to Dr. Tony Crowley on the purchase of “Smooth Sailing”!

Max joined the team as a mere 10 month old and has been just a wonderful horse through and through. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to produce Max from day 1 and am very excited to see this new partnership flourish!

Max has not only found a wonderful home and partner, but is only four minutes away!! We look forward to seeing Max and Dr. Crowley out in the hunt field with Piedmont and wish both of them a lifetime of success!

Thank you to all of the connections who helped make this match possible!

12/07/2023

🎄🎁 CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 🎁🎄

Just when you thought you couldn’t love any more - you open THIS in the mail 🤩👏🏼🤩👏🏼

SO excited to use my new sheepskin pad out in the hunt field! Not only is this made of *real* sheep skin, it is SHIMMABLE too!! 🐑🐑🐑

Also unlike the Mattes and LeMieux pads, this pad is 💰 AFFORDABLE 💰 and the quality is 👏🏼EXCEPTIONAL 👏🏼

Stop paying $400 for pads that lose their softness after one wash and shop today! And if you PM me, you will get a code for 20% off your ENTIRE order!!!

12/03/2023

🎄Christmas in Middleburg🎄

What better way to begin the Christmas season than with the iconic Christmas in Middleburg?!

It was a wonderful morning with the 4yo ottb ‘Freddy’ taking out students Lily and Caroline in their very first Christmas in Middleburg Hunt Review! It is a wonderful tradition and one we look forward to every year!

Following the procession down Main Street, the hounds were off in full force for a fast and furious day of hunting! All horses and riders returned with muddy faces and big smiles - the true sign of a great day out hunting! Thank you Middleburg Hunt

📸 Alice Porter / Middleburg Photo

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving from our farm family to yours🦃🍁

We have so much to be thankful for today and everyday. From our outstanding horses (and goat) to our wonderful sponsors, clients, and friends, we are so blessed to have such an amazing team around us. Thank you all!

Here’s to a happy, healthy, and safe holiday 🥂

11/05/2023

Another fantastic opening week with both the Piedmont Fox Hounds and Middleburg Hunt!

Chip kicked off his 8th season with Piedmont Fox Hounds on Thursday for a wonderful day of sport while Max ( 🛥️ Smooth Sailing ⛵️) began his 2nd season out with Middleburg Hunt on Saturday!

With our busy show season behind us, it is now full steam ahead for our Fox hunters! Both horses were on fire this week and are ready for the season ahead!

We are so blessed to not only have beautiful territory to ride in but also amazing hounds, staff members, land owners, friends, and wonderful horses to enjoy it with!

Huge thank you to our great friends at Middleburg Photo for these great shots!

Triple Crown Feed
Spot On Braiding Wax
Majyk Equipe
FrenchUsedSaddles.com
Antarès Sellier
EnviroEquine and Pet
Equestly

10/31/2023

Wow! Just when we thought Majyk Equipe couldn’t get any better!

Now their amazing quality and durability can be sported in the Hunter rings too! I can’t wait to take these new pads to the hunt field and show rings!

If you’re wanting to give them a try, use my code “ANTHONY_FORREST_EQUESTRUAN” for 20% off ALL products!!

(Note - equestruan is correct for the code)

If you love our Shimmable Correction Sheepskin half pads then you’ll love the new additions to the family! Now available in Hunter, Showjump and Dressage cuts. Amazing prices for real sheepskin and with impact shims included!

10/10/2023

⛵️ Smooth Sailing ⛵️

‘Max’ - 2018, 17.1h Irish Sport Horse
by the 4* Event horse ‘Philanderer’.

Max is an exceptional young Irish sport horse who possesses not only world-class athleticism and immense bravery, but also a remarkable work-ethic to match. His impeccable breeding includes traditional lines such as the iconic ‘Jumbo’ and the elite steeplechase stallion ‘Primitive Rising’.

Max was bred and produced as a prospect for the upper levels of eventing. He has miles of training under his belt in the dressage, show jumping, cross country, and fox hunting. Most recently, Max jumped a perfect clear round in the 5 year old Young Event Horse qualifier at 3’3, scoring an impressive 71.6pts, with high remarks for his gallop and presence.

Though he has demonstrated talent and ability in eventing, his true heart is in the hunt field. As a mere 4 year old, Max hunted first flight (barefoot!) with both Middleburg and Piedmont Fox hounds. He is great with hounds and has held the huntsman’s horse on multiple occasions. Max is also well behaved when getting gates, giving leads, and ponying other horses.

Max is happy to gallop and jump for hours and has no trouble keeping up with the pace. However, he is also willing to hack quietly between runs. Max stands at checks and is always a pleasure to have in the hunt field.

Max would be a wonderful master’s/staff horse or would be an ideal partner for anyone in the field wanting a fun, keen, and simple horse to enjoy a day of hunting on!

https://youtu.be/cXelLLoC8tQ?si=5NABe8wPqcS1ZnRU

Located in Purcellville, VA
4️⃣5️⃣k

09/17/2023

Such an amazing ride today on ‘Smooth Sailing’ Max in the YEH 5yr old Eventing Qualifier this morning at Lock Moy!

After a Nice and clean dressage test, Max tackled some sizable show jumps and stormed around xc like a walk through the park!

We finished the day with a 71.6, just shy of the 75 required to qualify but I truly could not have been prouder of him. After losing our spring and summer seasons due to an unfortunate field injury, tackling this course was no small task!

Though we will not be at the championships this fall, today was a perfect prep for Max’s Training level debut in two weeks! Huge thank you to everyone who has supported us from the start and to Erik Duvander and Clasing Equestrian for helping me bring out the best in Max in all phases!

What a great start to the fall season!

The Trayfords
Equestly
Triple Crown Feed
Spot On Braiding Wax
EnviroEquine and Pet
FrenchUsedSaddles.com
Majyk Equipe
Antarès Sellier

09/13/2023

Welcoming the new Anthony Forrest Equestrian logo🎉🙌🏼