The Gray Goose
Encyclopedia
The Gray Goose was a horse ridden by American eventer
Kim Walnes. At one point, the pair was ranked third in the world.
Kim Walnes first met The Gray Goose at a local riding stable in Ireland, when he was a three-year old. They were separated for two years, during which time the horse was started under saddle, and fox hunted, where he fell and injured his knees. As a five-year-old, Kim began riding him, and she bought him a year later and returned with him to the United States.
Gray was a nervous horse who hated to be ridden, and would regularly bolt and buck off his rider. Working slowly, Walnes gained his trust and respect. However, it was not until their first event
in the spring 1976, during the cross-country phase, that Gray grew to enjoy his time out riding.
Although Kim Walnes and her mount never had regular lessons, the managed to work up the levels. In 1979, they finished Intermediate level cross-country at the Lexington course (slightly modified from the 1978 World Championships) as the only pair to make the time. Due to their performance record, Walnes and Gray were invited to train with the United States Equestrian Team
, and compete with the team in Europe the following year.
The pair came second at the 1981 Advanced competition at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day
as well, only .2 penalties higher than the 3-time Olympic medalist James Wofford. However, they managed to clinch the win the following year in 1982, after a clear cross-country and show jumping ride. A fall and knee injury at the Badminton Horse Trials
in 1983 made his 1984 Rolex comeback remarkable. The combination also competed at Rolex 1985, finishing 3rd.
The finish at Rolex also won them a spot on the World Championship Team headed to Luhmuhlen, where they won the individual and team bronze at the World Championships. The medal at the World Championships was especially extraordinary, as Walnes was riding with an injury that barely allowed her to steer her mount around the challenging course. Gray safely carried his rider around the cross-country course, as well as the stadium course the following day, with hardly any direction from her.
The Gray Goose is also known as the equine star Sylvester Stallone, in the movie Sylvester
, where he and Walnes doubled in the movie for the eventing shots. The movie included scenes from the pair's 1984 Rolex Three Day cross-country round.
A car accident prevented Walnes from riding Gray for a year. When she began again, she found that arthritis had begun to develop in his spine, and it was too uncomfortable for him to carry a rider. He was then retired and allowed to roam the boarding facility free, although this privilege was later dropped when he began to get into the grain bin, despite it being closed with a bungee cord.
The Gray Goose died June 7, 2000, at the age of thirty. He was cremated and his ashes were buried at the Kentucky Horse Park
during a ceremony at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day in 2001.
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
Kim Walnes. At one point, the pair was ranked third in the world.
- Color: Gray
- Species: Goose
- Sex: GeldingGeldingA gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
- Born: 1970, County ClareCounty Clare-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
, IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth... - Breed: ThoroughbredThoroughbredThe Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
/ Irish Sport HorseIrish HorseThe Irish Sport Horse , also known as the Irish Hunter, is mainly the result of a cross between the Irish Draught and the Thoroughbred. It has been given recognition as a separate breed,... - Breeding: by Hill Tarquin , by Hill Gale
- Rider: Kim Walnes
Kim Walnes first met The Gray Goose at a local riding stable in Ireland, when he was a three-year old. They were separated for two years, during which time the horse was started under saddle, and fox hunted, where he fell and injured his knees. As a five-year-old, Kim began riding him, and she bought him a year later and returned with him to the United States.
Gray was a nervous horse who hated to be ridden, and would regularly bolt and buck off his rider. Working slowly, Walnes gained his trust and respect. However, it was not until their first event
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
in the spring 1976, during the cross-country phase, that Gray grew to enjoy his time out riding.
Although Kim Walnes and her mount never had regular lessons, the managed to work up the levels. In 1979, they finished Intermediate level cross-country at the Lexington course (slightly modified from the 1978 World Championships) as the only pair to make the time. Due to their performance record, Walnes and Gray were invited to train with the United States Equestrian Team
United States Equestrian Team
The United States Equestrian Team, or USET, was founded in 1950 at the Coates estate on van Beuren Road in Morristown, New Jersey, and is the international equestrian team for the United States...
, and compete with the team in Europe the following year.
The pair came second at the 1981 Advanced competition at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day
Rolex Kentucky Three Day
The Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event is an eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The Rolex Kentucky is a CCI**** eventing competition, and the only four-star show in the Western Hemisphere. Four stars is the highest level of competition, the same level of...
as well, only .2 penalties higher than the 3-time Olympic medalist James Wofford. However, they managed to clinch the win the following year in 1982, after a clear cross-country and show jumping ride. A fall and knee injury at the Badminton Horse Trials
Badminton Horse Trials
The Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only six annual Concours Complet International Four Star **** events as classified by the Fédération Équestre Internationale , which takes place in April or May each year in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort in...
in 1983 made his 1984 Rolex comeback remarkable. The combination also competed at Rolex 1985, finishing 3rd.
The finish at Rolex also won them a spot on the World Championship Team headed to Luhmuhlen, where they won the individual and team bronze at the World Championships. The medal at the World Championships was especially extraordinary, as Walnes was riding with an injury that barely allowed her to steer her mount around the challenging course. Gray safely carried his rider around the cross-country course, as well as the stadium course the following day, with hardly any direction from her.
The Gray Goose is also known as the equine star Sylvester Stallone, in the movie Sylvester
Sylvester
Sylvester is a name derived from the Latin adjective silvestris meaning "wooded" or "wild", which derives from the noun silva meaning "woodland". Classical Latin spells this with i. In Classical Latin y represented a separate sound distinct from i, not a native Latin sound but one used in...
, where he and Walnes doubled in the movie for the eventing shots. The movie included scenes from the pair's 1984 Rolex Three Day cross-country round.
A car accident prevented Walnes from riding Gray for a year. When she began again, she found that arthritis had begun to develop in his spine, and it was too uncomfortable for him to carry a rider. He was then retired and allowed to roam the boarding facility free, although this privilege was later dropped when he began to get into the grain bin, despite it being closed with a bungee cord.
The Gray Goose died June 7, 2000, at the age of thirty. He was cremated and his ashes were buried at the Kentucky Horse Park
Kentucky Horse Park
Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm and an educational theme park opened in 1978 in Lexington, Kentucky. It is located off Kentucky State Highway 1973 and Interstate 75 in northern Fayette County in the United States...
during a ceremony at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day in 2001.