Boyd Martin

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere competing at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Boyd Martin (born August 20, 1979) is an American equestrian.^[1] At the 2012 Summer Olympics he competed in Individual eventing.^[2]

Biography

Olympic three-day event rider Boyd Martin was born to Toy Dorgan, an American speedskater, and Ross Martin, an Australian cross-country skier. His parents met at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. Martin and his sister Brooke were raised in Terrey Hills, New South Wales. Prior to moving to the U.S., Martin was extremely successful in Australia, where he trained out of Heath and Rozzie Ryan’s Newcastle Equestrian Centre.^[3] The highlight of his competitive career there was winning the 2003 Adelaide CCI**** riding True Blue Toozac.

Martin and his wife, Silva (née Stigler), moved to the U.S. in 2007 to pursue their dreams of competing internationally. Initially Boyd worked as an assistant to Phillip Dutton.^[4] Today the Martins own their own farm, Windurra USA in Cochranville, PA. Facilities include jumping and dressage arenas with all-weather footing from Attwood Equestrian Surfaces, and an extensive cross-country schooling course designed and built by Eric Bull of ETB Equine Construction. During the winter Boyd and Silva are based in Aiken, SC and Silva also travels to Wellington, FL to train and compete.

As the son of an American citizen Boyd has always enjoyed dual citizenship, and in 2009 he officially began representing the United States in International competition. German-born dressage rider Silva obtained US Citizenship in 2010 and competed on her first US Team at the Nations Cup in Wellington, Florida in February, 2014 riding Rosa Cha W, helping to bring home a team gold medal.

Martin purchased his best-known horse, Neville Bardos, for $850; Neville had been rescued from the racetrack by another trainer and declared 'no good' as a jumper.^[5] After overcoming great adversity including a devastating barn fire at True Prospect Farm in 2011, and the deaths of his father and father-in-law shortly after the file, Martin and Neville made an amazing comeback to finish 7th at the Burghley CCI****, the toughest three-event in the world. Martin finished 2011 ranked 8th on the HSBC World Rankings, Neville Bardos was named the 2011 International Horse of the Year by the USEF, and The Chronicle of the Horse named Martin its 2011 Overall Rider of the Year. They were featured on Rock Center with Brian Williams on NBC Television and the cover page of the New York Times.^[6]

In addition to representing the USA, Boyd has enjoyed international competitive success, finishing in the top ten at every four-star in the world except Badminton (England): Rolex Kentucky CCI4* (USA); Pau CCI4* (France); Boekelo CIC4* (the Netherlands); Luhmuehlen CCI4* (Germany); the World Equestrian Games (USA and France); and Burghley CCI4* (England). He has trained and competed a long list of successful four-star event horses including Flying Doctor, Brady Bunch, X-Treme, Starkey, Orchard End Winston, True Blue Toozac, Ying Yang Yo, Neville Bardos, Rock on Rose, Remington XXV, Otis Barbotiere, Trading Aces, and Shamwari IV.

Prior to moving to the U.S., Boyd was extremely successful in Australia, where he trained out of Heath and Rozzie Ryan's Newcastle Equestrian Centre. He represented Australia at the Young Rider level against New Zealand on a Trans-Tasman three-day event on Brady Bunch, and the highlight of his competitive career there was winning the very last long-format four-star event at the 2003 Adelaide CCI**** riding True Blue Toozac. Boyd was long listed for the Australian Eventing Team for the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Hong Kong 2008.

Boyd competes nearly every weekend, and coaches a long list of successful riders. He has become a sought-after clinician and in the off-season can be found teaching around the United States.

Working hard behind the scenes is a dedicated support team: Groom Katarina Lissett, farrier Doug Neilson, CJF and veterinarian Dr. Kevin Keane, DVM, and assistant riders Caitlin Silliman and Mike Pindleton.

In addition to training with Phillip Dutton, Boyd receives coaching in dressage with his wife Silva and regularly works with US Eventing Team Coach David O'Connor.

With a quick smile, sharp intellect and easygoing personality as well as the ability to easily relate his riding expertise to students of all levels, Boyd is a media favorite. He is a popular co-host of the Eventing Radio Show and his PR team maintains an active website, blog and social media. He has been featured extensively in equestrian media as well as mainstream publications including The New York Times (front page feature) and Sports Illustrated.

Boyd's current sponsors include Ariat, Attwood Equestrian Surfaces, Charles Owen, Ecogold, Majyk Equipe Boots, Purina, Shires, Smartpak Equine and Stübben Custom Saddlery.

Boyd started 2015 ranked 7th in the FEI World Eventing Athlete Rankings. In order to view Boyd's most up to date results, please link to US Eventing.

References