The Comeback Kid!

We are reviving the popular "Tales of Triumph" series that debuted back in November, which shared the tales of five horses who, in their own way, triumphed against all odds. Over the next few months we will be sharing the tales of some special guests who, like those five horses, triumphed against all odds as well. They're excited to meet fans and share their stories at BreyerFest!

The stories of our incredible special guests, Limited Edition portrait horses, and Celebration Horse and rider, Amanda and Athena, are at the heart of this year’s event. Their victories have inspired us to celebrate our own triumphs over adversity, not let them limit us. Through written word, art, music, and other creative outlets, BreyerFest: Against All Odds empowers us all to dream big, redefine ourselves, or start a new chapter. Bound by our love of horses and creative expression, we celebrate the perseverance of our community and revel in the thrill of a new beginning.

Dante came into this world as a PMU foal out of Canada as a cross between a Thoroughbred and a Percheron. Most foals at PMU farms are killed unless the process is intervened. Luckily for Dante, he was purchased - based on a single photo - and shipped to the US in the hopes of becoming a police horse. Dante decided he was not meant to be a police horse, however, and throughout training he was labeled as aggressive. He failed the country-wide police auction, the Colloquium, and was sold as a foxhunter. Dante was unhappy foxhunting as well.

Chelsea Kolman heard about this “dangerous” and “aggressive” horse and felt a strong connection to his story. For her 16^th birthday, Dante became hers.

Everyone was convinced and repeatedly told Chelsea that Dante wasn’t going to be successful in any direction - especially jumping, since he knocked every rail down. Despite all the negative comments about him, Chelsea knew deep down that this scared and uneducated horse was destined for great things, and she kept working to get through to Dante and gain his trust.

After trying the hunter/jumper ring, where judges and trainers told her that this horse doesn’t belong, Chelsea decided to take Dante cross-country schooling for fun and let him gallop in the open. This gallop changed both their lives. Dante felt free for the first time, and when asked to go over a solid jump he picked up his legs and soared over with ease.

Dante and Chelsea started working their way up the levels of eventing, all while strengthening their trust in each other. This is what Dante was meant to do, and Chelsea patiently worked with him to unlock his full potential in eventing. The pair went on to represent Area 8 at the 3* level in the Junior Olympics and helped their team win bronze, even with Chelsea's rein breaking in the show jumping phase!

This once-dangerous horse became an eventing sensation, quickly moving up the levels. Cheslea felt Dante had what it takes to go all the way: the Olympics. The pair was eventually invited to compete as individuals for the US at Great Meadows International's Nations Cup. All was well until the cross country phase where he stopped twice, and Chelsea excused herself. She knew Dante like the back of her hand and felt something was off.

At a later show he jumped about three feet higher than normal, which again was off for him. Chelsea called in her vets and a neurologist to run tests and was told nothing was wrong. Chelsea insisted and had the neurologist run a test for EPM (Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis), a devastating neurological disease. The vets were shocked when they tested Dante's levels and the test came up positive. It was the first time that they intentionally stumbled on levels this low.

Treatment was started, but Dante’s EPM levels still increased and his symptoms became worse until they found the right medication for him. The pair's hopes for the Olympics and Advanced Level competitions looked like they would never come to fruition. Dante started to feel better and regain his health - but his job looked different than before. He was now helping children learn the ropes of lower eventing or watching Chelsea’s boyfriend from time to time.

Chelsea finally got back on Dante after a mental block and started competing him again in the lower levels. To her surprise, he felt better than ever before - like he was hungry to get back to the bigger jumps. Within three competitions the pair qualified for the national championships at the intermediate level. They were back on track -  or so Chelsea thought.

After the competition, Chelsea felt something was off - this time in Dante’s hind end. X-rays showed he had broken his right hind foot, possibly due to kicking the stall wall at the horse show.

Chelsea let Dante rest and recover, and he healed once again. After lending him to a friend to jump small fences, Chelsea saw that fire in him still. Slowly working their way back up, the pair successfully completed an Intermediate Preliminary event and came in 2^nd. Now their plan is to try to get back up to the advanced level so long as Dante is still willing and able - and if not, Dante will always have a forever home with Chelsea.

Dante is truly a comeback kid. After being told "this dangerous horse will never amount to anything," Chelsea saw his potential. Even after their setbacks, the pair continues to follow their dreams. Dante continues to show the world that they don’t have a say in who we are or who we become - we get to choose that!

Catch Dante and Chelsea in the Covered Arena daily or meet them back at the stables to learn more about their incredible story!