Running In Different Circles

by Jen Roytz

Best known in racing and breeding circles as managing partner of Hidden Brook Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, Sergio de Sousa wore a different hat (a helmet, actually) this past week, making his career debut in the show jumping ring aboard Isle of Giants (Giant's Causeway), a gelding that he raised and sold as a yearling on behalf of his owners before eventually re-acquiring him once his racing career came to a close.

The pair competed at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show in the 3′ training jumper division at the Kentucky Horse Park. de Sousa's daughter, 16-year-old Isabella, also competed at the show, notably aboard her 2017 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover entry, Late Night Mark (IRE) (Mariu), who she plans to partner with this October to defend her 2015 and 2016 show jumping division titles.

A winner of three races in 15 starts, Isle of Giants's last race came in 2010, when he set the opening fractions in the GI Pacific Classic before fading in the stretch.

“When I stopped seeing him show up in the entries, I called his owner to see what became of him,” de Sousa said. “He told me he had bowed and was turned out at a farm in California. I asked if he would let me have him as a riding horse.”

Originally, de Sousa wanted the 17-hand gelding simply as a recreational mount so he could ride with his daughter. For the past five years, that's exactly what he did.

“At the time, Isabella was riding ponies and we had just bought a house with some land to keep our personal horses on, so I thought I'd look for a horse so I could go on hacks with her and ride for fun,” said de Sousa. “He was quite hot on the track, washing out before races and getting worked up, so it was a process bringing him along. We'd go out in fields, play around on cross country jumps and hack around the show grounds when Isabella was riding.”

After years of watching his daughter compete, especially in recent years as she's made a name for herself at the Thoroughbred Makeover, de Sousa decided to try his hand at show jumping. While the pair did not pin in their classes, de Sousa was nonetheless thrilled with their results.

“For me, competing isn't about winning, it's about the connection with the horse–knowing where he came from and what it took to get here,” he said. “It's about the journey, not the ribbons.”