Zerly has started this year strong, including a victory in the WEF Challenge Cup series this winter. Last week, she was “very, very wild,” McCrea mentioned. They were fast with four faults in the Sunday grand prix for 11th place. Coming into today, McCrea wanted to work on rideability and getting Zerly quiet enough for the show ring.
“She’s very brave and she doesn’t mind anything. I knew if she was quiet enough, I could ride her. She tries really hard every time. I thought she’d be good. I didn’t know I was going to win!” she said with a smile. “She’s best when she’s very quiet in the schooling area. When you go in the ring with her, she goes up about 10 gears. When she’s wild in the schooling area, I know I’m in trouble because I go in the ring and have no control. She was very quiet in the schooling area today and was all about her business today.”
McCrea won yesterday in the 8 Year Old Young Jumpers with a horse she is very excited about, but said that Zerly leads the list of her up-and-coming mounts. “I know I said I was obsessed with my eight-year-old, but I’m even more obsessed with this horse. I think she’s the best horse I’ve ever ridden,” she revealed. “She has all the scope and all the carefulness. The only thing is that she’s nine, which is to my advantage. I think a lot of her. Hopefully in the next coming year she’ll gain some experience and be ready for some big stuff and we will aim for championships. She’s capable of it. I know it’s in there.”
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