Aberjoy
NAME: Aberjoy
SEX: Mare
COLOR: Bay
DATE OF BIRTH: June 2002
COUNTRY OF BIRTH: USA
SIRE: Aberjack
DAM: Isn't She Nice (Mr. Redoy)
BREED: 15/16th Thoroughbred
BREEDER: Laurel Hill Farm
PLACE OF BIRTH: Unionville, PA
OWNER: Melissa Stubenberg
"Joy" is a born and bred Pennsylvania girl but her pedigree is international. Her sire, Aberjack, was an international advanced level eventer ridden by Mark Todd.
Aberjack is a registered New Zealand Sport Horse, son of Aberlou, one of the most successful and influential Thoroughbred sires in New Zealand's sport horse breeding. His dam, Miss Charlie, was a 3/4 Thoroughbred show jumper, who descended from the highly successful Alvero racing line in New Zealand. Joy's dam, Isn't She Nice ("Izzy"), was a Kentucky bred Thoroughbred who had a race career of 100 starts. She retired sound from racing before joining the broodmare band of Jonathon Sheppard. She was a big moving mare and was bought by Laurel Hill Farm of Unionville, PA, to produce sport horses.
Melissa bought Joy from Laurel Hill Farm in the summer of 2007 to add to her collection of Izzy babies. Under Melissa's ownership is Joy's older half sister Charm, who she has competed through Preliminary. Her other young prospect, Joy's younger half brother Muggle, was the 2007 USEA Future Event Horse Grand Champion. Melissa's fondness for Izzy's babies has been solidified by their performance and she has recognized Joy's potential to be a promising event horse.
After competing Joy successfully through training level, Melissa has passed the reins on to Boyd to compete and gain solid experience at Preliminary and above. Joy is still a young mare and has a long competitive career ahead of her. Melissa writes: "I hope to ride Joy at the Intermediate level myself someday but not until she has obtained the skills and confidence to help overcome (or maybe override) my mistakes! I couldn't find a better rider and trainer than Boyd to help Joy further her education as an event horse and help me achieve my goals."
Top photo courtesy of Stephen J. Berkowitz.
Bottom photo reproduced with Permission of the Chronicle of the horse & Kat Netzler.
