Chantilly ...a pony LEGEND!

Sindy Paul & Chantilly

The History of Ponies: Chantilly

Chantilly went from a humble beginning to being the first pony inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of fame. She was bred by Roberts Coles in Keswick, VA – by Brigadier II out of Briquette.

Mrs. Carl W. Beckman found her in a field never having been handled. Chantilly arrived at her farm in a cattle truck with a piece of bailing twine around her neck instead of a halter. It took a lot of handling with a lot of easy going and care to finally able to gain her trust and put a bridle and saddle on her. Her daughter Laura Beckman Rhodes was the first to show her to many championships winning almost every class that she entered in the green pony division. In those days, all green ponies competed together. Laura outgrew her and Mr. Eddie Bywaters bought her for Mrs. Elizabeth McIntosh of Waverly Farm in Warrenton, Virginia. She was ridden by Karen Quinn. Eddie called Mrs. Beckman every weekend saying “That damn pony was Champion again!” as she was in 26 out of 28 shows and reserve champion at the other 2 shows in a single year.

Chantilly’s next stop was with Sindy Paul trained by Mr. Milton Junie Kulp at All Around Farm. She arrived at dusk on a Friday evening. The van opened and down the ramp came the most magnificent 12.3 hand seal brown pony with four white socks and a white blaze that I had ever seen. Being at All Around Farm, I was accustomed to great horses and ponies (Showdown was in the stall next to hers overlooking the courtyard at the main barn at All Around Farm). She had such charisma and such presence about her that all you could do was feel awed by her. I briefly rode her as it was getting dark, but I immediately knew that she was the most

incredible pony to ride. Everything was effortless perfection on her part.

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Sindy Paul & Chantilly at The Devon Horse Show

The next time that I saw her was that weekend at our first show, judged by Hope Montgomery Scott, a well-known equestrian and judge. We won our first class together and were champion – the first of numerous classes and championships won from that first show through our last show at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. One year we were champion at 20 out of 21 shows. With every class, grand championship and championship won she would always give me a hug as if to say congratulations, we did this together, you are my child and I will take care of you.

Chantilly was a super star throughout her career for everyone who rode her (in order Laura Beckman Rodes, Karen Ellis, Sindy Paul and Patricia Gowl) and trained her (in order Mrs. Carl W. Beckman, William J. Quinn, Junie Kulp and Marcy Martin). She was a great, consistent champion regardless of the weather (sun or rain, hot or cold), day or night, outdoors or indoors, in a ring or over an outside course, in the model class, under saddle class or over fences. She was champion, and if it was offered, grand champion at every major show – a partial listing includes Devon Horse Show, Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Washington International Horse Show, the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden, Upperville, Deep Run, Staunton, Glenmore Hunt, Warrenton Pony Show, Fairfield County Hunt Club, Ox Ridge Hunt Club, Piping Rock, C.W. Post, Orange County, Sussex County (Branchville), Quentin Riding Club, Virginia State Horse Show, Ludwigs Corner, Sugartown, Lancaster, Delaware County, St. Christopher’s Hospital Horse Show for Children, Middlesex County, and Monmouth County. Competing from 1964-1973 she was in the top 5 of the AHSA HOTY at least 7 times, she was the Gregory Beowulf Saunders National Champion, Grand Champion Hunter of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association (PHBA) both times that it was awarded when I showed her, PHBA Small Pony Hunter Champion 3 consecutive years and VHSA Small Pony Hunter Campion.

Her posthumous awards and accolades are a tribute to a great pony.

• First pony inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame

• Inducted into the Virginia Horse Show Association (VHSA) Hall of Fame

• Inducted into the Pennsylvania Horse Show Association (PHSA) Hall of Fame

• Included in the Upperville Horse Show Wall of Fame

• Included in the United States Hunter and Jumper Association (USHJA) Wheeler Museum Exhibit on Ponies through the Decades

• Included in the USHJA Wheeler Museum Exhibit on Iconic Horse Shows

• Included in the History of the Devon Horse Show Exhibit at the Chester County Historical Society

• Included in the book “Rediscovering Devon”, a history of the Devon Horse Show

• Featured in the Chronicle of the Horse Article “Throwback Thursday: Chantilly’s Legacy Lives on at Devon” available at https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/tbt-chantillys-legacy-lives-devon?fbclid=IwAR3JWB1sCGeuuazdLXlT66GiwCxRFzai1KdmDUCL0wXomcTrhpbqAQvtRXk

Chantilly was extremely bright and kind. She always did her best in every class at every show. She consistently won the model class, under saddle class and over fences (the Chantilly Perpetual Trophy is given for the winner of the medium pony hunter class at the Devon Horse Show). She knew she was great, but never acted like a diva. She knew as we stood at the in gate with Junie Kulp giving us our final instructions that it was about to be her chance to demonstrate her greatness doing what she liked to do best - showing. Like Laura, I knew as soon as we entered the ring what the trip would be like. And of course, she looked forward to the carrots, apples, and love that she received every day that I spent with her.

Our lives are so intertwined with those of our ponies that it is difficult to determine who influences whom. This is true of Chantilly as she, along with so many of those around her, are in the National Show Hunter hall of Fame. Her trainers Mrs. Carl W. Beckman (Eileen Beckman) and Mr. Junie Kulp (who was inducted the same year as Chantilly), one of her owners Mrs. Elizabeth McIntosh of Waverly Farms and Mr. Eddie Bywaters. She was truly the pony of a lifetime for everyone who was lucky enough to ride, train or work with her.