Mo Mischief was claimed out of his first victory for MyRacehorse three years ago, but just one year later, MyRacehorse was over the moon to share the tremendous news concerning our old friend and stable runner. MyRacehorse, along with Mo’s breeder, Carrie and Craig Brogden’s Machmer Hall; and de Meric Sales, who consigned him and sold him to us as a 2-year-old in Ocala, partnered up to claim the 4-year-old for $5,000 out of a race that he won at Charles Town. He was retired from racing immediately.

In the proverbial “It Takes a Village” moment, trainer Stacey R. Viands made the claim on behalf of the group. Valery de Meric, his consignor, was as eager to be involved as we were. Collectively, it was very important to us that Mo Mischief have a soft landing into retirement. He’s a horse that has meant a great deal to all of us, including his MRH partners, and we were grateful to have his racing career end with him healthy and on our terms. 

Mo Mischief exited his final race in perfect order, and then headed to the Virginia farm of Carrie’s sister, Kristy Willwerth, for retraining. 

“The storybook endings with horses becoming graded stakes winners don’t always happen, but there is a different story to tell and you just have to have the ability to have it written,” Carrie said.

Michael Behrens, Founder and CEO of MyRacehorse added at the time: “Mo was one of our first big horses that we purchased and with that came this great fun engaged ownership group. We have a saying at MyRacehorse that we purchase a Thoroughbred not just a racehorse, and with that comes the responsibility to do our best by them after their racing days are behind them. We’re fortunate to have partners like Machmer Hall, and the de Merics who share this same belief and we’re thrilled we could get Mo back last night. It was fun to watch Mo go out a winner, and now we get to watch him thrive in his next career whatever that may be.”

Mo has been living his best life ever since, training and competing in Three-Day Eventing with his owner Leigh Ann in Virginia. 

“Mo started the year making new friends and learning to ‘horse’ under saddle in a completely different way than he was used to,” Leigh Ann reported to us. “Our initial goals were straightforward. Mo internalizes his stress, so it’s been very important to go slowly with his training. He is so agreeable on the outside, it would be very easy to push him too quickly.”

Three-Day Eventing is an equestrian event where a single horse and rider combine and compete against other competitors across the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test that required mastery of several types of riding. Often called “the ultimate test of horse and rider,” it tests the resolve of the partnership between horse and rider across the three phases, usually taking place over the course of a weekend. 

According to Leigh Ann, Mo is an amazing student, quickly retaining everything he learns.

“We attended our first jumper schooling show in May where Mo trotted around an 18-inch course, and at the beginning of last month we attended our first recognized starter horse trial–Virginia Horse Trials–at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA. Mo placed sixth in a large division,” she told us. “He couldn’t have handled the huge atmosphere any better, truly! He was confident and brave–he tackled our cross country course like he’s done this 100 times. He is my borrowed wings.” 

The duo’s goal for next year is to be competing at Beginner Novice by early summer, with their  first show of next season being at the Carolina Horse Park.

Leigh Ann is overjoyed with Mo and is forever grateful to all those who helped connect them. 

“I could not have picked a better partner,” she said. “Mo is everything I hoped he’d be and so much more! I don’t know what I did to get so lucky, but I am grateful every day for my amazing boy. He has a home for life with me. He will never know a bad day in the wrong hands. Mo has more than earned his happy retirement, whenever that time comes. I will forever be thankful to High Hoof for making the call to tell me about Mo Mischief. And the icing on the cake are all the MRH friends that have become family through the best boy ever!”