Prince Calaf was born in 2007, sired by Irish stallion Tobougg, out of Turandot. He had 36 starts for 6 placings and retired a maiden after his last race at Wodonga in November 2013. Prince started his career racing in Sydney for David Payne before heading to trainer Gwenda Markwell, and then on to John and Chris Ledger in Wangaratta where he spent the final year of his racing career.

Prince’s jumping career started before he had left the track. Kacey Ledger, the wife of trainer Chris, first met Prince at the 2013 Benalla Agricultural Show. Kacey had never ridden Prince before that day, she didn’t even know his name, but Chris had ridden him during track work and Kacey knew he had been jumped over some steeples at the track. Kacey says “It can be handy when your husband is the trainer and track work rider! Prince did extremely well for his first outing”.  They jumped 70cm during the show and he backed it up running 4th in yet another maiden race at Wangaratta the following week. Once he had officially retired from racing, he found his new home on Kacey’s team of showjumpers.

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Full of quirks and very opinionated, Kacey never did much schooling over poles or grids with Prince as he was known to have minor meltdowns. He likes to do things his way and would often approach fences too slowly, or charge at them. Prince’s performance in the ring could often be predicted by his mood in the morning. Kacey says “if Prince is being excellent, then it is best to be suspicious as he is undoubtedly preparing for something. Where there is a little nip or a pig root in the warm-up, then we know we are on and ready to go. When he starts going around like a dressage hack, then anything goes on the course!”

Some of Kacey and Prince’s achievements together include competing at Equitana, featuring in the second season of Jump Off, and jumping in mini prix. “We were awarded an abundance of ribbons and had just as many falls” Kacey recalls.

“I think there was a period over 5 years when he was the only horse I had separated from! There are too many quirks to tell, but once you know him, just let him be. He does not rear or windsuck, but he does have most other vices. He is highly anxious, needs 2-3 warm-up fences, then likes to compete fresh. He is particular about his paddocks, hates sand in his boots, does not really like many other horses, and upon reflection, he has never really liked me but is tolerant.”

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Prince does have many redeeming qualities though, he is great to clip, travels well, doesn’t wreck his rugs, and respects fences.

Kacey is now an acknowledged Racing Victoria Off the Track Retrainer, a busy mum, and has a day job outside of the equine industry. Prince was no longer the number one focus as Kacey got busier, so she put the word out on social media that she was looking to find him a very special home. The ad was refreshingly honest and stated, “He is not for sale as I cannot advocate for him to be an honest, reliable or easy ride” and “He is easily offended and will not do as you ask… ever! You will work with him, not against him”. Through word of mouth, the most perfect home was found, and Prince found the perfect partner in young rider Lyla Ferrari.

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Lyla started riding when she was 4 and living in the United States. When she returned to Australia at 7, she got her first pony and developed a passion for show jumping. This passion was nurtured by showjumper and coach, Des Gleeson. Lyla’s Off the Track thoroughbred journey started in 2020 when she was without a horse to ride at the Victorian Showjumping Championships. Some special people in the show jumping community got behind Lyla and gave her the opportunity to ride a 19yo OTT, Kostya who raced as Rise and Fall with Geoff Duryea in Corowa. Kostya had already had a successful show-jumping career with amateur riders and came out of retirement to give Lyla this life-changing opportunity. His first rides were very challenging for 12yo Lyla and after their thirds lesson together, Des said to Lyla

“if you keep fighting with him, you will never win. He is bigger and stronger than you. Instead, trust him, go with him, he knows his job”.

Lyla and Kostya went on to finish in the top 10 at the State Children’s Titles and were the Victorian Interschools champions that year.

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Lyla, now 14, was looking for a horse to take her around the bigger tracks and potentially take her to Juniors show jumping at 1.20-1.35m heights. A mutual friend told Lyla she had to try Prince, and Kacey warned them about his quirks. To date, Prince has been the perfect gentleman for Lyla, the easiest horse to manage and the only gelding in her team of mares. Prince was quite strong and excited during their first rides, and it took Lyla back to her first rides with Kostya and Des Gleeson’s advice “trust him, go with him, he knows his job”. These words made all the difference, and their partnership was formed. Within a month they were being competitive at 1.10m and he hasn’t once complained about sand in his boots! Lyla’s mum Julie said, “Lyla does find he goes better when wearing an ear bonnet, and Kacey will say he likes it even more when his bonnet and saddlecloth are matchy-matchy”. Lyla won’t say Prince is the easiest horse to ride

“he does have an interesting style over a fence, and when he sees the jump, he wants to get there as quickly as he can. He seems to use a bit of speed to make the heights. While it makes him a bit more challenging to ride, it also makes him a bit more competitive in the speed classes”.  

Prince reminds Lyla a lot of Kostya and when she first met Prince, she noticed they both share the same Eliza Park brand and thought it was a sign that he was meant to be.

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Lyla and Kacey don’t know if Prince will be able to once again jump the heights required for the Junior Championships, but Lyla is hoping that if they continue to develop their relationship, they may be able to try towards the end of 2023. For now, she is grateful for the opportunity Kacey has given her to ride such a special horse. Lyla is hoping to take advantage of the hard work Kacey has put in educating Prince on the flat, and taking him to some Interschools combined training competitions (combined training is a competition of two phases, dressage and showjumping). During February Lyla and Prince Calaf will be heading to Boneo Park for the first heat of the 2023 Off The Track series.

Lyla has been selected to represent Australia in the Global Children’s Amateur Championship in Mexico this June. Riders under 15yrs from all over the world will be competing on borrowed horses jumping 1.10-1.15m over three days. Selectors told Lyla one of the reasons she has been chosen was due to her experience riding so many different horses over the past couple of years. She realises without the experience of riding OTT horses like Prince and Kostya, she may not have had this opportunity. If you would like to follow Lyla and her teammates and find out more about how you can help them get to Mexico follow Team Australia - 2023 Global Amateur Showjumping Tour on Facebook.