"We're so lucky to even have him back," said Becky Gochman, owner of Catch Me. "We are just honored that Catch Me was named Hunter of the Year. We are so proud of him and proud that our sport honors true horsemen and fantastic horses."
The 9-year-old Holsteiner, was purchased by David and Becky Gochman of Palm Beach, FL, in 2015 from Lisa Cudahy of Mequon, WI. With Cudahy, the horse was trained by Cookie Beck and started showing in 2013. The Gochmans first saw Catch Me at the Winter Equestrian Festival Week 4 in 2015 competing in the First Year Green Working Hunter division, where he took Reserve Champion. By Week 6, the Gochmans had purchased him, and he went on to be Reserve Champion with Scott Stewart in the First Year Green Working Hunter division in Week 6, and then champion in each of the subsequent weeks he competed in the division for the remainder of the circuit (Weeks 8, 9, 11 and 12), garnering the title Circuit Champion for the division.
At the Kentucky Spring show, he and Stewart won every single class in the First Year Green Working Hunter division, taking Champion. Shortly after this, near-tragedy struck when Catch Me became ill and was diagnosed with botulism, a neurologic disorder that can result in paralysis and may be fatal. Under the care of Dr. Rodney Belgrave at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in Ringoes, NJ, Catch Me underwent two months of treatment at the vet clinic. During that time, he fought hard but became very weak under the influence of the disease. Fortunately, because the disease was diagnosed and treatment begun early, Catch Me recovered and was given the all clear in late June. At this point, he began his at-home recovery, which included turn out, followed by treadmill work, and slowly back into a regular work routine.
By August, he was back in the show ring in Kentucky, finishing Reserve Champion with Stewart again in the First Years. He went on to win the 2015 World Championship Hunter Rider Professional Challenge and was Champion in the First Year division with Stewart at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. The pair also garnered Reserve Champion at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and Champion at the National Horse Show in the First Years. Of the 14 times he competed in 2015 in the First Year Green Working Hunter division, he took tricolors 12 times.
"He's got a beautiful jump, is a beautiful mover and has a great mind," continued Gochman "To see him come back from this has been an incredible thing."
While his performance in the ring speaks for itself, "Snoopy" as he's called in the barn, prefers a trail ride over ring work. Gochman notes with a smile, "The name fits him well: he has a big white face that's always attentive, loving and sweet; he's like a cute puppy dog in the barn."
