Will Faudree and Pfun. Photograph by Sally Spickard.
As Will Faudree jumped the penultimate fence on cross nation in the course of the CCI4*-S on the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina Worldwide final month, he felt a wave of emotion rising up inside him.
He was aboard his longtime upper-level horse, Pfun, a horse he’d had a relationship with for properly over the previous decade, who was en path to finishing an astonishing 9 instances at this venue simply down the street from Will’s Gavilan Farm residence base. Throughout these 9 completions, Pfun completed outdoors of the highest 10 simply as soon as.
This run at Carolina appeared a becoming finale to Pfun’s prolonged profession on the higher ranges, and as Will neared the end flags, the enormity of this choice started to hit residence.
“It was simply so enjoyable,” Will stated. “I jumped the second-to-last fence and reached down and began petting him, and I couldn’t imagine we had been galloping to the final soar of our profession collectively. I’ll always remember that spherical. I didn’t have one ‘humorous’ fence. It was actually slightly emotional.”
“Teddy” was a darkish grey coloration when he was imported from Eire as a coming four-year-old. Initially, he was sourced by Julie Richards and despatched to former USEF chef d’equipe Bobby Costello, who was nonetheless actively competing however starting to contemplate a step again, to provide. Throughout a few summers, Will rode the horse whereas Bobby traveled. In time, Bobby wound up asking Will to tackle the horse with the intention of promoting him.

Will Faudree and Pfun. Photograph by Sally Spickard.
Due to the help of Will’s longtime proprietor, Jennifer Mosing of Sterling Silver Stables, Pfun turned a rooted a part of his string. The thought, initially a minimum of, was that if the horse didn’t work out as a high horse for Will, he’d be marketable as a resale or an ideal match for Jennifer’s children to ultimately experience.
“I simply actually appreciated the horse,” Will recalled. “He didn’t have a really pure gallop on the time, however he was all the time an unbelievable jumper. Nobody was positive if he’d be taught to gallop or make it to the highest ranges, however I believed in him as a result of he was simply so enjoyable to experience and to leap.”
In 2015, Pfun stepped as much as the Superior degree and was short-listed for the U.S. workforce heading to the Pan American Video games that 12 months. That fall, although, Will broke his neck in a fall from a special horse, which noticed Pfun get an prolonged trip till Will healed and was able to get again out competing.

Christina Curiale and Pfun. Photograph by Jenni Autry.
From 2016 on, Pfun was a stalwart campaigner for Will. He would go on to finish three CCI5* occasions and began a fourth at Kentucky in 2022 when Will opted to drag him up on cross nation. At that time, Will decided based mostly on the earlier seasons of understanding what his horses wanted.
“The extent of health wanted for that degree was getting arduous on his physique,” Will mirrored. “So we backed off. We prioritized Quick occasions and issues just like the Showcase [at Bruce’s Field] with him, and I even did a Grand Prix in Ocala with him.”
Pfun was, in fact, not fairly prepared to hold up his horseshoes in full even when 5* occasions weren’t on the docket anymore. “On the finish of final 12 months, I advised Jennifer I’d actually love to do Carolina on him yet one more time,” Will stated. “It’s a venue he loves. He doesn’t owe me something, as trite as that will sound. And at Carolina this 12 months, he jumped round like a nine-year-old. I jogged him up after and he seemed like 1,000,000 bucks. I took him for a hack the following day.”

Will Faudree and Pfun. Photograph by Shannon Brinkman Pictures.
As a rider who takes a lot delight within the longevity of his horses’ careers on the higher ranges, this finale was becoming for Will and Pfun. It’s a typical adage amongst eventers that we all the time need to retire our horses on the proper time – not too early, and definitely not too late to the purpose the place an harm or accident happens. Will feels he achieved this final aim with this extremely particular horse.
“I’m simply so proud,” he stated. “He’s had such an extended profession, and hopefully he has one other twenty years left. He’s been essentially the most constant relationship in my life for the final fifteen years. I needed to suppose outdoors the field to get him match, however he all the time responded.”
Whereas Pfun received’t absolutely retire from eventing altogether, he received’t contest anymore 4* or greater occasions. Will has it in thoughts that maybe he’ll train a few of his college students, however he’ll keep in work. “He’s been a aggressive athlete his entire life, and I feel that’s vital to keep up to a point,” he stated. “With out the strain of gallop units and trot units, I feel he’ll get pleasure from himself much more. He’s simply going to have enjoyable now.”

Will Faudree and Pfun. Photograph by Leslie Threlkeld.
As Will focuses his efforts on his different high horse, Mama’s Magic Method, in addition to a robust string of youthful horses, he’ll proceed to take the teachings and the gratitude he’s realized from Pfun with him.
“I’m going to overlook him a lot,” he stated. “He’s been such a buddy – so constant, so enjoyable. Truthfully, it’s been one of many best privileges and honors of my profession to experience him. Everybody all the time believed in his leaping, however I believed in him. I’m so grateful for all the things he gave me.”
To have a horse on the high for therefore lengthy, and actually, truly, having fun with the job within the course of, is a reward that, for Will, trumps any ribbon or trophy. “The dream of him doing what he did at Carolina, and me getting on and taking him for a hack the following day…that dream satisfies me greater than any plaque.”