Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Picture by Tilly Berendt.
Rivals and followers at The Occasion at Rebecca Farm will rejoice the outstanding profession of Mai Baum, because the 2023 Defender Kentucky 5* Champion and veteran Staff USA star runs his final competitors.
Now in its twenty fourth 12 months, The Occasion at Rebecca Farm takes place July 16-20, 2025 in Kalispell, MT.
Mai Baum’s associate Tamie Smith will pilot the 19-year-old German Sport Horse via the CCI4*-S, then retire him in a becoming ceremony at Rebecca Farm. The venue, the Broussard household who owns it, and the Northwest area typically are core to the pair’s success around the globe over 10 years.
“Mai Baum began his profession with Alex (Ahearn) at Michelle Pestl’s place in Washington state and we felt it very becoming that he have his final hurrah within the very place he started,” explains Tamie. “The venue formed each of our careers.”
“It was a catapult” Tamie informed Sensible Horseman Journal of her 2013 receipt of the Rebecca Broussard Creating Rider Grant. Also known as the “Little Becky Grant,” the award is considered one of many grants issued by the Broussard Household Charitable Belief to assist occasion riders on a promising worldwide observe. “It was a bunch of individuals saying ‘We predict you will have what it takes.’”
A 12 months later, Tamie obtained the “Massive Becky” Grant. “Profitable the Massive and Little Becky Grants made it potential to additional my profession once I was simply beginning out.”
Northwest Roots
Everybody loves a humorous face! Alex Ahearn and Mai Baum. Picture by Jenni Autry.
Michelle Pestl and Ellen Ahearn discovered Mai Baum on the Munich Public sale in Germany and imported him to the States. From the age of 4 to 9, Mai Baum and his younger rider proprietor Alex Ahearn labored with Michelle in Washington state. Alex then moved to Tamie’s base in Temecula, California, to proceed their coaching and develop into a working scholar for Tamie’s Subsequent Degree Eventing.
Alex Ahearn campaigned Mai Baum, aka “Lexus,” as much as the CCI3*-L in 2014, then urged Tamie to take over when she went off to school. Alex and her mother and father, Ellen Ahearn and Eric Martell, continued as Lexus’ house owners, supporting the pair via each step of their odyssey.
Tamie and Mai Baum started their aggressive partnership in 2015, which included the CCI3* win at Rebecca Farm. Mai Baum was awarded the general Horse Of The 12 months Award on the USEA’s Annual Assembly that 12 months.
Highlights of their lengthy resume embody Staff USA gold on the Pan Am Video games in 2019, being alternates for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and workforce silver on the World Equestrian Video games in 2022, which certified Staff USA for the 2024 Olympics. Prime 10 finishes at Aachen and Badminton and silver medal workforce finishes at Aachen, twice, and Boekelo, are further resume stand-outs.
Their historic win of the Defender Kentucky 5* in 2023 broke a 15-year absence of Individuals from the highest of that prestigious podium.
A Huge Occasion
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Picture by Sally Spickard.
Mai Baum’s retirement ceremony is deliberate to happen after the awards ceremony following present leaping on Sunday, July 20. It’ll embody alternatives for followers to share a second with the particular “black stallion.” He’s a gelding whose gorgeous presence, daring angle and glistening black coat earned him that nickname.
“He’ll completely love each little bit of this, so we’re planning to have a line up for photographs and different issues,” Tamie shares.
On return to California, Mai Baum will keep in work as a result of “he likes to bounce round,” she continues, however The Occasion might be his final aggressive outing – at any stage. “He has nothing to show and deserves to retire as wholesome as he’s. Lexus isn’t a commodity to us, he’s our household, and he deserves to complete his competitors profession with an enormous get together.”
An Emotional Second
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Picture by Tilly Berendt.
“It’s been an incredible 10 years we’ve had collectively and though he’ll nonetheless be very a lot a part of my every day life, understanding that is our final occasion makes it all of the extra particular and emotional,” Tamie says.
“Mai Baum has been my magic carpet and I really feel so privileged for all he and I discovered collectively. He’s the horse that put me on the map, helped me earn that pinque coat, and win medals at many workforce championships and Nations Cups.
“I’m very grateful to have had the journey we’ve had collectively together with (his house owners) Eric, Ellen and Alex,” Tamie continues. “It’s been one hell of a trip, from the very best of highs to the bottom of lows and quite a bit in between.
“However what has been the very best of this wonderful journey has been the numerous locations we’ve traveled to and the many individuals we’ve met all through the years. Lexus and I broke via many glass ceilings to realize what we did. I believe it’s a testomony to his coronary heart and my perseverance, in addition to his wonderful workforce who helped all alongside the way in which.
“I owe a lot to Mai Baum and his household. I owe a lot to everybody who has believed in me all through the years and I can’t anticipate the following chapter.
A Particular Horse
Picture by Tilly Berendt.
Mr. Medicott is the one different well-known horse to retire at The Occasion. A Staff USA horse for Karen O’Connor and Phillip Dutton, Mr. Medicott closed his profession with Phillip’s then-16-year-old daughter, Olivia. He helped the USEA Space II workforce earn gold on the FEI North American Youth Championships at Rebecca Farm in 2018, then retired in a particular ceremony on the Farm.
Kathi Michel’s Kazar additionally retired on the Farm.
Organizer Sarah Broussard explains that it have to be a fairly particular horse to get this therapy. “It is smart,” she stated of the comparatively simple determination to host Mai Baum’s farewell. “The Occasion is the place he obtained seen and he’s initially from the Northwest. Everyone is aware of him right here.”
“Mai Baum is a unicorn,” confirms Jerome Broussard, Chairman of the Broussard Household Charitable Belief. “And the Markell household and Tamie and her workforce are great of us. We’re actually thrilled that they’ve chosen our occasion for his retirement get together.”
