PHILLIP DUTTON
Biography
By Robby Johnson
The piedmont hills of West Grove, Pennsylvania, are a far cry from a sheep farm in Australia. Three-day event rider Phillip Dutton, 38, knows this all too well since leaving the land Down Under in 1991.
"I grew up riding in pony club on our family's farm," he said. "I came to America with one horse, True Blue Girdwood, in 1991 to place myself in a more competitive environment."
The move has paid off in spades for Dutton. He currently sits on the United States Eventing Association's leader board a comfortable 116 points ahead of his closest rival. This isn't the first time he's led, however: 1998, 2000 and 2001 also saw him finish the year in the top spot.
So how does one relocate to a foreign country and, in ten short years, have the bull by the horns?
"I got very lucky when I met Nina and Tim Gardner, who own True Prospect Farm where we are based," Dutton said.
Nina Gardner has bred many of the horses Dutton competes, including his 2000 Sydney mount and team gold medallist House Doctor. "We run a pretty big business here, with everyone involved in the operation coming together in true team spirit to make it happen."
The horse he brought with him from Australia, True Blue Girdwood, went on the represent Australia in such international events as Badminton Horse Trials (England), the 1992 and 1996 Olympics (where he brought home team gold), and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI*** and CCI****. "Jug head," as he is known around the barn, is now the mount of Dutton's groom Colby Saddington, who is gaining upper-level experience by competing him.
Dutton has also had numerous other wins at the CCI level on different horses, including the 2000 Fair Hill CCI*** on Drizzle, and a second place finish there in 2001 aboard Cayman Went, a horse he has produced himself.
To many it would seem that Dutton has the Midas touch. To him, it comes down to three things: you must enjoy horses and working with them; you must want to consistently improve; you must surround yourself with good, honest people.
"In this sport, the bad days often eclipse the good, and at the end of it you must be happy to be who you are, where you are, with the horses you have," he said.
"Nothing bothers me more than people who come back to the barn after a bad ride and put the blame on the horse. It's your horse, and it's your responsibility to ride well. I feel like all horses, who are ridden correctly, will enjoy their jobs and try for their jockey," he concludes.
"I really enjoy watching the young horses come along and start to learn their jobs," he continued. "And I probably take even more pleasure when the retraining project horses, who come into the barn with baggage and history, leave with a new and positive outlook on life and their jobs."
One person closely associated with Dutton has taken his advice to heart. Bonnie Mosser, who won the Foxhall CCI*** this year aboard Jenga is his second rider and teaches lessons and rides his horses while he is away.
Dutton also entered a new phase of life last year when his wife, Evie, gave birth to their twin daughters Mary and Olivia the Friday night before cross-country at the Fair Hill CCI***. Dutton is also the proud step-father of Evie's daughter Lee Lee, who is eight years old.
"Being a father to three girls can sometimes be a circus ride," he laughs, "but we love being parents and having them in our lives."
A day at the Dutton household sees Phillip or Evie feeding the twins breakfast and then dropping Lee Lee at school or camp. "We also just spent a week in Nantucket, so we try to do things that are 'normal' as a family. January through November is really busy in this business," he says, "so we take advantage of December in its entirety!"
This December the Dutton family will travel to Australia for the first time since the twins were born. "I am a bit anxious about it, to be honest," he says. "I used to always sort of roll my eyes when people would board an airplane with small children, and now I'm boarding with not one but two of them!"
If you happen to be traveling this winter and spot a man schlepping three young girls and escorting a wife aboard a plane, have some sympathy. He's a pretty hard worker who needs a break every now and then!
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