Backdraft is a new stallion to CP, but he still has the talent and attitude to do anything. In the dressage ring, Backdraft is light and performing each movement effortlessly. On the cross-country course, Backdraft becomes a fearless stallion of power and courage. Then, when Backdraft returns to the ring for show jumping, he transforms himself into a cat. He nails tight turns and difficult combinations as if they were second nature. Backdraft's performance in eventing is incredible.
Like all horses, Backdraft has his faults. The one fault that stands prominantly above the rest his Backdraft's win or die attitude. Backdraft would rather push himself to the limit before giving in to exhaustion. Out on the cross-country course I am always afraid he's going to push himself too hard. I can never tell when he's tired. Once out on a particularly difficult and long course, Backdraft pushed himself too hard. As we were galloping along a flat road between fences, Backdraft stumbled. This was the first sign Backdraft had showed me that he was tired and so I mearly slowed him down to an extended canter. Backdraft continued to press onward. At the next jump, he barely made it over. The "recovery" after that jump was heartbreaking. Backdraft sacraficed his last bit of energy to get over that last log, and he had absolutley nothing left. As soon as his front feet touched the ground, he buckled to his knees. I leaped off him as he lay on the dirt. I was so scared he had killed himself that I was in hysterics. An ambulance had to carry my brave warrior off the course and to the vet. Backdraft did not die or suffer any permanent injuries. The vet's remarks were, "That horse is one hell of a fighter."
