The story of Riddle the Rescue keeps getting better.

Told through the words of his owner/rescuer and the rider who recently won the Reserve World Grand Championship of Senior Equitation with him, here’s the tale of a rescue who made it to the top of the equitation world.

It took patience, detective work, kind souls, some master trainers, hard riding kids taught by master trainers, and lots of hard work.

Here’s the full story of Who’s on First Now, known to his friends as Riddle.

 His story told by owner and rescuer Nikki Duerr: 

'Back in August 2017 Kelley Pomeroy with Dreamscape Rescue shared on Facebook a post of two Saddlebreds on a Colorado kill lot. I rescued them both - the colt later named Riddle and the mare later named Ellie. Riddle was thought to be a yearling. Cryptorchid, feral, scared of people, untouchable and poor demeanor at feeding time. We had local help to gentle him and break him to trailering, clipping, bitting, long lining. In the very beginning it required a lasso to catch him.

 Payton then started very basic riding on him at home but he needed more . At Midwest Charity 2019 I had worked up the nerve to ask Scott if he would take this unregistered misfit into training. He agreed to give it a try and I was ecstatic. In November 2019 I sent Riddle to Knollwood Farm  for training. My honest hopes as I told Carol was that he could make a reasonable school horse or at the most a nice academy horse.

 

Training wasn’t easy… I know there were times that Carol thought of calling me and telling me that he wasn’t going to make it! Come September 2020 he went to his first show - the WI Fall Futurity Horse Show in West Allis in Open English Pleasure. He then headed to St. Louis Charity to debut in equitation with Payton and then to the Monarch National Championships.

In 2022, Maiya Komassa began a distinguished career with Riddle accomplishing National Titles and a WC along with a RWCC title to their names. Prior to that Riddle was a partner to Payton Duerr, Maria Traeger and Hanna Agathen.'

From Maiya's Mom, Kristin:

'When I first approached Carol about Maiya moving up from academy and exploring the possibility of leasing Riddle, she warned me that because he was unregistered, there would be limitations on what classes they could show in. Many classes specifically require a registered ASB (American Saddlebred), and although Riddle DNA’d as a full Saddlebred, without registration papers, he wasn’t eligible to compete in those classes.

So that first year, they showed in a variety of equitation classes while they figured each other out.

We were so in love with Riddle from the very beginning. He was exactly the partner I had hoped for Maiya. And she was completely prepared to show in whatever classes she could, for as long as she could. His registration limitations never changed her goals or how much she believed in him.

Heading into their second season, Carol and Niki went to work to see if there was any way to make an exception with ASHBA. Niki researched relentlessly and used her connections to track down Riddle’s sire, but they couldn’t uncover who his dam was.

Carol took everything they were able to find to the appropriate people, and through a lot of work, persistence and advocacy, Riddle was ultimately able to be registered as a Half-Saddlebred.

That changed everything.

It opened the door for Maiya and Riddle to compete fully in Pleasure Equitation, giving them opportunities that simply wouldn’t have been available to them otherwise.

And looking back now, I’m so grateful they didn’t let the limitations of a piece of paper define what this horse and this girl could accomplish.

Because once that door opened, they walked straight through it.'

A little more about Knollwood Kid Maiya.

She’s all in.

To support her equitation adventures, Maiya cleans stalls, and does chores. Her mom Kristen helps as well, keeping our show lounge area spic and span every week.

After her big win at Louisville this year, she was back at the farm cleaning stalls and working the next day.

Maiya has a great appreciation for the process of becoming good at something, and the sweat that goes into it.

She started showing  in our academy program in 2016. She and our grand Morgan named Klem had the time of their life learning how to show.  If you've had the pleasure of watching Maiya show, you know that Klem's lessons remain.

More from Kristin:

'Looking back at the last five years, there is not one thing I would do differently. There have been some incredible highs, and some disappointing lows, but those outcomes helped shape Maiya into the person and competitor she is now. She and Riddle have never been more aligned and to see them show so confidently together is something I will remember forever.

Riddle was destined for greatness. He just needed the right people to help him get there.

The dream team of the Duerrs, Scott, Carol, and Lindsay deserve so much of the credit for the incredible horse Riddle has become.

They saw something special in him, believed in him, and poured so much into bringing out everything he had to give.

Maiya has simply been fortunate enough to give him a spotlight. And what a privilege it has been to watch him shine.'

Last Words From Nikki:

'He became quite a rising star and certainly the poster child for rescues.  I was told by the kill buyer that he came from a breeder in North Dakota. I figured this could not be that difficult - how many saddlebred breeders are in North Dakota? I located him and reached out. He was very helpful in allowing Riddle to acquire his 1/2 Saddlebred registration (DNA identified the sire but no dam match) the breeder confirmed that the mare was not registered but that he was full saddlebred.) 

Unfortunately, CH-EQ status is not available for registered half saddlebreds, but Riddle would have earned this honor with points to spare.

I love his story. It is absolutely one of my greatest blessings in life to have been part of something that is so much bigger than I could have ever imagined. I’m incredibly grateful that Carol and Scott for taking a chance on him. I love how he found his calling and has so much pride in what he does. He is at the very top of equitation horses in the country today.'

 From Maiya:

'I will never be able to fully articulate my appreciation and gratitude for the Duerrs, Carol, and my parents. From where Riddle and I started, to where we are now, I'm living my younger self's dream.

Riddle has taught me that everything is possible and no dreams are too far out of reach. With patience and a belief in the journey, I close out my junior exhibitor career with zero regrets and the most grateful heart.

Currently, I'm a freshman at UW-Whitewater, majoring in Finance and Accounting. So after this season ends, I hope to still ride when my schedule allows.

Although Riddle will no longer be my partner, I'm excited to watch him make other riders' dreams come true. I hope his future riders know just how lucky they are to love him.

I know I am.'