In The Barn With Ashlee Bond

International show jumper and Corro Team Rider Ashlee Bond has built her career around sharp instincts, special horses, and a program rooted in consistency. We caught up with Ashlee at her home base in Wellington, Florida, to talk about her longtime partner Donny, bringing along young horses, travel routines, and the little details that make a big difference at the top level of the sport.

Corro: Where are we today?

Ashlee Bond: We’re at our home base here in Wellington, Florida. I’ve been based here for the last few years, and now we’re at Orchard Hill, an amazing facility right around the corner from the horse show. It’s 60 acres, and we absolutely love it. The horses are so happy here.

Corro: You and Donny have had such a long and successful partnership. How do you maintain a horse mentally and physically at that level?

Ashlee: Donny has been with me since he was just turning six years old, and he’s 15 now. He is truly one of a kind.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what makes a horse mentally able to do our sport at such a high level, and do it so consistently for so long. I think a lot of that is just who they are from birth, but then it’s also your program. It’s how you instill confidence in them, bring them through the levels, and form that really special bond.

He has that strength, but he also has this quiet confidence. He’s always been brave and levelheaded, but he definitely had character. There was a while where he didn’t like to turn left, so it was about taking that strength and molding it into something that worked with me, not against me.

A big part of it has been the program, the feed, the products we use behind the scenes, the vets, and of course the time spent with him. Grooming him, caring for him, and building that partnership all matters.

And in the ring, he just has that desire to win. You can feel him rise to big occasions. He knows when the moment is important. He gets that energy and excitement, and he thrives off it, especially at night with big crowds. He’s a rock star.

Corro: You’ve had so many major career moments. Is there one that stands out?

Ashlee: There are definitely a lot. One moment that stands out isn’t necessarily a win. I remember being in Saugerties, and my dad and I were talking about looking for another horse. Hugo kept saying, “You have the horse in your barn.”

Donny was young and had just jumped a bigger class so well. Hugo said, “This is your horse for the Olympics.” At the time, my dad and I weren’t convinced, but Hugo knew. And Donny really did become that horse.

Of course, there are the wins too. My first five-star Grand Prix win with Donny here in Wellington when he was nine was really special. Winning the Rolex Grand Prix in Wellington in 2022 was also huge. And being 11th individually with Donny in Tokyo was very monumental.

Corro: Do you get nervous before big moments?

Ashlee: I don’t really believe in being nervous. I believe your body gets excited, and your heart can start racing, but then you use that to focus on your job.

My dad used to say two things: “Fake it till you make it,” and “It’s not nerves, it’s adrenaline.” That really stuck with me.

For me, preparation is what helps. You go over your course more. You walk it again. You ride your course in your mind, in the warm-up area, at the trot and at the canter. The more prepared you are, the less your heart races.

In the really big moments, I actually tend to get very zen. I’m grateful for that, because if I got stressed or anxious, I don’t know if I would do this sport the same way.

Corro: When you’re selecting young horses, what do you look for first?

Ashlee: We’ve always taken pride in buying young horses and developing them, whether that’s for top sport or for the right person.

For me, the mentality of the horse is where you have to start. They need to be brave. They need to naturally want to miss the jumps, and they need to have a good way about them. Confidence is a big thing.

If a horse is insecure on the ground, you can work with that. But if they’re insecure at the fence or insecure doing the job, I personally wouldn’t lean toward that horse.

Every young horse I look at, I want to feel like there’s potential for the big sport. Whether that happens, you never know. But I look for brain, bravery, scope, and a good mouth. You may sacrifice one thing a little if they have the other qualities, but overall, the brain has to be there.

Corro: You and your team travel a lot. What does a travel day usually look like for your horses?

Ashlee: We’ve been doing it for a long time, so travel days aren’t too hectic anymore. It depends if we’re going to a show for a couple of weeks, flying with one or two horses, or moving the whole crew for six months. Those are all different.

For the horses, we like to give GastroGard before they travel to help coat the stomach. Then it depends on the length of travel whether we bandage or not. For shorter travel, we’ll use shipping boots. For a very long trip, like Florida to California, we usually don’t use standing wraps the whole way because it’s just too far.

Most of our horses have traveled so much that they’re really easy. If one is claustrophobic, we’ll give them a double stall. They usually travel loose so they can put their heads down, and we’ll hang a hay net depending on the horse. They stop often so the horses can be checked, offered water, and sometimes given a bran mash.

If they’re flying, it’s usually more straightforward with seasoned horses. You take less, and someone they know and trust is with them.

Corro: Any advice for riders or barn managers heading into a heavy travel season?

Ashlee: Break it down. Make a list, figure out what is most important, and go one thing at a time.

The horses come first. Making sure they’re comfortable is the most important thing. For us, GastroGard is an important step before travel, and we’re very disciplined about how we feed. We like to give it before hay or grain, then hay, and if we’re giving grain, we give it after they’ve had some time with hay.

I think good care and being diligent about routine makes a big difference. You can’t control everything, but the more prepared you are, the better chance you give the horses to feel good.

Corro: Last question; what are your top grooming icks?

Ashlee: Cleanliness is a big one. Things like fungus or scratches on the legs are often very avoidable.

Another one is rushing. In my barn, we’re a small operation, so it’s not usually chaotic, but I think it’s very important that everyone stays calm so the horses stay calm. A lot of my horses are sensitive, and if people start moving quickly, they can get tense.

The third is not being prepared. When you go up to the ring, you need to have what you need. Your ring bag should be ready. You shouldn’t be forgetting things that shouldn’t be forgotten.

That calmness and preparation radiates into me, too. If someone comes to the ring stressed and unprepared, that energy can affect me, then the horse, and then the round. No one is perfect, of course, but smooth, calm, and prepared is always the goal.