Gift
Cards
This week at WEC Calendar Icon
World Equestrian Center logo World Equestrian Center logo
  • Ocala
    • Equestrian Events
      • Spectators
      • Shows
      • WEC Premier Cup
      • Members and Exhibitors
        • Forms
        • Prize List
        • Membership Directory
        • Points Issue
        • Standings
        • Results
        • Horses
      • Golf Cart Rental
      • Volunteers
    • Real Estate
      • Estate Lots
    • Conventions
      • Conventions Photo Gallery
    • Sporting Events
    • Visit
      • Stay
      • Shop
      • Dining
      • Resort Spa
      • Things to do in Ocala, FL
    • Canine Shows
    • Social Events
      • Catering Menus
      • Social Events Gallery
    • Facilities
      • Expo Centers
      • Arenas
      • Stabling
      • Veterinary Hospital
      • Chapel
      • Request for Proposal Form – Ocala, Florida
    • Live Stream
    • Sponsors
      • Be a Sponsor
    • Become a Vendor
      • Vendor Application
    stay-with-us-lgBtn
  • Wilmington
    • Equestrian Events
      • Spectators
      • Shows
      • WEC Premier Cup
      • Members and Exhibitors
        • Forms
        • Prize list
        • Membership Directory
        • Points Issue
        • Standings
        • Results
        • Horses
    • Facilities
      • Stabling
      • Arenas
      • Host an Event
      • Amenities
        • Dining
        • Shop
        • Dragonfly Academy
      • Chapel
    • Live Stream
    • Stay
      • Things to do in Wilmington, OH
    • Sponsors
      • Be a Sponsor
    • Vendors
      • Vendor Application
    HomenAway
  • Events
  • Contact
  • About
    • FAQ
      • Ocala
      • Wilmington
    • Careers
      • Ocala
      • Wilmington
  • Blog
  • Media
    • Media Accreditation Form
  • Worship
Gift Cards
This week at WEC Calendar Icon
WEC / Blog / Equestrian / Shows / Ocala Sunday Spotlight: Blue Movie

Ocala Sunday Spotlight: Blue Movie

09 Jan 23 | Shows | SHARE
Blue Movie in all of her golden glory. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

Ocala, FL – This week’s Ocala Sunday Spotlight shines on the incomparable Blue Movie, a mare who makes an impression in the ring with her electric energy and golden shine. Always competitive, Rowan Willis and Blue Movie recently took top honors in the $100,000 Ethel M Chocolates Grand Prix at World Equestrian Center – Ocala.

Rowan Willis & Blue Movie in the WEC Grand Arena. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

WEC: How did you find Blue Movie?

When I was 19 years old, I met Fred and Sue Welch through a friend and went to work for them in England. She owned Showtime who went to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics with Nick Skelton. Sue bred Showtime to Chacco-blue and out came Blue Movie. Sue named her ‘Carrots’ because she’s orange.

I knew Carrots from day one and I always had a feeling she was going to be really special. She was always super alert as a foal. We couldn’t even catch her in the field until she was two.

Rowan Willis & Blue Movie showing in the $100,000 Coors Light Grand Prix. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

WEC: Tell us about your partnership with Carrots?

I tried to break her in, but it was a challenge. She’s always been a very sensitive mare. She’s made me understand horses a lot more because I had to take my time learning her and understanding how she liked things done.

I didn’t jump my first 1.40m until she was nine. It was a long journey to get there, but I never stopped believing in her. I knew she was going to be spectacular.

Ever since that 1.40m class, she’s been unstoppable. She’s taken me around the world. We’ve jumped all around Europe and won grands prix in Slovakia, Morocco, Algeria and all-over North America. She’s placed three times at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada and won a five-star grand prix in Ocala when I first came over. She’s made my career.

Rowan Willis & Blue Movie winning the $100,000 Ethel M Chocolates Grand Prix during the 2022 Fall Show Series. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

WEC: What does a normal schedule look like for Blue Movie?

She’s turning 17 this year, but she still has all the same blood that she had as a young horse. Hopefully, soon she will mature a little bit, but I think she is going to go for many more years. She loves competing and thrives off the energy. She is more than I’d ever hoped for, and I believed that she would be special, but she exceeded that for me.

Now, she gets to show every three or four weeks. We try and pick a show that we think would suit her. She loves the Grand Arena at WEC – Ocala. The atmosphere here is always fantastic. It makes the grand prix even more fun as a competitor, because the crowd starts cheering as soon as you enter the ring. It’s so great to be here on a Saturday night and for the crowd to appreciate her as much as I do – the feeling is unreal.

Rowan Willis & Blue Movie under the lights during Saturday night’s Grand Prix. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

During a normal week, she gets exercise in a different way. She’s pretty challenging to flat, so during the week she gets ponied by ‘Goose’ [Wellington Grey Goose]. She just has so much blood and energy, that to get good exercise in, it’s better to have her ponied by her best friend.

Just this past November we made Ocala our official home base. With this facility hosting so many shows throughout the year, we don’t need to travel as much because we have a premier location right down the road. I am very excited to have some three-star and hopefully some five-star events soon at WEC.

Rowan Willis & Blue Movie jumping in stellar form to first place in the $100,000 Ethel M Chocolates Grand Prix. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

I am lucky enough to have some incredible horses in my string and I am even luckier to have known both Blue Movie and Wellington Grey Goose since they were foals. Breeding is a big passion of mine and I hope to expand with that. Carrots has two foals on the ground, and we have another on the way. So, we’ll have a few ‘baby Carrots’ galloping around soon.

My plan is to keep them and produce them. Then one day move up the ranks just like I did with Carrots.

Thank you, Rowan for taking the time to chat with us about your wonderful Blue Movie! We can’t wait to cheer you on during the Saturday night grands prix!  

Post navigation

Previous: Aaron Vale & Cargolot PS Prevail in the $15,000 Taylor Harris Insurance Services 1.45m Jumper Classic
Next: Gary Yeomans Ford To Sponsor the 2023 WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship

Recent Posts

  • Lisa Goldman-Smolen & Sovereign Prevail in the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix
    |  Shows
    Read
  • World Equestrian Center – Ocala to Host FEI Jumping Competition in March 2023
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Tiffany Cambria & Malibu Ken Emerge Victorious in the $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Kristjan Good Earns Back-to-Back Wins in the $15,000 USHJA National Open 3’ Hunter Derby at WEC Ohio Winter Classic #8
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Kristen Vanderveen & Bull Run’s Faustino De TIli Claim the $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix Victory
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Izzy Beisel and Vegas H Steal the Show in the $10,000 Welcome Stake at WEC Ohio Winter Classic #8
    |  Shows
    Read
  • UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center – Ocala Equine Rehabilitative Services Up and Running
    |  Ocala, FL
    Read
  • What’s Happening this Week at WEC – Ocala
    |  Shows
    Read
  • What’s Happening this Week at WEC – Wilmington
    |  Shows
    Read
  • World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Winter Classic #7 Highlights
    |  Shows
    Read

Categories

  • Magazine Issues
  • Shows
  • Uncategorized
  • Results
  • Ocala, FL
  • Equestrian News
  • Wilmington, OH
  • Facilities
  • Sponsors
  • Equestrian
  • Featured
  • Conventions & Trade shows
  • Weddings
  • News Releases
  • Visit

Our Affiliates

TAKE2 second career thoroughbred program
OPHA
us equestrian
ushja
ohio hunter jumper association
wisconsin hunter jumper association
hunter jumper association of michigan

Join Our Mailing List

Ocala

  • Equestrian Events
  • Visit
  • Real Estate
  • Conventions & Tradeshows
  • Sporting Events
  • Canine Shows
  • Weddings
  • Facilities
  • Sponsors
  • Vendors

Wilmington

  • Equestrian Events
  • Stay
  • Facilities
  • Sponsors
  • Vendors
  • About

  • Events

  • Contact

  • Blog

  • Media

  • Worship

  • Careers

Follow Us

  • WEC
  • Ocala
  • The Gathering Place

Follow Us

  • WEC
  • Ocala
  • The Gathering Place
Contact Us
Ocala Equestrian Operations: 352.414.7900
Hotel Reservations: 866.478.9267
Wilmington Equestrian Operations: 937.382.0985
X
Quality. Class. Distinction.
Privacy Policy | User Agreement | © 2023 World Equestrian Center, Wilmington OH & Ocala FL, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
  • Ocala
    • Equestrian Events
      • Spectators
      • Shows
      • WEC Premier Cup
      • Members and Exhibitors
        • Forms
        • Prize List
        • Membership Directory
        • Points Issue
        • Standings
        • Results
        • Horses
      • Golf Cart Rental
      • Volunteers
    • Real Estate
      • Estate Lots
    • Conventions
      • Conventions Photo Gallery
    • Sporting Events
    • Visit
      • Stay
      • Shop
      • Dining
      • Resort Spa
      • Things to do in Ocala, FL
    • Canine Shows
    • Social Events
      • Catering Menus
      • Social Events Gallery
    • Facilities
      • Expo Centers
      • Arenas
      • Stabling
      • Veterinary Hospital
      • Chapel
      • Request for Proposal Form – Ocala, Florida
    • Live Stream
    • Sponsors
      • Be a Sponsor
    • Become a Vendor
      • Vendor Application
  • Wilmington
    • Equestrian Events
      • Spectators
      • Shows
      • WEC Premier Cup
      • Members and Exhibitors
        • Forms
        • Prize list
        • Membership Directory
        • Points Issue
        • Standings
        • Results
        • Horses
    • Facilities
      • Stabling
      • Arenas
      • Host an Event
      • Amenities
        • Dining
        • Shop
        • Dragonfly Academy
      • Chapel
    • Live Stream
    • Stay
      • Things to do in Wilmington, OH
    • Sponsors
      • Be a Sponsor
    • Vendors
      • Vendor Application
  • Events
  • Contact
  • About
    • FAQ
      • Ocala
      • Wilmington
    • Careers
      • Ocala
      • Wilmington
  • Blog
  • Media
    • Media Accreditation Form
  • Worship