Rich Fellers and Flexible: At Home in Oregon

Apr. 07,2013

Erin Gilmore

On the eve of the 2013 Rolex FEI World Cup Final, ProEquest is excited to bring you this special, two-part look at 2012 World Cup Champions Rich Fellers and Flexible. In just two weeks these American heroes will defend their World Cup title in Sweden.

But before they hit the road, we got a rare and intimate look at their home base in Oregon from ProEquest contributing photographer Selena Frederick. Check back on Wednesday for part two!

[Wilsonville, OR] With the slew of illustrious titles that they earned in 2012, you wouldn’t be out of line to assume that rider Rich Fellers and the mighty stallion Flexible reside in a gilded barn with hanging chandeliers, polished white walkways, and a small army of grooms.

You’d be wrong. The 2012 Rolex FEI World Cup Champions, 2012 USEF International Horse of the Year and USEF Horseman of the Year, and highest placed U.S. finishers at the London Olympic Games are unquestionably the most down to earth show jumping world champions you’ll ever see.

Fellers and his wife Shelley run their busy training business from Whip ‘n Spur stables in Wilsonville, Oregon, just outside of Portland. Their barn is workmanlike and effective, and void of any unnecessary accoutrements. In fact, its only shock and awe factor lies in the horses themselves, most notably, in the little chestnut stallion that resides there. Welcome to a morning with the Fellers:

Whip 'n Spur is owned by JR and Beka Swan, who operate Swan Training at the facility alongside Fellers Stables, LLC.

In early April, the Oregon spring grass is plentiful. My Way, owned by Kevin Freeman, was enjoying his time outside.

Nope, no chandeliers at this barn.

However, a wall inside shows evidence of some serious international clout - medallions that Fellers has picked up at prestigous competitions all over the world.

While preparing his charge for a morning hack, Jorge Jiminez makes some last minute adjustments to Flexible's bridle . . . and forelock.

All tacked up and ready to go: Fellers and Flexible head out for their morning ride

The spring season means that Flexible must be mounted AWAY from all other horses, lest he get excited. Let's not forget he's a stallion, after all!

With a girth adjustment on the way, horse and rider head out to begin their ride on an open grass field

The Pacific Northwest trees provide a lush backdrop as Flexible picks up the trot.

Shelley Fellers trains and rides alongside her husband, and is a venerable grand prix competitior in her own right.

Barn dogs, check and check.

The pair are soaking it in during this period at home, especially after a season competing at HITS Thermal, and before their next stop in Gothenburg, Sweden on April 24th.

On an average day Flexible gets a thorough flat workout to stretch his legs and stay in condition. Fellers notes that the veteran stallion does very little jump schooling at home.