Horse Illustrated Magazine

Breyer Animal Creations, The Theodore O’Connor Syndicate, LLC, and Sportponies Unlimited are delighted to announce that Theodore O’Connor, the 14.1 ¾ hand pony that has caused a sensation in the eventing world, will be the latest international star to join the Breyer Animal Creations’ stable as a Breyer portrait model in 2008.       

The fiery chestnut gelding won double gold medals at the Pan American Games in Rio, Brazil recently, after winning a three-star event at The Fork in North Carolina and then finishing third at the four-star Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. 

Bred by P. Wynn Norman and Sportponies Unlimited, the mighty 12-year-old “Teddy” is ¾ Thoroughbred, 1/8 Shetland pony and 1/8 Arabian. This spring, with the help of his rider, Olympian Karen O’Connor, Norman began selling shares in the pony, creating The Theodore O’Connor Syndicate LLC, to support the pony’s budding international career.           

The Breyer portrait model of Teddy will debut in Breyer’s 2008 line and will be available in the United States, as well as through Breyer’s international distribution network.     

“We joined the “Teddy” fan club at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event after his amazing performance there and we were thrilled when Karen and Teddy won double gold for the United States at the Pan American Games,” says Stephanie Macejko, Breyer’s VP of Marketing and Product Development.            

“It’s just wonderful how Teddy exemplifies the sport of eventing,” Norman notes. “Unlike many horse sports, eventing doesn’t require a specific type of horse–or rider for that matter. It just requires a lot of desire and a big heart. I hope Teddy’s success will encourage others to consider eventing.”