Kate Allonardo did not overthink her decision when she found Talia. She saw something she liked and trusted her instinct.
“I got Talia when she just turned six years old. I bought her online. The advertisement that I bought her off of wasn’t exactly what she was when I went to ride her for the first time. But she was really brave, and she was really forward…and I was like, I just have to have this horse. So, I took her home.”
Talia was not a straightforward ride in those early days. She was opinionated, intense and, at times, more horse than Kate expected. Still, there was something about her that stood out immediately. She was brave, always willing and always ready to go to work. Even then, Kate could see the kind of horse Talia wanted to be.
“One of the things that I can always appreciate about her was that she was game for whatever we wanted to do, and a lot of the times it was more trying to do it her way than my way.”
That mindset became the foundation for everything that followed.
Building an eventing horse through trust and experience
In the early years, Kate and Talia learned together. They built their partnership through experience, taking on bigger shows and new levels as they went.
“The first couple of years were a bit of a learning curve for me. Because she was just a lot of horse. She’s always super cool, but I think it was a lot different than other horses that I had ridden before. And it was a ton of fun.”
They figured each other out one ride, one show and one challenge at a time. Progress was not always certain, which made every milestone feel earned.
“We went to some really big shows, and we did some really big things the first couple years together.”
Every move up brought a mix of excitement and uncertainty, but those moments also strengthened the trust between them.
“Every time we moved up a level was like a huge accomplishment for us, because I was always not quite sure if we were going to get it done or if that was something she was capable of. That was a really big boost in morale. When we were able to achieve that and move up to the next level and do the next big thing.”
Managing an aging horse’s condition and topline
As Talia aged, the focus shifted from development to maintenance. Keeping weight on, maintaining topline and supporting muscle became more important and more challenging.
Kate began to notice the physical and behavioral changes that come with a senior performance horse. “Some of the things that I’ve noticed as she’s gotten a bit older were a little bit of a lack of ability to keep a good topline over her back, and trying to keep muscle mass has been a challenge.”
Talia’s personality also changed. The intensity that once defined her softened. “She was always a super forward, super hot horse. And that’s kind of changed also as she’s gotten older. I wouldn’t say she’s much calmer, but just the intensity level has changed as she’s aged.”
There was a point where Kate questioned how long Talia could continue competing at a high level. “I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep her in the condition needed to compete at the upper levels.”
As those changes became more noticeable, Kate knew it was time to take a closer look at every part of Talia’s program, especially her nutrition. Talia was still willing to work and compete, but maintaining body condition, topline and muscle needed for upper-level performance was becoming more difficult with age.
Finding the right horse feed for senior horse performance
Nutrition is a central part of caring for the animals at Rosewood Stables, where Talia happily lives. Kate and her business partner, Des, worked through several different feeding programs, trying to find something that would support the many different needs across their operation.
“We tried a couple different feed brands, and we’d just not found anything that we were really satisfied with that really seemed to be making a difference.” After trying many options without seeing the results they wanted, they made a change that shifted everything.
“We switched over to Sentinel two years ago…our rep helped us with a complete new feeding regime for the entire farm. Talia is currently on Sentinel Performance LS.”
For Kate, the reason they stayed with Sentinel was simple. “It’s always worked and I’m a big believer in results.”
Visible changes in body condition, topline and coat
Once the new feeding program was in place, the changes in Talia became clear almost immediately. “After switching to Sentinel, I noticed that her overall body condition changed. I felt she was easier to keep weight on. Her back looked fantastic. She got dapples again. I’ve had her since she was six, and I hadn’t seen a good set of dapples on her in years.”
People who knew Talia also started noticing the difference. “I think the big consensus with people that have known her for many years is that she just keeps looking better and better in the past couple of years. And for me, that’s huge. Because she is older, I want to make sure that she’s in the best shape that I can possibly get her in to do the things that we’re doing together.”
Today, Talia continues to surprise and delight with how she looks and performs. “She doesn’t look like she’s 20 at this point. You know, you glance at her in the field and you wouldn’t think, oh, that’s a 20-year-old horse out there. She looks fantastic.”
Competing at 20 and still moving forward
The fact that Talia is still competing is something Kate does not take lightly. “To have this horse still competing is a privilege. I’ve done everything with her, and she owes me nothing, and she’s honestly my favorite horse to ride.”
After years together, the relationship goes beyond competition results or ribbons. Kate has ridden many talented horses over the years, but Talia remains the one she always chooses. “I’ve gotten an opportunity to sit on a lot of really nice horses. But I always choose that one. She’s just my favorite. So, to be able to still compete with her is just a ton of fun.”
At this stage, the goals are a little different. There is still a focus on improving, but there is also a deep appreciation for the partnership and everything they have built together. Knowing Talia so well brings a level of confidence and trust that only comes with time.
What makes Talia special
Through every stage of her life, Talia has remained consistent in one defining way. She shows up ready. “The thing that I love the most about her is her willingness to go on whatever adventure we’re going on. I’ve done dressage with her, we go trail riding, we’ve gone swimming together and she’s always just happy to do a thing.”
That willingness has shaped Talia’s career and continues to define her today. No matter the challenge, the setting or the stage of life, she continues to meet it with the same brave attitude Kate saw the very first day she rode her.
A different definition of competitive success
For Kate, success is not complicated. “I think my greatest accomplishment with Talia is having a happy and healthy horse at 20 years old and still competing together.”
Talia’s story is a reminder that longevity is built day by day through trust, consistency and care. At Rosewood Stables, that outcome reflects years of thoughtful training, a strong partnership and a Sentinel feeding program that continues to support Talia through every stage of her life.
