Friday Flicks: Meet Chevy Chase, the horse lover

You know Chevy Chase as the famous comedic actor from “Saturday Night Live” and the “National Lampoon” film series. But did you also know he’s a horse owner?

From HN film critic Amanda Ronan:

Known for pivotal roles of cinematic genius in “National Lampoon’s Vacation” and “The Three Amigos,” Chevy Chase is praised for his comedic timing. But he also has soft, sensitive side in the form of two Icelandic horses.

Chase’s love for horses first began with his grandfather, Edward L. Chase, an artist who created “The Big Book of Horses.” Several of the drawings were based on photographs of Chase’s father riding as a boy. Chase now lives in Bedford, N.Y., on a small 15-acre farm with his family and two horses.

Chase says, “We have two Icelandic horses whose names are not pronounceable, so we call them Bob and Candy. A close friend’s cousin, who is Icelandic, had them brought in from Iceland especially for us. Bob and Candy are a bit smaller than non-­Icelandic horses. I look very funny sitting on them; I’m just under 6’4″, so my feet hang down to their knees. While riding him bareback, Bob has thrown me a few times, ­but since I’m long and he’s short, it’s more like just rolling over in the grass.”

Other than enjoying an occasional bareback romp, Chase leaves most of the riding to his three daughters and wife. His daughter Caley competes Candy in the annual Bedford Pace event, where riders have to reach certain markers in a specific amount of time. Chase admits, “I’m not much more around here than a valet, chauffeur and stable hand for my wife and three daughters,­ and I love it that way!”

Funny and he knows how to muck a stall?!? What a man.

Source: Rappaport, Jill, Wendy Wilkinson, and Linda Solomon. People We Know, Horses They Love. [Emmaus, Pennsylvania]: Rodale, 2004. Print.

About the Author

Amanda’s experience with horses is just as eclectic as her taste in movies.  She has dabbled in almost every discipline from eventing to team penning to fox hunting.  She started riding when she was 8 with her local 4-H club in Western performance events.  She moved on to the AQHA circuit with her Quarter Horse, “Aggie,” when she was 12 and he was a green 2 year old.  Through college she held a working student position at Seahorse Sporthorses, owned by Terri Adams, where she was introduced to the wonderful world of show jumping and eventing.  Along with Aggie, who just turned 20 years old, she has two OTTBs in her herd named “Gump” and “Lizard.”  Amanda continues her jumping training with Ms. Adams and works on that necessary evil also known as dressage with Mimi Burch of Blue Moon Farm.