Late equestrian star Annie Goodwin saw a vision. And 3 years after her tragic demise, a combined force is aiming to ensure her dream lives on! In a heart-wrenching accident back in 2021, Goodwin, 32, had passed away due to a training mishap. “We got a phone call saying there was a horrible accident in a training facility in South Carolina,” said her trainer, Boyd Martin who was Tokyo-bound. But, the news that Goodwin and her horse Bruno had a grave tumble sent chills down Martin’s spine. Unfortunately, Goodwin could not survive that accident.

Nonetheless, now, courtesy of her trainer, Boyd Martin, and Bruno, her legacy would be carried to the Paris Olympics. While Martin is a four-time Olympian himself, this aim can hardly be materialized with Annie’s horse. Thus, here is everything you need to know about Bruno, aka Federman.

Know about Annie Goodwin’s horse Bruno

Bruno’s real name is Fedarman B, and by breed, he is a Royal Dutch Sport Horse. The 2010-born brown-colored colt is originally from the Netherlands but is currently a part of Boyd Martin’s stable in the USA. Sharp and innately talented, Bruno was purchased by Goodwin when he was 3, relying on an agent’s recommendation, and ever since she worked on honing his abilities, to boast competitive-level skills. “She literally found him on the internet…” recalls her father.

However, the two had seen many victories in equestrian competitions, across categories like dressage, cross country, and show jumping. In fact, a few months prior to Goodwin’s death, the two had seen a massive high. They came in sixth at the Prestigious Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event! But, after her demise, Putter, Goodwin’s father, asked if Martin would welcome Bruno, which he happily did.

Going by Martin’s description, Bruno is a horse that can draw the gaze. White face and legs with a brown body, he also has a zen persona. But once he gets off the mark, it’s hard to stop him. Martin says, “And so you’ve got to ride him first thing in the morning before you put him out in the paddock because sometimes it takes six or seven hours to catch him to bring him in at night.” 

And now, Martin and Bruno have paired up to achieve what Annie Goodwin had possibly hoped for. But how can they carry the baton forward? Well, let’s know.

How Bruno and Boyd Martin are carrying Goodwin’s legacy ahead

“The last 18 months, he’s turned into one of the best horses in the world,” via Martin. Well, after recovering from a sloppy start to events, with Bruno refusing commands and the connection just not fitting right, Martin and Bruno have finally found their pace. Just about in May 2022, the two flagged open their winning score at a four-star event in North Carolina. Soon, another victory was added to the list at the Aiken Horse Park Foundation four-star event. Thus, the trainer-horse pair looks in great shape to pull off a marvel in Paris.

But Martin feels a whirlwind of emotions as he prepares for this task. He admits how Annie Goodwin was the one who trained Bruno from scratch. “She taught him how to jump. She took him to the first baby competitions, and she sort of got him up to the the top level of the sport. And, sometimes I feel a bit guilty, actually, you know. Like, I’m sort of here about to put my American team jacket on and compete at the biggest competition in the world. And, you know, it was her doing,” he states.

Nonetheless, he knows. If they win, it would be a tribute to her indelible legacy in he sport. Do you see them triumphing at Paris? Let us know below.