Throughout his illustrious career, Tight Lines (a.k.a. “Phish”) achieved impressive feats such as representing the U.S. in the 2018 World Equestrian Games with Olympic eventer Will Coleman, and competing at the Kentucky 3-Day Event, the Maryland 5*, and the Defender Burghley 5*.
Now the 18-year-old French Thoroughbred (Turgeon x Tel Quel) has been immortalized as the 2025 Celebration Horse at BreyerFest, which takes place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., from July 11-13.
“It takes a special horse with a lot of grit, athleticism, and heart to complete a dressage test, cross-country course, and stadium jumping round over three days. One such eventer celebrated for his elite performance over the years is the French Thoroughbred Tight Lines,” the BreyerFest website states.
Stephanie Macejko, Vice President, Marketing and Product for Breyer, explained why Phish was chosen for this special honor. “Each year for BreyerFest, we seek out an outstanding athlete/partner, breed representative, and/or a horse with a great story,” she said. “In Tight Lines, we found all three! We love the special connection between Will and Phish and we’re excited that our fans will get to meet them both.”
Owned by the Conair Syndicate, Phish began his career as a steeplechaser in France before French rider Paul Gatien started eventing with him up to the CCI* level. However, the flea-bitten gray has found his greatest success partnered with Coleman, who brought him to the U.S. as a six-year-old. The collaboration has propelled both of them to the top of the sport, including winning the National 3* and 4* Championships at Fair Hill International in 2015 and 2017.
“I appreciated all the events that I got to do with him because he taught me so much, and he’s been such an important horse for me,” Coleman said in an interview with The Chronicle of the Horse after Phish stepped down from elite competition. Phish has since been passed on to his longtime groom, Erin Jarboe, who competed with him at Dressage Under the Oaks IV in Florida in November 2023. In a role reversal, Coleman acted as Phish’s groom at the competition! “Even though Phish has transitioned into his ‘old man era’ and is generally quiet and easy-going, he still has the unmistakable, intense passion for the sport that is characteristic of a great Thoroughbred,” Jarboe told the Chronicle.
When he is not competing with Coleman or Jarboe, Phish has always been a barn favorite who loves fruits and vegetables — especially bananas. The cool, mellow gray was named after the band Phish, one of Coleman’s favorites in college. “He just doesn’t seem to have a care in the world. He’s easygoing. He’d be like the kind of guy you might meet at the front row of a Phish concert. Just a guy floating through life enjoying every minute of it,” Coleman told the Chronicle.
The Breyer model of Phish was sculpted by Susan Carlton Sifton, and shows the stunning gelding wearing a special “Cheers to 75 Years” blanket. The model will be available to select BreyerFest ticket holders, and all in-person attendees will have the opportunity to meet Phish and Coleman at BreyerFest.
The 2024 BreyerFest Celebration Horse was Athenian Lady, owned by Amanda Delgado.
Click here for more information on 2025 BreyerFest.