Nyssa Sheridan has been a part of Chili’s life since the very beginning.
From deciding to breed her beloved mare, Dancing Gdynia, to watching the embryo that would become Chili develop through an ultrasound, Sheridan has been a part of her journey every step of the way. Long before Chili entered the show ring, Sheridan was there imagining what kind of horse she might become. Years later, the foal has grown into No Greater Honor+++/, a versatile Arabian mare preparing to compete on one of the breed’s biggest stages.
As the only horse Sheridan has bred so far, Chili occupies a unique place in Sheridan’s life.
“She’s been with me from before she was born,” said Sheridan. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Their story, however, began well before Chili’s birth.
A Lifelong Connection to Arabians
Sheridan’s passion for horses started at a young age while volunteering at her local summer camp. Spending time around horses sparked an interest that quickly grew into something more, especially when she encountered Arabian horses for the first time.
“I found myself drawn to them,” she said. “They were a little bit more sensitive, and I appreciated how they were always enjoyable and energetic to be around.”
The breed’s intelligence and willingness to connect immediately appealed to her. But for Sheridan, the attraction was also rooted in family history.
“My grandparents bred Arabians,” she said. “My grandfather died before I was born and the herd had pretty much dispersed at that point.”
As Sheridan became more involved with the breed, she found herself reconnecting with a legacy she had never fully known.
“It’s been magical to reconnect with my grandmother over their love for the horses and discover the history and lineage of the breed,” she said.
An Unexpected Keeper
During her undergraduate years, Sheridan leased her first Arabian, Dancing Gdynia. The mare would eventually become one of the most important horses in her life. Upon graduating, ownership of the mare was formally gifted to Sheridan, and as the mare’s riding career wound down, her thoughts turned to breeding.
“She is a really nice mare and proven exceptional producer,” said Sheridan. “As I began researching her pedigree, I wanted to embark on my own adventure of breeding my first foal.”
Like many breeders, Sheridan approached the decision with practical goals in mind. The intention was to raise the foal until she was a yearling, show her in hand, and then sell her on as an investment.
Sheridan’s heart had other plans.
“I fell in love with her and she never left,” she said.
Today, both Chili and her mother remain with Sheridan and her husband, where she hopes they will spend the rest of their lives together. While Sheridan may one day consider breeding Chili herself, she is in no rush to plan for the future.
Right now, she is simply enjoying the journey.
A Horse Willing to Try Anything
One of the qualities Sheridan admires most about Chili is her willingness to embrace new experiences. Over the years, the pair have explored a wide range of disciplines.
“We’ve done a little bit of everything,” Sheridan said. “She’s so versatile."
Their resume includes western dressage, in-hand competition, competitive trail, and more recently, carriage pleasure driving.
No matter what Sheridan throws at her, Chili has approached each new challenge with curiosity and enthusiasm.
“When I come up with the idea of wanting to do something, she’s always along for the ride,” she said.
Her open-minded nature has allowed the duo to remain flexible as circumstances have changed throughout their partnership.
It became especially important when Sheridan faced health challenges that required her to rethink how she spent time with her horse.
Finding a New Path Through Driving
As health concerns made spending extended periods in the saddle more difficult, Sheridan began looking for alternative ways to continue competing and enjoying her time with Chili.
The search led her to carriage pleasure driving.
For some horse and athlete combinations, transitioning to an entirely new discipline can require months or years of adjustment. Chili, however, embraced the change almost immediately.
"She’s very much a ‘let’s do it’ horse,” Sheridan said.
Sheridan believes Chili’s extensive dressage foundation has helped them in their driving training.
“Her education as a dressage horse has been incredibly helpful to her,” she said. “It’s important for driving horses to yield to the bit and push into the outside rein and she already knew that, so we were able to build upon that education.”
The training benefits have not been one-sided. Driving has improved Chili’s performance under saddle as well.
“It has helped her manage her own body and learn how to be straight,” she said. “I’ve been able to apply a lot of the vocal cues I've used in carriage under saddle too.”
This year, the duo will showcase their skills at the Arabian and Half-Arabian Sport Horse Nationals, competing in both western dressage and carriage pleasure driving.
Reaching this competition is a notable achievement, but for Sheridan and Chili, the journey carries even greater significance.
Overcoming Adversity Together
Throughout Chili’s life, setbacks have repeatedly forced both horse and athlete to adjust their expectations.
When Chili was four years old, she was attacked by a dog and sustained multiple muscular and soft tissue injuries. Although she recovered, the incident left lingering physical imbalances that require ongoing management.
A few years later, another serious obstacle came their way.
In 2020, Chili suffered a freak paddock incident that left her with severe back injuries and lameness in all four legs.
“There was a point where the vets weren’t sure if she would ever be ridden again, let alone compete,” Sheridan recalled.
At the same time, Sheridan was facing challenges of her own. Working as a microbiologist during the COVID-19 pandemic created extraordinary stress and uncertainty.
“We were both at really low points in our lives,” she said. “It was a very stressful time for me, and I needed an outlet and someone to have faith it’ll all get better when I didn’t.”
Stacia Allen became Sheridan and Chili’s biggest cheerleader. She helped oversee Chili’s rehab at her barn, while providing Sheridan with opportunities to continue riding and stay engaged with horses despite the uncertainty surrounding Chili’s future.
“She helped put both of us together,” Sheridan said.
Looking back, Sheridan credits the difficult chapter with strengthening the partnership she shares with her mare.
As Chili slowly healed and returned to work, she became a source of inspiration.
“No one can put Chili in a box,” she laughed. “She’s so resilient and it's a privilege to work with her.”
Redefining Success
Throughout Chili’s life and career, Sheridan has had to redefine success more than once. Injuries, health challenges, and changing circumstances often meant adjusting plans and finding new opportunities.
“We had to shift goals quite a few times during her life,” said Sheridan. “We’ve explored plenty of avenues.”
Attending the Sport Horse Nationals represents more than a competition to the duo. It reflects everything she and Chili have overcome together and the perseverance that brought them to this point.
“I've learned it's never too late to try something new and to never let a setback be the end of your story,” Sheridan said.
Through it all, the setbacks, challenges, and successes, Sheridan continues to grow her love for her horse.
“Her name is No Greater Honor+++/, and there really is no greater honor than to have a horse like her in my life on our crazy journey.”