When Out of the Blue SCF walks into the arena, she always takes a moment to assess her surroundings before getting to work. It’s a very deliberate move, according to her rider, Katie Dinan.
“It’s like, ‘OK, what are we doing today?’” said Dinan. “I really feel like she’s mentally engaged in what we’re doing and is excited about competing, and she really gets it. I think that’s what makes her so good — she really puts herself into it, and she’s proud of herself when it goes well. She’s a really alert, observant horse. She’s completely aware of everything all the time.”
While “Bridie” is very much her own horse who enjoys her personal space, once you’ve earned her trust, it’s special.
“Underneath a very tough exterior, she is an incredible sweet and warm horse,” said Dinan. “You meet her on her terms, but when you have her affection, it’s very rewarding. She definitely knows her people, and that’s a well-earned regard from her. She’s very vocal and expressive, and if there’s a carrot anywhere in her eyesight, she’ll let out a little nicker, which is the cutest thing ever.”
Bridie’s strong will and talent for show jumping was evident from the start, said breeder Lisa Lourie of Spy Coast Farm, LLC, in Lexington, Ky.
“David O’Brien was my trainer for most of her growing up, and he recognized her early on as a horse who had her own way of thinking,” said Lourie. “He really nurtured that and thought that was something very special — above and beyond the physical talent that she had.”
The 2014 U.S.-bred Belgian Warmblood mare (Verdi TN x San Patrignano Cassini) got her start in the show ring under O’Brien, and Lourie said he was integral to giving her a positive, confident start that has allowed her to blossom.
“I’m very grateful for him recognizing there’s talent there,” she said. “It requires a lot of patience, and the earlier you recognize the special ones, the sooner you can back off the pedal.”
Once Bridie was ready for bigger jumps, Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam began showing her and jumped her in some of her early Grand Prix classes. While Lourie would’ve loved to have kept Bridie, she knew if the right person came along, she’d sell.
The right person was Dinan, and Grant Road Partners LLC, who purchased Bridie in late 2023.
“She had a lot of positive energy,” said Dinan. “She had a lot of blood, and she really had a lot of ‘go’ around the course, and she was in a really good point in her career. She had shown she could do it, but was still starting her career, so we were hoping the two of us would be able to grow together.”
And grow they did. They’ve had some of the biggest moments of their career together, including competing in two FEI Jumping World Cup Finals. The first was in 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, where they finished eighth overall after being the only pair to jump double clear on the final day. With increased confidence in their ability and another year of partnership, they entered this year’s World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas, even more prepared, finishing on the podium in third.
“It was special for me that we were reaching the biggest moments in our respective careers together,” Dinan said. “We've definitely grown a lot together. She has a lot more experience now, and we’ve been fortunate to go to many big arenas around the world. Every time we go in the ring, we learn about each other.”
Having top finishes in Finals has given Dinan even more faith in their ability and Bridie’s stamina heading into the 2026 FEI Jumping World Championships in Aachen, Germany, August 19-23, where they are part of the Icon Global U.S. Jumping Team.
“I have tremendous faith and confidence in her ability to do that, and she really has risen to the occasion the final day,” said. Dinan. “She has a ton of stamina in that regard, and I think that's one of her real strong points. The experience riding under pressure like that has also been a good experience for both of us.”
Dinan first attended CHIO Aachen in 2011 as a spectator, and she described it as an eye-opening experience and unlike anything she’d ever seen before. Inspired by the crowd’s enthusiasm and the prestige, she made it a goal to one day show there. She did so for the first time in 2024 with Bridie, and having the experience of riding over the hallowed grounds only inspired her more.
Now, returning for her first senior team championship, representing her country on a U.S.-bred horse, she’s achieving a lifelong goal.
“When Lisa Lourie sold Bridie to us, I was proud because I knew she cared a lot about the horse’s career, and for lack of better words, I was flattered that she thought we were worthy of the horse,” said Dinan. “To have that come to fruition and to be able to compete with her at the World Championships on the U.S. team is really exciting.
“Having the World Championships at Aachen is such a monumental event,” she continued. “Competing at the World Championships is a huge milestone, and going to Aachen any year is a huge goal, so to have them both at once feels like an important moment in show jumping, and it’s an honor to be part of that.”
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