If there’s a code for showing horses, Liz Teagan and her mother Claire believe having fun should be at the center. You could say that over the years the pair has hacked the code to embracing the ups and downs of the journey our horses take us on. It’s fitting then that their six-year-old gelding Hacked the Code, or Datsyuk, is helping them both to experience new things and have a lot of fun along the way.
“He has a very unique barn name,” says Liz. “He was born at Show Stop Farm with Nancy Sue Ryan. Every year Ryan has a name theme. In 2018 it was athletes, and he is named after two-time Stanley Cup Champion hockey player Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings. Pavel Datsyuk was known as the “magic man” of hockey for his incredible stick-handling skills and creativity with the puck. We’re hoping that Datsyuk will follow his namesake and will have incredible handling ability in the trail and western riding.”
The 2018 gelding is by VS Code Red and out of the mare Krymsun Kisses. Teagan appreciates that the horse has such a strong tie to Ryan, whom she considers a mentor, having spent a good deal of time at Show Stop Farm during foaling season. “One of my favorite things is baby season,” says Liz. “I’ve been fortunate to spend a lot of time at Nancy Sue Ryan’s. I just love going to her place and helping to foal out or playing with all the babies. It’s one of my favorite parts of the industry. Plus, Nancy Sue is amazing. She’s a wealth of knowledge and has taught me so much.”
Today, Hacked The Code is in training with Nick and Carmen Mayabb and is trained and shown by Martin Doustou. The horse began his career in western pleasure with Brian Ale, Angie and Charles Cannizzaro, Brian and Dawn Baker, and Gaven Young amassing close to $6,000 in earnings. He is now beginning his all-around career with the Mayabbs and Doustou. “He’s showing a lot of talent for the trail and western riding,” says Liz. “Martin showed him for the first time in trail in Venice, and he qualified for the AQHA World Show in Level 2 Senior Trail.”
Liz shares that Datsyuk has a unique personality to go along with his name. “He’s unique because I’m a mare person. I’ve never kept a gelding this long. And I typically would never buy one. So, he’s special in that regard.” She adds, “He is happy. When you watch him, you can see he’s enjoying it. He’s focused and is always right there. He profiles so well. That’s part of what sets him apart. I think that when you’re watching hundreds of trail goes, you’re looking for a horse who makes it memorable. His presence and his markings help with that. He has two high white socks in the back and a big blaze. He’s memorable, and that’s what makes him fun to watch.”
Trainer Martin Doustou says, “He’s been a cool horse. He’s naturally talented at the trail. He’s always very soft to the ground and is good about his feet. He’s one that is able to take a bigger
step to the pole and find his way.” Doustou adds that he and the horse have a similar style and have clicked well from the beginning. “He tries hard. Sometimes he thinks he knows more about the trail than I do, but he’s very smart and can figure out how to get through a situation on his own. It’s been a fun process to work with him because he’s so naturally gifted.”
While the Teagans have fallen in love with Datsyuk for both his potential and his sweet personality, last year, the horse fulfilled what may be his greatest purpose— teaching Claire to ride.
Despite not having “horsey” parents, Liz started riding as countless horse crazy kids do. Claire shares, “Even as a small child she always loved horses. We did some lessons and then we bought her first horse—an appaloosa— when she was nine.” Claire laughs, “Of course we bought a green broke three-year-old. But she learned so much on that horse. They came along together.”
Liz is incredibly grateful for the support of her parents during her early days in horses and throughout her youth career into adulthood. Watching her mom now take part in the sport she has loved for so long with a horse they love
has been especially meaningful.
Claire shares, “I got on horses as a kid growing up, but I never really rode. I have trotted around on pretty much everything we’ve owned over the years, but I never had lessons or showed. It was all about being the horse show mom and carrying the groom bag. I never really thought about showing until Datsyuk. But Liz always encouraged me and then she and Dawn Baker twisted my arm.”
Datsyuk, Claire says, proved to be the perfect first partner. “He was easy to learn on and very safe. It didn’t matter if I made a mistake, he was not spooky and never did anything wrong.” She tells a story of being in a large walk-trot class when another exhibitor’s bridle fell off and things became a bit chaotic. “Datsyuk just stood there and took care of me,” she says. “It’s been fun,” says Claire. “I’m able to be one of the cool kids on the horse now instead of carrying the groom bag.”
Claire wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the walk-trot last year says Liz. “Datsyuk enjoyed it too,” she says. “He was definitely proud of himself. Teaching mom to ride was a perfect job for him.” The pair did well in their first year together, earning the circuit championship at The Premier
in the Amateur Walk-Trot Western Pleasure. Now Claire has her sights set on learning to lope under the guidance of Brian Baker and eventually showing in the Level 1 Select Western Pleasure.
Reflecting on her mom’s experience, Liz says that it may be easy to underestimate the importance of introductory classes like walk-trot, but for the exhibitors who are just beginning their careers, the ability to begin on a level playing field makes all the difference. “We sometimes undervalue those walk-trot classes,” says Liz. “Many select exhibitors would never try showing without them. It’s a great reminder that we need a gateway into our industry that gives people confidence.”
As for Hacked the Code, the Teagans are eager to turn the focus to his all-around career and the potential for continuing to add new classes. This year Doustou and Hacked the Code will hit many of the major shows including The Premier, Orange Blossom, Sudden Impulse, and The Madness. “We’re excited to focus on his career going forward and see what he is able to accomplish,” says Liz.
In addition to Datsyuk, the Teagans own a talented western pleasure mare. After A Few or Reba, had an incredible year in 2023 as a four-year-old in Western Pleasure events with Brian Baker and Gaven Young. “When Datsyuk was ready to begin his all-around career, we wanted to look for another pleasure horse. I told Brian that it has to be a mare. He already had Reba in the barn. Her mother—Only Ever After—had been one of Baker’s favorite mares, so he said we needed to look at her,” says Liz.
The now five-year-old mare, by Extremely Hot Chips and out of Only Ever After, made many dreams come true for Claire and Liz last year, bringing home numerous titles and earning over $25,000. She was Reserve Champion in the 3 & Over Limited Horse Western Pleasure at the Virginia Maiden. At the 2023 March To The Arch she was Reserve Champion in the 3 & Over Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure and Champion in the Super Sires. At Back to Berrien the mare was top five in multiple classes, including, the NSBA Maturity $2,500 Limited Horse Non-Pro Western Pleasure, Super Sires Non-Pro 4-Year-Old Western Pleasure, and NSBA $5,000 Limited Horse Non-Pro Western Pleasure.
At the AQHA World Show After A Few was the Level 2 Junior Western Pleasure Champion with Gaven Young and Level 1 Western Pleasure Stakes Reserve Champion with Brian Baker.
This year, Liz looks forward to showing Reba in the pleasure events. “Last year was all about Brian and Reba,” she says. “Brian is still going to show her, but I’m excited to have some emphasis on me showing her as well.” Liz acknowledges Baker’s key role in the success they experienced in 2023. “Brian gets all the credit. He told me to trust him in the process, and I did. We both love that mare. She’s a red mare and she has some grit, but when she’s on, she’s on. She makes it all worth it.” In the future, they look forward to breeding Reba and seeing what a new generation might hold. “She’s definitely earned breeding status,” Liz says.
When she’s not at a horse show, Liz describes herself as an eternal student who lives to learn. She recently earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in addition to holding a master’s degree in management from Duke University-The Fuqua School of Business, an economics degree from Kalamazoo College, and completing the general course at the London School of Economics. She credits her parents with allowing her to keep her horse dreams alive while she pursued her education. She says, “I was very lucky to have my parent’s support. I was able
The Teagans hail from Michigan where they live on a lake and enjoy water sports. Claire, who spent time growing up in Norway, is a fiber artist and at one time was a preeminent U.S. breeder of Norwegian Forest Cats.
For now, the mother and daughter duo who have bonded over their love of horses are eager to see where the journey takes them. With the excitement for their current horses and the year ahead, they are especially grateful for the team of trainers and horsemen who make it possible. “We can’t do this without them,” Liz says. “We are all teams on this, both with Brian and Dawn, and Gaven, and Martin, Nick and Carmen. They’re why we’ve been successful, and we just feel very lucky to have them.”
Article Written by: Elizabeth Arnold to keep my horses throughout my academic endeavors.”
2024 Zone 8
PENDING APHA Shows
April 6 - 7
April 13 - 14
April 27 - 28
May 3 - 5
May 18 - 19
May 25 - 26
June 15 - 16
July 13 - 14
July 27 - 28
Aug 10 - 11
Aug 22 - 25
Aug 23 - 25
Sept 7 - 8
Sept 13 - 15
KPHC Spring Paint-O-Rama | 4 Judges | Frankfort, KY
INPHC Early Bird POR | 4 Judges | New Castle, IN
MPHC Back to Michigan Kickoff | 2 Judges | Mason, MI
Great 8 Zone-O-Rama | 6 Judges | Cloverdale, IN
OPHC Buckeye Extravaganza POR | 4 Judges | Wauseon, OH
MPHC Back to Memorial Day POR | 4 Judges | Mason, MI
INPHC Freedom Reins Show | 2 Judges | Rensselaer, IN
OPHC Summer Jam | 2 Judges | Wooster, OH
OPHC Buckeye Bonanza POR | 4 Judges | Wilmington, OH
MPHC Back 2 Basics | 2 Judges | Cassopolis, MI
APHA Eastern Nationals | 4 Judges | Wilmington, OH
UMPHC Show Me Some Color | ?? Judges | Ludington, MI
OPHC Amateur Club Show POR | 4 Judges | Eaton, OH
MPHC Fall Color Classic | TBD: Judges | Mason, MI
