Wellington Itchy Group’s plan starts to come together
When Jad Dana and Itchcock Des Dames celebrated their victory lap in Ocala after winning in Week III of the 2025 Summer Series at World Equestrian Center Ocala – the $185,000 Grand Prix CSI4* – there was much more to the story than met the eye.
‘Itchy’ as the gelding is known, is owned by the Itchy Group – Olympian Leslie and Peter Howard, and Amy Hauk and her husband Scott Dehm – and was purchased with a mission in mind. Scott and Amy’s mare After Eight, who had partnered with Jad successfully as one of his top horses, is now in foal in Europe. Two years ago, the search was on for a horse that could help Jad’s career progress to bigger and greater things.
Itchcock Des Dames (Marius Claudius x Calvaro F.C) was being shown by Mexico’s Alberto Michan when the gelding caught Leslie’s eye. “He was young or he is young,” said Leslie of the 11-year-old Belgian Sport Horse. “He was scopey. It looked like he had talent, and we took a shot on him.”
After Jad tried the horse in Ocala in 2023, the decision was made. “We had to kind of move quickly because there were a couple of people interested in him when we were first in line,” said Amy.
While the horse had potential, he was not necessarily made to order for Jad. “At first, he was different from what I am used to,” Jad said. “I usually ride smaller, quicker horses, and he’s a bit bigger and slower, but he’s learned to be really fast. He’s come into his own and tries so hard.”
So how do you make a horse go faster? “You go fast,” Leslie said. “And you teach them to turn. Do your basic flat work honestly.”
Last Saturday’s Grand Prix course was the work of world-renowned course designer Ireland’s Alan Wade – he set a challenging track with a demanding time allowed and subtle lines. “I was seventh to go [in the first round],” said Jad. “And there was already one clear, so I figured there would definitely be more. The time allowed was right, and rails were falling all over the course.”
Show jumping’s new fan Alex McCabe filmed Jad’s jump off round
Jad and Itchy had to fend off four other jump off contenders and did so, even with a stumble after the first jump. “He recovered quickly, and we kept going, but I had to change my plan. I thought I lost time there, so I knew I had to make it up,” said Jad. “Coming into the last line, it was a tight turn to a vertical. Most would do nine strides, but there was an option to do eight if you had a big stride. I caught the eight and kept kicking on. I told myself I really want this today, and I gave it everything I had.” The clock stopped at 39.56 seconds – a time that proved unbeatable.
As Jad and Itchy took the victor’s lap of honor Amy was cheering so loudly with her entourage in the stands that she almost lost her voice. “Everyone — the trainers, the grooms, the whole barn family — they put so much love and time into this animal. When you see it all come together in seconds of magic, there’s no better feeling,” said Amy.
“I try to explain it to people,” she said. “When you own a horse and it does well like this, there’s no better feeling in the world. It’s just so exciting.” One of those people – Amy’s friend Alex McCabe, a non-horsey person – got to live it as part of the group gathered to support Jad in the four-star Grand Prix. “It was incredible,” Alex said. “I never realized how much fun it would be to be part of this show jumping experience.”
Last Saturday night was an indication that Jad and Itchy – taking their biggest win to date – are on track to make more headlines. While Olympic talk is still premature, there is a growing sense that this duo is on a serious upward trajectory. Were Jad to compete in Los Angeles in 2028, he would be the first Lebanese Olympian show jumper.
“What’s been exciting is to watch the journey of Itchy – how much faster he’s got and how his confidence has grown as a horse,” said Amy who noticed a new level of behavior from the gelding after his win. “That was the hottest I’d seen him chomping at the bit and looking like he wanted to take on the world at that point,” she said. “So I can’t wait to continue to see them both grow as a team. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of a long string of successes.”
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