Strong pedigree's not all Cox brings to an event

Archibald Cox III inherited his work ethic, morals, and dedication to the community from his grandfather.

"Archie," as he is known on the horse-show circuit, is a prominent trainer and rider from Los Angeles who has seven clients competing in the Washington International Horse Show this week at Verizon Center. He also boasts a tenable tie to Washington history.

His grandfather, Archibald Cox, was special prosecutor during the investigation into the break-in at the Watergate. Known for omnipresent bowties, his grandfather, a Harvard professor, was appointed special prosecutor in 1973; his firing came as part of what is known as the "Saturday Night Massacre."

Cox, 41, was first exposed to horses by his grandmother, Phyllis Cox, who served on the Horse Show's board of directors in the 1970s. He grew up in horse country in Locust Valley, N.Y., where he "fell in love with jumping horses."

He graduated from Drew University in New Jersey, won the intercollegiate riding national championships, and then headed west. In 2001, Cox started his own training business, Brookway Stables, based in Los Angeles. His personality and positive training style keep his clientele happy and numerous. A few include actress Portia de Rossi; Camilla Cleese, daughter of Monty Python's John Cleese; Kelley Johnson, wife of actor Don Johnson; and Gabbi Langston, daughter of former major leaguer Mark Langston.

"He's just so much fun to hang out with," said Laura Wasserman, a client who is riding in the amateur-owner hunter division this week. "He's also the hardest worker out there, always up at 4:30 in the morning taking care of the horses, and he's respected by so many different people."

Cox says that, like his grandfather, his ethic is "early to bed, early to rise." He also serves on the board of directors for the Horse Show and provides a unique perspective to his fellow members.

"A Cox tradition is to have a strong commitment to the community you enjoy so much and gives you a great deal," Cox said. "People appreciate that I'm willing to work to make the trainers and riders happy from the footing, aesthetics, and scheduling, and bring their concerns to the board because this industry is my livelihood."

While Cox makes his living taking care of horses, to him, it doesn't seem like work.

"People say I work a lot, but I really enjoy what I do," Cox said. "I take pride in it."

Note: Erin Stewart, aboard Confidential, and Terri Kessler, aboard Pavarotti, were the co-grand champions of the amateur-owner hunter division Wednesday night.