United States Eventing Association

We took a walk out to the barns to get to know a few of our Championship competitors. We asked them to tell us a little bit about themselves, their horses and their weekend here in Texas. Here’s how it went!

---

It’s a family affair at the AEC for Elliot and Sher Schwartz of Waverly Hall, Georgia. Their 10-year-old Canadian Sport Horse mare Beaulieu’s Cayenne (Calibur x Pinacolada) is here competing in the Open Intermediate division with Julie Richards, who is also riding Cayenne’s daughter, CS Carrera (by Contendro) in Novice Horse. Elliot says the two are inseparable. When we visited them in the barns, they stood hip to hip and nuzzled each other for their photos (pictured above).

Five-year-old Carrera seems to have inherited her mother’s aptitude over fences. Although she is only 15.1 hands (Cayenne is 16.2 hands), Carrera has a huge jump. She is placed sixth after cross-country and Cayenne, who is preparing for the CCI2* at Fair Hill next month, is also sixth in her division after cross-country. The Schwartz’s purchased both Cayenne and Carrera from Michael and Nathalie Pollard of Chatsworth Stud in Georgia. Sher herself is riding her 9-year-old Selle Francais mare Reseda De Fleyres (Sarastro x Reglisse Du Maury) in the Broadstone Senior Beginner Novice Amateur division and is currently sixth after dressage.

---

Photo: USEA/Leslie Threlkeld

Eleven-year-old Gage Miles is competing in the Broadstone Junior Beginner Novice 14 & under division on his horse, Madoc All Dun (Kentchurch Chime - Madoc Bronwyn), who is a buckskin Welsh Cob. Gage and his mother came to Tyler for the AEC from Dallas, and he has been eventing for the past two years.

“My favorite part of eventing is cross-country. My horse is good at it. We walked it and it looks tough, but I also think we are up to the challenge. I’m here with my mom; she has always been a really big supporter of mine. She’s always there for me and whenever I take a tumble she’s always there to pick me up.”

---

Melanie Rousseau and her horse, Mini. Photo: Michelle Dunn

Seventeen-year-old Melanie Rousseau is competing in the Junior/Young Rider Preliminary with her horse, “Mini.” She is from Barrington, Illinois and trains with her mother, Jennifer Rousseau, who operates Tudor Oaks Farm.

“We traveled 18 hours to get here. I go to Barrington High School and ride with my mom, Jennifer Rousseau. She’s my trainer and my role model. I don’t do much outside of riding! Mini is a 16.3 Canadian Sport Horse who is 9 years old. This is my sixth consecutive AEC, and my third with her and it’s going awesome so far.

[On the challenges of training with her mother]: I don’t like to listen to her, but as soon as I process it, it makes sense and then I learn from her.”

---

Lauren Eckardt (l) and Leila Saxe (r). Photo: Michelle Dunn

Leila Saxe managed to slip away from her sixth grade class in Atlanta, Georgia, to compete in the Broadstone Junior Beginner Novice.

“My favorite thing about school is the end of the day when I come to the barn! My coach is Lauren Eckardt. I admire her because she doesn’t ever yell at us and she’s an awesome teacher. I’ve been riding for about a year. We’ve done about 10 shows together.”

---

Cosker (l), "Chunk" (c), and coach Marjory Berkache. Photo: Michelle Dunn

Rachel Cosker celebrated her sweet 16 by competing in the Broadstone Beginner Novice Junior division at the AEC. She has only been eventing for nine months and did the hunters and jumpers before being converted.

“It took us two days to get here from Florida. I’m 16 years old; I actually turn 16 today! I ride with Marjorie Burkash in Florida. The most interesting thing she’s ever taught me is how to make my horse go straight down the center line. I go to virtual school (online) so I can keep riding and competing.

Cosker says that her 16-year-old Thoroughbred mare “Blackie” has some interesting quirks.

“She’s afraid of her own shadow, and she hates to walk on concrete! She’s a total bossy mare. The shadow thing sometimes causes problems when we are tacking up. Between the concrete and seeing her shadow, she’ll just turn around and head back to her stall.”

---

Chloe and "Cherry." Photo: Michelle Dunn

Eleven-year-old Chloe Boyle came from Maryland to attend her first AEC and competes in the Beginner Novice division. She says that she has been riding all her life, and that if she wasn’t going to be a horseback rider, she might be a soccer player instead. She is riding an 8-year-old mare from Catherine Hannigan’s barn named Cherry.

“Chloe has only been in America for two years; we’re originally from Australia,” said Chloe’s mom, Shelly. “This is her first horse here and they are just becoming a terrific little team. In Australia she did horse trials and a lot more Pony Club. She does Pony Club here, and we find the USEA has terrific events. She loves competing in them. She’s been competing for about a year here. We’re having a great weekend.”