I am Debbie Hastings and along with running my web design business, Flying Change Webs & Graphics, family activities, and the hectic schedule of two active children, I love following the sport of eventing. My screen names on many social networks is EventerMom, but I am not a competitor – in fact I’ve only ridden in a few times in my entire life. As the name implies, I am the mother of an eventer. The rider: my 17-year -old daughter, Emily Seaver. She currently competes at Training and recently placed second at the Area I Championships at Fitch’s Corner and trains with eventer Babette Lenna and dressage trainer Karen Folan. We live up in Maine, so attending events typically requires a road trip.
Why am I writing in this blog? To share the experience of eventing from the EventerMom’s point of view – the journeys, the successes, and the bumps in the road.
Here’s how it started …
Emily and her partner, Bully for Billy.While living abroad just outside London, England, I asked my “then” five and a half year old daughter if she would like to take riding lessons. After all, nearly all young girls in England learned to ride, so there was a stable around every corner. Let’s just say I didn’t have to ask twice.
It started with once a week lessons, then the British Pony Club, and by the age of seven and a half she was the youngest “overnight” weeklong camper the stable ever had. She longed to participate in local horse shows, but wasn’t allowed because she didn’t own a horse. And honestly, at that time I didn’t know the difference between hunter/jumper, dressage, or eventing.
By the time we had moved back to the states . . . things were much different!
The Idea
In 2007, at King Oak Farm Horse Trials, there was a car in front of us with a bumper sticker that said simply:
MOTHER MUCKER
It was perfect. And ever since then, that has sort of been my motto. It says it all, doesn’t it? After all, as the mother of an eventer, I do it all:
clean tack
gather and carry gear
worry during dressage
worry more during cross-country
drive a horse trailer that I never thought I’d own
and of course, muck stalls
If you can relate to any of this, then please, follow along as I try to tell about what it’s like to be a Rambling Mom of a three-day eventer.
Tune in next week for more exciting adventures with the EventerMom!
The Yanmar America Tryon International Spring Three-Day Event presented by Tow & Collect kicked off Thursday with dressage in the International Stadium and Rings 6/7, continuing into Friday.
Oliver Townend, who has never made any secret of his desire for another MARS Badminton Horse Trials victory, is now at the head of the leaderboard at the conclusion of the dressage phase.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered!
The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is excited to head to Area V this Dec. 11-14 for the 2025 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in the vibrant city of New Orleans, Louisiana! Known for its rich history, world-class jazz, and electrifying Mardi Gras celebrations, New Orleans will set the stage for a lively week of discussion and education on the most important topics in the sport of eventing. Gather your fellow members and meet us to celebrate the last year of success in “The Big Easy!”
Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA
Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA
Official Feed of the USEA
Official Saddle of the USEA
Official Forage of the USEA
Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA
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