United States Eventing Association

My dad used to say when I was growing up that if you looked up the word relentless in the dictionary there would be a picture of me next to it. I think at the time he meant my relentlessness in constantly asking for a horse (and everything else that went along with it), but over time I've begun to realize just how much of this personality trait is needed in eventing.

I have never considered myself a naturally talented rider. In fact, I spent most of my first years on a horse flailing around pretty ineffectively trying to figure out what the heck I was supposed to be doing to make the horse do what I wanted it to. 

As Eventers, we all know the emotions that come from the word "plan". First, there's the initial excitement that we have one and we will follow through.

Perspective is something most equestrian professionals try to have, and talk about every once in a while (when we’re not talking about horses), but it’s not always something we’re very good at actually having all the time. 

A friend once told me that to be a professional in this sport, you couldn’t just love competing; you had to love the every day riding and care of the horse.