United States Eventing Association

Only a few weeks ago, 13-year-old Julitta “Adele” Bryant was convinced that a trip to this year’s USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds wasn’t in the cards for her. But the hard working teen from Ponce De Leon, Florida, was in for a major surprise, thanks to the incredible generosity of a close family friend and fellow eventer.

For many eventers, competing in a long-format three-day is on their bucket list—and with offerings across the country at the lower levels, the goal is much more attainable than it’s ever been.

The Olympic Games kick off this month in Paris, France, and the U.S. Eventing Team has sent three strong horse and rider combinations plus a traveling reserve. We caught up with all four team riders to learn more about them.

Allison Springer and No May Moon may have taken the eventing world by storm with their recent victory at the MARS Bromont CCI4*-L (Quebec, Canada), but the journey began with a dream decades ago. Owned and bred by longtime eventing supporter, Nancy Hamill Winter, the 10-year-old Connemara Sport Horse mare had only just stepped up to the Advanced level this spring.

Eventing fans cheered on the Paris-bound Team USA riders as the mandatory outing wrapped up today with the cross-country phase at Stable View Horse Trials. The team riders and alternates competed in the Advanced division, using Capt. Mark Phillips’ course as a final run before heading to the Olympics next month.

The first day of this weekend’s mandatory outing for the U.S. Olympic Eventing Team kicked off on Friday, June 21, as the team riders, including all the reserves, took part in the Advanced division at the Stable View Summer H.T. With legendary Ian Stark revving up the spectators’ team spirit as announcer, the riders are using this event as a final prep before the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

“I always say that my secret weapon out competing is bad weather and bad footing,” said Melanie Smith. Though the Georgia-based rider is a competitor by nature, having completed three 50K Ultramarathons, it was a non-competitive sport that made the most profound impact on where she is today. Decades of foxhunting taught her to trust her horse, fine-tune her cross-country skills, and navigate tricky conditions.

For eventer Jen Moody, the trek from Montana to compete at this year’s Defender Kentucky Cosequin Lexington CCI4*S was a long, chilly journey, but she had big goals for her kind-hearted Thoroughbred, Eye Of The Storm. With her 4-year-old daughter, Valkyrie, and longtime friend and supporter, Sarah Broussard, by her side, the journey to the Bluegrass State—and beyond—exceeded her expectations.

For Maryland eventer Courtney Waskiewicz, a bond formed with a talented, yet quirky, palomino Connemara pony more than two decades ago shaped her career as a horsewoman. Together, she and Wil’Ya Love Me (better known as “Willy”) learned to trust one another, even when the odds were stacked against them.

Since the mid-’80s, lifelong horsewoman and professional artist Debra Sue Waters has devoted countless hours to the sport of eventing, and last year topped the rankings of the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program in Area V. Assisting behind the scenes at an event just comes naturally to the Millsap, Texas, resident.