United States Eventing Association

In the fall of 2019, 7-year-old Collins Zgutowicz started her first pony partnership with Buck (show name: Bucks Well Spent). The former cart horse-turned-eventer spent almost three years teaching Zgutowicz the ropes at Pre-Amoeba, Amoeba, Tadpole, and Starter, gently reminding her to actually hold her reins and steer on the cross-country course, to wait patiently before two-pointing in the show jumping ring, and to effectively and precisely use her leg in the dressage ring. Zgutowicz and Buck bonded during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the barn being a sanctuary during mask mandates and canceled after-school activities.