Bribery can get you far, but for young Allison Springer, it led to a lifetime of horse-crazy pursuits at the highest level of the eventing sport. Raised in the outskirts of Chicago in Barrington, Illinois, Allison and her city-grown parents were enjoying their new life in the country when she had the opportunity to ride a neighbor’s pony one day after school—and, as she describes it, “that’s how the disease begins for a little girl.”
While many spousal partners may choose to keep business and family separate, such is not the case for the duo behind Alliston Equestrian. From riding and coaching to winning the American Eventing Championships, husband and wife James and Helen Alliston do everything together, every day.
From the backwoods of the Bayou to Santiago, Chile, Sydney Elliott has certainly traveled far since her days riding with Pony Club in Benton, Louisiana. While the Pan American Games U.S. Team Member is “still Louisiana, through and through,” her recent move to Southern Pines, North Carolina, has helped prepare her for her latest experiences as a rider for Team USA.