United States Eventing Association

Honoring USEA Veterans and Active-Duty Military Members

On this Veteran's Day, we wanted to take a moment to recognize and honor members of our USEA family who have previously served or are actively serving in the various branches of our U.S. military. Meet some of them below and please join us in thanking them for their service.

Christina Kelley

"I was in the Navy for 7.5 years, part of VFA-15, CNSWG-1 and CNSWG-3. I made two deployments on CVN-71 and CVN-65. While I was in the service, I did ride hunter/jumpers in San Diego. Once I was honorably discharged, I returned home and started eventing. The eventing community is truly one of support and love for the horse and sport. Just like in the service, I have meet truly amazing people in the sport. I love how we support each other in our endeavors and are true horsemen/women. I currently ride in Area IV and Area VIII."

Katie Ann Blanchard

"I am an Army Nurse Corp veteran. At Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, I was introduced to fox hunting and from there I found eventing. After a near fatal attack leaving me disabled, I never thought I would be able to ride again. However, with the help a fantastic team of military doctors, I am riding regularly and competing at the Novice level. Being involved in the eventing has giving me the feeling of community that I had while in the military. It's the people that wake up early, stay up late, and always have your back."

Elizabeth Orris

"I’m quickly closing in on 12 years of service with the Air Force National Guard. I serve out of the 171st Air Refueling Wing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia, working in the field Air Transportation. The military has provided me some of the best opportunities of my life, and I have met a lot of great people along the way. My military service helps us to provide for our family and has been invaluable to us over the years. I always run cross-country in red, white, and blue to show my patriotism."

Erin O'Connor

"I served in the Army as a 35m Human Intelligence Collector. As an Army veteran, and with my husband currently serving in the Navy, we embrace our life as a military family. The eventing community has gifted me with incredible friends and encouraging mentors no matter where we are stationed. Horses and eventing are essential in helping me navigate my health challenges arising from military service, and provide a consistent sense of normalcy amidst a chaotic lifestyle."

Roberta Madeline

"I am an active duty army officer, Prelim eventer, and one of the newest members of the Army Outdoors Team as an At-Large Equestrian athlete. My teammate Cheryl Morris and I will be competing this upcoming season representing the U.S. Army at our shows!"

Madeline Cee

"I’ve been Active Duty Air Force for 15 years. I am currently an E-7, and my team is responsible for equipment used by aviators in a survival, egress, or ejection situation. I currently co-own and operate Bridge the Gap Equine where our goal is to facilitate new beginnings for Off-Track-Thoroughbreds through a dedicated focus on equine wellness and horsemanship. Having been involved with eventing from a young age, I have learned how to hone my skills adapting to rapidly changing conditions and I feel it taught me how to be a good teammate."

Ashley Virginia

"I enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 17 (back in 2001) as a Psychological Operations Specialist in the United States Army Special Operations Command. During my 24 years of service I have served on active duty and in the reserves with tours in combat to Iraq and to South Korea. I currently serve in the United States Army Reserve as an anesthesiologist [cardio-thoracic and transplant] in Florida. I am new to the eventing community but already it has done so much for me.

"My equine partner is an 18-year-old OTTB who has taught me so much in so little time. The time spent training with him for events has improved my self-esteem, my personal fitness, my emotional awareness and most of all reduced my symptoms of stress and anxiety. I’m so thankful I found the USEA and community of eventers. From the volunteers at shows to five-star riders like Ema Klugman, I have found everyone to be so helpful and supportive. I am really proud to be involved in this sport and hope to make it a life long journey."

Maggie Morgan

"I’ve been an active duty Coast Guard pilot for almost 13 years and event in Area III. The friends and community we’ve made in eventing is the main reason we’ve tried to stay at the same base for multiple tours. They have become our family while we are stationed away from family."

Marina Cable

"I have been a member of the United Stated Armed Forces for almost six years now, currently serving in the Air Force Reserves. Area VIII Eventing is a wonderful place to be, and the eventing community has been so welcoming. Eventing has taught me how to truly embrace the motto 'Improvise, adapt, and overcome,' and at the end of the day, it’s what makes me whole."

Amber Rose

"I spent 10 years on active duty in places like Iraq and Afghanistan with the Army. I finished my active duty time at Fort Liberty, home of Special Operations and the Airborne, where I continue to serve as a Department of the Army Civilian. I’m a military spouse, and even though we wanted to settle down and have a farm, we waited until my husband retired in 2017. I took up riding and compete my Thoroughbred Mighty Grace in Area II. The eventing community and our Carolina Horse Park have been so wonderful and we are thankful for support and a sense of community!"

Jennifer Northrup

"I’m working on my fourth year as an Army Finance Officer. The military has taught me so many lessons and I have meet a lot of great people along the way. The eventing community has been very welcoming and I can definitely say these are my people! Eventing takes a level of boldness, teamwork, and dedication that I think resonates with those that serve."

Sarah Forster

"I’m an active duty Army colonel with 22 years of service. I rode as a kid, then went on to compete on the West Point equestrian team for four years. Once commissioned, I continued to ride as long as duty and two long deployments to Iraq allowed. I started eventing in 2011, and fell in love with the sport! I currently compete at Novice with my horse Caillou, and our next goal is to make it to the AEC next year!"

Brian Roberts

"I’m an active duty Army infantry officer with 18 years of service. I started riding and eventing 2 1/2 years ago and am now active competitor in Area II. My horse, Boom, and I ride at the Training level and are excited for more! Thanks for putting this together!"

Christina Rumayor

"I am currently serving Active Duty Army Colonel [21 years so far] in the Medical Corps and have moved a total of eight times in the past 10 years. Even when I have had to leave family behind due to military service obligations, I have been lucky enough to move my horse with me. Being able to continue riding and competing with the USEA has been a wonderful mental retreat and a great way to quickly have a common community of friendly people around me that makes being separated from family a little bit easier."

Shawn Ortiz

"I served in the Air Force, active duty and reserves for 35 years as an intelligence officer. I ride my horse Patriot's Justice [Jag] at the Training level in Area X. I love him, I love eventing, and I love America. God bless."

*Editors note* Shawn is currently an Area X member of the USEA Board of Governors!

Kristy Wolter

"I am currently an Active Duty Army Colonel [22 years so far]. I have evented in Areas II and III. My horses have followed me to every duty station but one. I’ve been lucky enough to be stationed in a strong eventing area near the Carolina Horse Park where my daughter and I compete and volunteer."

Morgan Shipley

"I am 1LT Morgan Shipley. I’m a quartermaster officer stationed at fort bliss in El Paso, Texas. I have been down here for roughly two years but I have been in the army since early 2019. I recently just got back into eventing after coming back from a deployment. I took my young guy to a local recognized event to get our feet wet, and he surprised me with how game he was to event. Safe to say he is hooked, and I’m glad to be back in the arena showing again. It took lots of help and persuasion to get me back in the show arena again but everyone from Area X helped motivate me and get us ready for his first show and my first event in close to 10 years."

Stephanie Sills

"I am an Army Guard Blackhawk pilot, back from my third deployment this spring and trying hard to get good at eventing again after my 'extended vacation.' ”

Corrie Chaffin

"I am currently a team lead working integrated avionics on fighter jets with the 173 FW in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and previously with the RED HORSE squadron in Montana. Eventing has long been my favorite sport, and I last competed with a mare that Katie Ann Blanchard has and am looking forward to competing with her first foal soon! My current homebred Irish Draught Sport Horse is a dressage diva, but I’ll be back to it soon! The teamwork, athleticism, resiliency, and dedication that eventing requires is mirrored every time I work a jet with my team and in every field training exercises I’ve done from land nav in full combat gear in the mountains, to helicopter rides to remote locations. I absolutely love that eventing comes from the original military wartime requirements and officer needed to have as well."

Tachina Eva

"I am a Veteran, Active Duty Air Force 21A3 [Aircraft Maintenance]. After the military I didn’t know what I was going to do with my time, so I got into horses. Eventually, we made our way to West Texas and found the community didn’t have much for lower-level riding. I decided to use my leadership and organizational skills that I learned during my service and take the initiative by creating a horse show production business and a local riding club. This helped resolve a community need and we are now on our second year of hosting several types of small schooling level shows. The USEA provided the riding club I started the much needed insurance coverage via their educational activities program to hold combined tests, and it really helped get us off the ground. I started Big County Equestrian Club in Abilene, Texas, to provide local riders schooling events in an area dominated by rodeos. I wasn’t entirely passionate about eventing when I started, but many of the riders and coaches helped me learn enough to produce schooling events. I have learned through those lessons how important it is to have strong fundamentals and a great relationship with your horse when approaching new challenges."

Aubrey Eisenman

"I served eight years as a U.S. Marine working intelligence at the Presidential Helicopter Squadron. I had been eventing since I was 9 years old and was committed to continuing while I served and did so through what’s now the three-star level. Seventeen years later, I am still developing young horses for the wonderful sport of eventing!

"The eventing community and the Marine Corps align in a surprising number of ways; the camaraderie in eventing is unparalleled and gives the sport the unique edge I love and reminds me of my days as a Marine. The commitment, discipline, and drive required for the sport often takes me back to my days at boot camp on Parris Island! I’m forever grateful to be a part of both organizations."

Jeannette Lazzaro

"I am Active Duty Navy, as is my husband! Pictured here at the VAHT in Lexington before we moved our geldings to California for our current tours. We’re both trying to compete around busy deployment and detachment schedules, and haven’t actually made a recognized event since he jumped head first into riding when we met. I’m taking our OTTB to his first recognized event this fall [Ram Tap in a couple weeks, maybe I’ll meet some of you there!] and will get my husband to one next spring, between his deployments!

"Between four CVN deployments and a stint in Japan, my time in the Navy has been awesome. But I live for the home times when I can ride and couldn’t do it without the support back home keeping my horses working while I’m gone.

"I competed against an Army Major while I was moving my horse to Pensacola for flight school 13 years ago, and I’ve been dreaming of creating a Navy riding team ever since! This thread is inspiring, to say the least! I had no idea there were so many of us!"

Jamie Denton

"I am nearing 20 years of service as a USAF pilot on active duty and in the Kentucky Air National Guard. I have flown the T-37, T-38, B-52, MQ-9, C-130H, and C-130J. I have deployed over seven times with four in combat zone in Afghanistan and Iraq. Flying and horses go together like peas and carrots. I have evented since I was a teenager and throughout my Air Force career. Eventing provides a community of people that emulate the values of the military with hard work, dedication, and service to something other than yourself. I’ve been lucky to be able to ride everywhere I’ve been stationed. Competing on my OTTB War Storm emulates flying and helps keep the balance in my life."

Tillery Stahr

"I am a Marine Corps Veteran, 2003-2007, OIF 2004. The eventing community and the sport provide me with a sense of belonging, a challenge, and a group of amazing men/women to do it all with."

Viktoria Bodnar

"I served in the Marine Corps for five years as an Arabic translator with one combat tour to Afghanistan. I started eventing while I was stationed in California, and I’m almost positive if it wasn’t for the horse community in California, like Christine Amber, I wouldn’t have made the switch from hunters to eventing. Thanks to the military, I’ve met so many people in the community and it also made me so thankful for what I have, what I’m able to do, and the hard work ethic it instilled in me that spills over to the eventing community."

Kathy Rienks

"I am an Air Force JAG Officer with almost 10 years in. Thanks to moving with the USAF, I’ve evented and retrained OTTBs in Area II, Area III, Area VII, and now Area IV. Not really much moving up the levels with moving every two years but, I’ve bought and retrained an OTTB at each duty station and it’s a great way to balance a high-stress job."

Michelle DeLeon

"I was active duty Air Force, still am a military spouse, and grew up a military brat. Regardless of the number of moves [I stopped counting at 15], horses and the eventing community have been my sounding board. Friendships, events, volunteering, auditing clinics... I know I’m always in great company, regardless of my zip code."

Alexandria Wilson

"I am a United States Marine Corps Veteran who is now an eventer/dressage rider. I served in the Marine Corps from 2009-2014 and supported operations OEF/OIF in FOB Dwyer. After my time on active duty, I felt completely lost. I no longer had my identity as a Marine, and I had no idea who I was anymore. In 2020, I was attending college online during the pandemic, and I needed to find something to beat the stress of self-isolation. I used take horse riding lessons as a kid, so I decided to try and find a barn I could take lessons at.

"After a few calls I found my barn, Y Knot Equestrian, who introduced me into the equestrian and eventing community, and I have never felt more at home. The eventing community is comprised some of the most brave and toughest riders in the world, and yet they are the most kind and compassionate humans. At every show, every rider offers a hand as soon as I needed help, no matter if they were busy or not. After transitioning out of the military, I didn’t know if I could find a community like I did in the Marines. The eventing community has welcomed me and so many others with open arms and I am eternally grateful for their continued support and kindness."

Liana Ohl

"I'm currently a sergeant in the Army serving out my second enlistment while stationed at ft. Liberty [formerly Ft. Bragg]. I grew up in the eventing and larger equestrian community.

"I began college in 2016, after making the realization that I needed a separate career to support my passion in horses long term. I continued to ride and compete in jumpers to a limited extent, but as my studies sat at the forefront those 4 years. In 2020, after completing my bachelors in politics, I enlisted in the Army looking for an adventure and a change, with the opportunity to work in the global security sphere of Influence. After some life altering months going through it [those who are in know what I mean], I made it out of TRADOC and realized my dreams when I was assigned to a duty station in Germany.

"Over the next 4 years, I worked an extremely busy mission set, and I had to mostly take a hiatus from horses. There was a year where I mostly didn't see the sun, months where we we saw less than a day off a week, and consecutive shifts so long that sleeping standing up was sometimes half the sleep you'd get.

"During that time, I remembered horses and my time as a working student. Albeit under different circumstances, but true horsemen and women can all say they've experienced those things before. For the love of our horses and the love of the sport, no day is too long, no task too ridiculous, no sacrifice too great. It is all worth it, in the end.

"My time with horses reminded me all through training I had the strength and willpower to get it all done. Except now in the military, there is added meaning. I do it for the people of this country, and our nation's security, too. My return to horses is currently a work in progress. My squad leader in Germany, on one of those long 16 hour shifts, noticed my face light up when talking about horses. He said, "does it make you happy?" Then do it. It's worth it.

"With the help of my Melanie Peterson-Ramey at Stone Columns Stables, and my friend Desha Gaston, while still in the Military, I have realized my dream of breeding my own event horse. Lillian is currently in the best hands I could ask. As she grows and trains, I will continue to serve my current contract and grow and train as well. One day, we will train together.

"This sport means everything to me, as does serving our country and my soldiers as a non-commissioned officer."

Christina Bailey

"I joined at 17 in the Navy and served 13 years, eight active duty on the George Washington (CVN-73 aircraft carrier) followed by Great Lakes, Illinois, Naval Hospital. I left active duty in 2011 and continued my time in the reserves where I served in Afghanistan at the Nato Role MM3 Hospital in 2015. In 2017 I got out of the military to pursue my career of becoming a nurse, and now I am in school for Nurse Practitioner in Mental Health with a focus on Veterans and PTSD. I plan on building a business around trauma informed care, PTSD, and emotional support utilizing psychotherapy with horses. I served with CKRH in Lexington working with veterans and people living with disabilities. Horses are my passion. Their connection is unparalleled to anything I have ever witnessed and I want to share that with others.

"Lincoln is my first eventing horse. I got him three years ago, and he had a lot of quirks to him. We are still figuring each other out, but our connection is beautiful. While we might not always agree in the eventing world on a course, it has been a place where I can challenge myself and work in the situation that is out of my control at times. We are partnering with a prey animal and trust is important, but instinct for them means survival. It is quite humbling at times and reminds me just like in the military, it's a team.

"I love eventing. The structure of dressage and what it back dates to, to think of war on horseback and why there are the elements we train into horses now. It really is something special to be a part of. There is nothing better than galloping cross-country and the bond that is formed with your partner, not just to get to the other side, but to empower you knowing you are connected as one."

The USEA thanks each one of these members and those whose stories we didn't get a chance to share for your service and sacrifice. We are honored to have you as part of our eventing family.