United States Eventing Association

The following excerpt is from "Relaxation Exercises for Horses: A Guide to Soft, Supple, and Light," by Guillaume Henry, and published by Trafalgar Square Books.

The Twin Rivers Spring International showed that there isn’t just one right answer when preparing your horse. The CCI4*-S served as a qualifier in the US Equestrian Open of Eventing, but before the $200,000 finals at Morven in Virginia, on Oct. 9-12, seven of the 11 horses were competing in their final prep before the approximately 2,300-mile haul to Lexington for the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event in two weeks.

Based on the steady and successful trajectory of Texas-based junior rider Mia Holstien through the lower levels of eventing, you might never guess she almost gave it up completely.

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