United States Eventing Association

Meet Caroline Lendl. She’s a 16-year-old high schooler from Bradenton, Florida who’s training with Ralph Hill and Werner Geven,and competing two horses Preliminary at Red Hills this year.

First of all, how did you get into eventing?

I first began eventing in Conneticut when I was younger. I had fallen in love with my ISH, Ryan, and bought him right after he was imported from Ireland. I had always loved horses but was scared of them at the same time. Ryan and I developed a very special bond, and he helped me through a lot of tough times when I was younger. Anyway, I began eventing him in Connecticut. I had done about two horse shows when my family moved to Florida for high school. The beginning of my freshman year I entered the Rocking Horse Fall Horse Trials in Florida. I got eliminated at BN because I could not get my horse into the water. That was the show where I met Ralph Hill. Ralph spent three hours with me after the show getting my horse into the water. After that, I started training with Ralph. I had ridden in a clinic with Ralph and Werner Geven earlier that winter, at Poplar Place Farm. After Ralph’s accident last year, I started training with Werner Geven. I really enjoy being able to train with Werner as well, he’s a great coach and has taught me so much. I am very thankful that I have the opportunity to be able to train with two amazing people.

Is it hard to be competing at a higher level while you’re so young? There’s got to be a lot of pressure on you; training with two horses, keeping up with school, having any type of social life outside of the horses.

It is very challenging to be doing all of these things at once. Thankfully I go to a school in Florida that allows me to leave for my tournaments and train during the week. This school is specifically for high performance athletes, so it makes it a lot easier when we have to leave for a tournament somewhere. I go to school in the mornings, usually starting at 7:30, and finish up around 12:00. Then I head to the barn for the rest of the day. I am just thankful that I am able to compete at the level I do and train as much as I do. If my school didn’t allow that, I don’t know what I would do. As for a social life, there really isn’t much of one; everything is mainly focused around my sport and school. If there is any extra time, then I spend it with my friends, but horses are my priority.

Speaking of two horses, you’re lucky to be able to have such a "packer" to compete. How did you end up with Oxley? Do you feel like he has a lot to teach you about our sport?

Well, I wouldn’t exactly call Oxley a "packer". If I don’t ride him properly to a fence, he will stop; just letting me know that it’s my mistake and that he is not always going to bail me out. Kiira Troth, from Montana, had sent Oxley to Ralph to sell, and that was where I met him. I feel extremely lucky to have him, and he has taught me so much in the little time that I have had him. Some of the most important things he has taught me are to not come forward when a horse stops or you are going to fall off, and to NOT push for a long stride, but to sit and wait. Oxley is continuously teaching me new things everyday that I ride him, and I cannot wait to learn more from him! Other than someday riding for our country, do you have any long-term goals? What about short-term; within the next year or two?

I have a lot of different goals. My short term goals as of right now are being selected for the NAJYRC this year on either Oxley or Ryan. Another goal, maybe for next year, would be to get selected again but for the two star team. My long term goals are of course riding for my country in the Olympics, but I would also like to go to the World Equestrian Games, and Badminton and Burghley.

Lots of riders, young and old, suffer from nerves at an event. When you compete, do you have any tricks, or rituals, to keep yourself calm and focused?

My dad helps me a lot with this, since he had such a successful career in tennis and was able to control his mind. He gives me tips on how to keep myself calm, and things that will help me become mentally stronger. One thing that I do before I ride each horse is sit down and go over my round in my head, of how I want it to look and I only focus on the positives; negative feelings are not allowed. I also make sure that I help myself switch over from horses, when I have to get on Ryan after Oxley, or vice versa. I need to make sure that I remind myself of how they like to be ridden, and that they are so different from each other.

Out of all the horses you’ve ridden throughout your riding career, which horse taught you the most valuable lesson? What was it?

Both of my horses have helped teach me this lesson: You can never rush a horse, you just have to be patient, and that being patient is one of the most important things.

Do you have any tips for aspiring young eventers?

If you work hard and are dedicated then you will eventually reach your goals. There are so many different things that can go wrong with horses, but you have to keep trying and never let the negative things affect you. Two of my favorite quotes are "The harder I try the luckier I get" and "Failure teaches success".

Last one, just for fun. If you had your pick of any 3* horse to event, just once, who would it be?

I would pick Gina Miles’ horse, McKinlaigh. I just love that horse, he is an inspiration to me.