United States Eventing Association

Lieberman and Mustang Bear Neccessities Conquer the AEC

There were so many horses and riders who overcame the odds and triumphed at this year's USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds. While we couldn't tell every story during the event, we'll be sharing some in the coming weeks on useventing.com.

When 15-year-old Sophia Lieberman first laid eyes on her dapple gray mustang Bear Necessities three years ago in Alabama, she had no idea what the future might hold for them. Lieberman and her mother, Dr. Alison LaCarrubba, DVM, were on the hunt for a new project pony, and the 14-hand gelding seemed like he might be a good fit.

“We really did not know exactly what we were getting into, but we liked his temperament, and he appeared to be quite athletic,” the teen recalled. The mustang’s origins were fairly unknown, and the only information they had was the brand on his neck, which indicated he’d been part of the Bureau of Land Management program and was captured in the wilds of Nevada in 2016. He's estimated to be 9 years old.

After a trial ride, they decided to take a chance on the gelding, whom they dubbed “Blue,” and brought him home to their 936-acre Little Tree Farms in Wooldridge, Missouri. For the family, horses are a way of life: everyone pitches in to care for the retired animals, Lieberman and her older sister show and participate in their local Pony Club, and their brother trail rides. “My husband is mostly the ground crew, but we all like to ride together around the farm,” said LaCarrubba, an equine veterinarian at the University of Missouri’s veterinary health center and a lifelong equestrian herself.

The family was unsure of what Blue’s long-term plans were going to be, but Lieberman was up for the challenge. “I had never ridden a mustang, and he was intelligent, athletic, and willing to learn,” she said. Though she didn’t have experience with the breed, Lieberman (a C-2 Pony Clubber with Hinkson Valley Pony Club) was no stranger to ponies: her previous mount was a tiny Welsh pony named Lion who had a reputation for naughty behavior but loved Pony Club games.

Once Blue settled in and began his formal training, they discovered he was nervous and unbalanced under saddle, with a tendency towards rushing. Lieberman and her mother spent the following year working to get him comfortable and teaching him how to have fun with his job, often incorporating ground work into his regimen. Many days were spent on long hacks around the farm getting him conditioned, both alone and with a partner, and building his confidence. Their hard work paid off, and they saw a huge difference in his attitude and focus.

After countless lessons and clinics, they took Blue to local dressage and hunter/jumper shows to give him exposure in a low-stress environment. “Throughout these early days Blue helped me gain so much patience, and we really began to trust each other,” said Lieberman.

By this time, eventing had become Lieberman’s passion, and Blue was on track to become her next partner in the sport. Their first horse trial was Windemere Run (Kansas City, Missouri) in the fall of 2022 at the Starter level. Blue earned the lowest dressage score of the day, but unfortunately picked a few cross-country refusals. Undaunted, Lieberman was thrilled with the progress they’d made, knowing they still had much to work on. “It was a great introduction to eventing as a team, and we were excited to see what we could do together,” she said.

“We talked about how it would take time and work, but when Blue ‘got it’ it would mean so much because she would know that it was because of her persistence,” recalled her mother.

With practice and perseverance, Blue and Lieberman moved up to Beginner Novice in the spring of 2023, participating in their local Pony Club eventing rally for their first attempt at the level. The little gelding again had a few refusals on cross-country, but they completed the event. “I vowed not to give up,” said Lieberman. “I knew that when we finally went clean it was going to be such a huge accomplishment.”

Each event afterwards was an improvement, and finally at Queeny Park Horse Trials (Ballwin, Missouri) in June of 2023 he jumped clean—and actually picked up a few time faults for going a little too fast.

That fall, their hard work continued to pay off. They won their competitive Beginner Novice division at Heritage Park Horse Trials (Olathe, Kansas), earning the young rider low-score of the show. “It was amazing how much this pony had changed in just over a year,” said Lieberman proudly. “He was a committed and true partner that I could trust in every phase.”

At their first event this spring—the Queeny Park Horse Trials—Lieberman once again took home a blue ribbon, plus the low-score young rider award. Feeling confident, the following month they moved up to Novice at a Pony Club eventing rally, held in conjunction with the Mill Creek Pony Club Horse Trials (Kansas City, Missouri). Though they had a single stop on cross-country, Lieberman was pleased with what they’d accomplished. “I know he can be successful at Novice but it will take more hard work,” she reflected. “As we are moving to a new level, we need to develop the required skills and technical details. We work hard each day to make small changes to improve our dressage scores, as well as his adjustability and rideability [while jumping].”

With their transition to Novice successfully crossed off their bucket list, the pair still had two lofty Beginner Novice goals this summer: the U.S. Pony Club Championships followed by the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds, both held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. In July, Lieberman and Blue got their first taste of the facility. “We dropped from fifth after dressage to ninth when I made an error in stadium jumping, but it was such a privilege riding in the Rolex arena, and I’m so proud of how well Blue did his job,” she said. The icing on the cake? A faultless trip across the legendary cross-country course.

Two weeks ago, the pair returned to the Bluegrass State to compete at the AEC for the first time. They began their week in 29th after dressage, but two double-clear jumping rounds catapulted them up the leaderboard to finish in 13th place in the Beginner Novice Junior division. “I think my favorite moment might have been the victory gallop in the Rolex arena,” Lieberman said. “I will never forget that feeling.”

Lieberman’s family was on-site to support her, including her father—a first-time eventing spectator. “He absolutely loved it!” said LaCarrubba. “The entire experience was nothing short of magical. It was our first time attending, and the show was incredibly well organized and efficient.”

The family was also excited to watch Lieberman’s coach, Julie Wolfert, compete in the Advanced division as well as other riders from Area IV. “We love our group of eventers from the Midwest and to be able to spend time with them and enjoy this venue and cheer everyone on was fantastic,” added LaCarrubba. In October, the family will once again join their fellow Area IV riders at the horse park, this time to compete in the Hagyard Midsouth Three-Day Event and Team Challenge.

After the AEC, LaCarrubba reflected on how far her daughter and the little mustang have come over the past few years. “To watch them compete in the AEC was just sort of unbelievable,” she said. “Both horse and rider have improved so much in their relationship together. Blue is not fancy, but he sure will give his all for his kid. This sport is as much about grit and resilience as anything and this team really exemplifies all of that.”

About the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC)

The USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is the pinnacle of the sport at the national levels. Held annually, the best junior, adult amateur, and professional competitors gather to vie for national championship titles at every level from Starter to Advanced. This ultimate test of horse and rider draws hundreds of combinations from around the country to compete for fabulous prizes, a piece of the substantial prize money, and the chance to be named the National Champion at their respective levels. In fact, the 2021 AEC garnered over 1,000 entries and now stands as the largest eventing competition in North American history. The 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds were held Aug. 27—Sept. 1 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Click here to learn more about the USEA American Eventing Championships.

The USEA would like to thank Presenting Sponsor: Nutrena Feeds; Advanced Final Title Sponsor: Adequan; Platinum Level Sponsor: Bates Saddles, Horse & Country; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, Parker Equine Insurance, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Smartpak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Canter Culture Riding Apparel, Kerrits, The Jockey Club, Rood & Riddle; Bronze Level Sponsor: 70 Degrees, Athletux, The Chronicle of the Horse, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Kraft Horse Walkers, Majyk Equipe, Retired Racehorses Project, Ride EquiSafe, Santa Cruz Animal Health; Contributing Level Sponsors: Cross Country App, Georgetown – Scott County Tourism, Lexmark, L.V. Harkness, #WeRideTogether; and Prize Level Sponsors: BEMER, Big Ass Fans, Boyd Martin Fan Shop, Ecogold, EquiFit, Equilab, FarmVet, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Horses 4 Your Consideration, I Love My Horse Eventing Boutique, Jack’s Favorites, Jane Heart Jewelry, Kentucky Equine Research, LeMieux, Mare Goods, Neighborly Tack, Outlaw Nutrition, Palmera Polo, Parkmore Supplements, Practical Horseman / Equine Network, Rachel Dory Equine Fine Art, Remond Minerals, Secretariat Center, Shapley’s, Sidelines Magazine, Strides for Equality Equestrians, and VTO Saddlery.