United States Eventing Association

Melissa McMaster Masters the Training Three-Day Event

Melissa McMaster considers herself an adrenaline junkie. When the 26-year-old from Bryan, Texas first started eventing two years ago, she was immediately drawn to the long-format. Melissa has now completed four training three-day events winning her most recent one at the Coconino Summer Horse Trials in Flagstaff, Arizona aboard Flagmount’s Sterling Prince.

Attending this event was Melissa’s first time at Coconino, and she said that the facility was gorgeous. “Dressage was on a race track, but luckily Prince is an Irish Sport Horse so he had never been on a race track!” Melissa explained. “Dressage was also in a large arena, and it was my first time riding in a large arena, but I really liked it.” Melissa says that she typically finishes in the middle of the pack with Prince because he is built downhill and just goes around the ring “ho hum”. However, she says that she always tries to go in with a positive attitude because she knows she has a good chance of going clean in both of the jumping phases and moving up in the placings.

“Cross-country was so fun, and we made all the times on roads and tracks, steeplechase, and cross-country so that was exciting too. Also, half of the Training Three-Day course was shared with the Preliminary level course, so it was so cool knowing that I was doing some Preliminary level jumps,” Melissa said. After cross-country Melissa and Prince moved up to second place, lying just behind her friend and fellow Texan, Ellen Doughty.

Melissa and Prince entered the stadium arena and put in a double clear round. “Prince just loped around like it was a hunter course,” Melissa said. After finishing her round, Melissa stood outside the arena and watch Ellen take her horse Sir Oberon around. Sir Oberon is typically a great show jumper Melissa said, so she did not know if she would have a chance of moving up in the placings. However, Sir Oberon uncharacteristically pulled two rails. “I was amazed; I just couldn’t believe I had won,” Melissa said. “However, it was a double-edged sword since Ellen is my friend I was sad that she had to lose.”

“I am still mesmerized to this day that I won!” Melissa exclaimed. “It was so cool getting to win a cooler also in the awards ceremony. It is always fun getting a ribbon and having the learning experience of an event, but winning a little something extra is really special.” In addition to her first-placed ribbon, Melissa also won best dressed at the jog. Melissa was all decked out in a Kentucky Derby type of hat and even jogged in heels.

Besides her successes at the Training Three-Days, Melissa is also sitting on the top of the Training Amateur leaderboard and is second behind Ellen on the Training Adult Rider leaderboard. Although, Melissa is currently an amateur she is going to declare her professional status after the first of the year, so she is able to beginning training students.

Melissa is currently riding full-time thanks to the support of her great parents. The family also buys horses from auctions and retrains them to become eventers, and Melissa recently competed at The Event at Rebecca Farm on a $200 mare finishing very well in a tough division.

The Training-Three Day events are just a step on the path to representing her country. “My job is to get to the Olympics,” Melissa said.

Photos Courtesy of Dee McMaster.