United States Eventing Association

A few weeks ago at the Tryon International Horse Trials (Mill Spring, North Carolina), Moriah Orms headed out on Clayton Fredericks’ influential CCI4*-L cross-country course knowing it would demand accuracy and confidence. Riding Shanaclough Quality Clover—her 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (OBOS Quality x Shanaclough Clovertone) known around the barn as “Luke”—Orms delivered one of the strongest performances of her career, adding just 12.8 time penalties before finishing the weekend with a single rail and time penalties in show jumping to secure fifth place overall.

The result continued a strong stretch for the Stable View-based rider and trainer in Aiken, South Carolina, who successfully moved up to Advanced last summer at Millbrook Horse Trials (Millbrook, New York) before closing out the year with a CCI3*-L completion at the MARS Maryland Horse Trials and a strong performance at TerraNova CCI4*-S (Myakka City, Florida). This spring, solid four-star outings at Stable View and the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event helped build momentum heading into Tryon.

For Orms and Luke, the finish offered another indication they were settling into four-star competition. But for Orms, the result carried significance beyond the leaderboard. Even though Luke already had three-star experience before she imported him from Ireland in 2022 with guidance from Philip Dutton, the partnership required time—and some difficult decisions—before reaching this point.

“We had to kind of drop down the levels a little bit and start completely over,” Orms said. “It was frustrating at the time, but I’m very thankful I did because I learned so much from that. That filled in some gaps that I had in my riding, and I developed a really good partnership with him over that amount of time.”

She laughed remembering those early years. “Honestly, it was probably about two years of pure frustration,” she said. “I thought, ‘What am I doing wrong? I’m never gonna be able to get this. I’m such a bad rider. I can’t ride this horse.’ ”

Today, the pair looks increasingly established at the level, but developing the partnership required years of adjustment—an experience that ultimately strengthened Orms’ riding.

Growing Up in Horse Country

Horses were part of Orms’ life from the beginning. Raised in northern Virginia, she grew up surrounded by riders, including her mother Lindsay Orms.

“I just grew up riding and eventing and all that,” Moriah said. “So, it was pretty easy to get into.”

The family initially lived in Great Falls before purchasing a farm in the Middleburg area when Moriah was around 10 years old. Horses quickly became more than an extracurricular activity. “We’ve always had horses here at home,” Lindsay said. “Horsemanship was definitely a strong point. When you’re taking care of your horses and doing everything that needs to be done—they eat before we do.”

Moriah was also part of Loudoun Hunt Pony Club, a program Lindsay believes helped reinforce the horsemanship skills that continue to influence her daughter’s program today. “She’s always had a very strong sense of horsemanship,” Lindsay said. “Pony Club was kind of a natural fit.”

For Moriah, eventing itself never felt like a passing phase. “It’s kind of always been my dream,” she said. “As long as I really knew what eventing was, I just fell in love with it.”

That goal remained steady through high school, college, and periods when the path felt less certain. Moriah earned her undergraduate degree in history from George Mason University before later completing a master’s degree in English and creative writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Horses remained part of the picture throughout, though health challenges interrupted riding and athletics for a period after college, leaving her, as she described it, “horseless and trainer-less,” before an important turning point arrived through a horse named Dun Looking, known around the barn as “Ted.”

Ted connected Moriah with longtime event rider and trainer Kelli Temple. Moriah purchased the dun gelding from one of Temple’s clients before eventually becoming a working student, absorbing lessons not only in riding, but in how successful upper-level operations function day to day.

“Kelli had such a good program,” Moriah said. “I learned a lot about the training schedule that it takes for horses at different levels and what it was like to run a program with that many horses going.”

Lindsay saw those influences carry forward. “Kelli does a wonderful job with the young horses and just has so much patience,” she said. “I think Moriah got a lot from her time there.”

After her working student gig with Temple, Moriah freelanced around Virginia for several years while establishing herself professionally. During that time, she also campaigned the Thoroughbred mare Widespread Chaos through the two-star level.

Chaos brought a new type of ride than horses Moriah had previously developed, a challenge Lindsay believes strengthened her daughter’s foundation and prepared her for future partnerships. “Moriah has always loved to learn,” she said. “Having something that was different rather than a horse she knew how to ride improved her riding ability.”

Today, both Chaos and Ted remain part of Moriah’s program. “I do sales separately, but my personal horses have a home with me or my family for life,” Moriah said.

Chaos now teaches lessons and competes at lower levels and schooling shows, while Ted—now 22—has settled comfortably into another important role. “He mostly plays babysitter to the young ones,” Moriah said. “So he still gets to go places with them and have fun.”

Eventually, after deciding to base in Aiken year-round, Moriah spent time working for Philip Dutton—another important influence who would ultimately help connect her with Luke.

A New Partner

Luke already had three-star experience when Moriah imported him from Ireland four years ago. But while the horse brought talent and mileage to the partnership, putting the pieces together still required time.

“He was quite strong,” Moriah said. “I had a hard time kind of figuring him out at first.”

Dutton immediately recognized the horse’s talent. “He thought he was a really good jumper,” Moriah said. “He said he’s probably not gonna get huge scores because he’s not the flashiest horse, but he’s a really good boy.”

Luke’s jumping ability showed itself quickly. Building rideability and consistency took considerably longer. “There wasn’t any specific turning point,” Moriah said. “Other than tiny little moments over that whole time.”

Rather than continuing to push ahead, Moriah made the decision to step back and rebuild. “There were some very discouraging times during that,” Lindsay said. “I think a lot of people might have taken an easier road at that point and said, ‘Okay, let me find a horse that’s better suited.’ She was like, ‘I am going to learn how to do this, and we are going to learn together.’ ”

The process exposed areas Moriah wanted to improve in her own riding while strengthening her relationship with the gelding. “Honestly, he’s just a dude,” Moriah said. “He’s chill about everything. He’s a sweet guy. He’s kind of just everything you want in a horse on the ground and under saddle.”

His only notable complaint? “He doesn’t like bugs,” she said with a laugh.

Building Towards What's Next

Today, Moriah continues growing her business at Stable View while balancing training horses, sales horses, and a thriving group of youngsters coming along in her program.

“I love working with the young horses,” Moriah said. “Buying them from overseas and kind of starting them up and getting them going—that’s just so fun to me.”

Alongside those up-and-comers, one carries especially personal significance. Moriah and Lindsay own a young homebred mare named Plan Zee by Sempatico and out of the family’s broodmare, sired by As Di Villagana.

“Plan A didn’t work out with the mare as a riding horse,” Moriah said. “So I got a whole different fun experience—which is why I named the baby Plan Zee.”

Now 6 years old, Zee represents another rewarding project for the family and one they are intentionally allowing to develop slowly. “We don’t have the pressure to get her ready to sell,” Lindsay said. “That one is our family baby and can take our time and just do it properly.”

Lindsay believes giving young horses time remains one of the greatest gifts riders can offer. “So many times people just want to push them so fast,” she said. “Overall, I think doing too much—especially with the warmbloods—too early shortens their career.”

While the youngsters get the spotlight over the next few weeks, Luke will enjoy a short break before Moriah begins preparing for fall competition goals and another potential CCI4*-L later this season. Tryon did not create momentum for Moriah and Luke—it reinforced what they had already spent years building together.