United States Eventing Association

Before 2004, people knew me as “Lisa, the braider” at all my son’s events. I would braid up to 20 horses at an event to help pay for his riding and competing. It was only after Michael gave me an event entry at Galway Downs for a Mother’s Day gift, that I started riding again. For 10 years my focus had been to support Michael’s riding – I didn’t even think of riding for myself. But after that first event at Galway, I was hooked (even though I finished with a score in the 80s). I knew I could only do better.

In March 2006, my husband Mark bought me my horse Gali, a small, young thoroughbred that needed a job. I had known about him for a couple of months when my veterinarian told me that a woman bought him from the track but did not have the time to train him. He had a lot of energy and a large heart. When I took him to his first show, you could tell he liked to show off. To settle him down, I would lunge him and ride him twice before his dressage test. But the consistent training, rain or shine, and combined efforts of horse Gali, rider [me] and our trainer (don’t get me wrong, it was fun – fun work!) are not without a payoff. We improved, progressing individually and as a unit, until low and behold…

It wasn’t until I looked at the USEA leaderboard on April 10, 2008 that the idea of achieving a National title even entered my head. (I didn’t even know the leaderboard existed until than then.)

Please use my story as an inspiration to young and old: If you want to do something that seems unattainable because of your circumstances, it can be done. There is a way, just expand your perspective, imagine a way, and then see it through. (You too can jump that hurdle!)