Jan 08, 2025

Now On Course: Through All the Ups and Downs, Alyssa Schaefer and Fuego Celebrate 10 Years of Partnership

Ashley Kemp Photography photo

We recently asked our members on social media to tell us about their 2024 successes. Amateur rider Alyssa Schaefer (Petaluma, California) wrote in about her year with her 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Fuego (Furst Romancier x Stanzie).

Success in eventing isn’t just about standing atop the podium or achieving personal bests. It’s about enduring long enough to reach those moments. The road is rarely smooth—it’s filled with setbacks, challenges, and lessons that demand grit and resilience from both horse and rider.

For Fuego and me, 2024 marked a decade of partnership—a milestone I treasure deeply. Over these 10 years, Fuego has faced trials that many believed would end his career, but time and again, he’s proven that setbacks are just steppingstones for comebacks. His story is one of unwavering determination, and this year was a testament to his indomitable spirit.

In 2020, we discovered Fuego had a tendon injury. The rehabilitation process lasted an entire year—where at times hope only seemed like a theory taught in books. At the time, we had just reached the Intermediate level, a pinnacle of achievement for us both. Then, seemingly overnight, it was ripped away. Any horse person will tell you: when our horses are hurt, we hurt too. The road to recovery was long and uncertain, and few believed we could overcome it.

Fast forward to now, and Fuego has far exceeded expectations. In 2022, he finished fourth in a CCI3*-S, and our growth has continued ever since. This year, a standout moment was our third-place finish in our first-ever Advanced Intermediate—a culmination of years of training, trust, and incremental progress. That result reignited our aspirations to tackle Advanced next year, a goal that once felt distant and daunting.

However, eventing has a way of humbling you even in moments you feel prepared. Just one show later, an early mistake on cross-country left me face-first in the dirt, sporting my first-ever black eye and a fat, bloody lip. Those bruises weren’t just physical—they were colorful reminders of the patience, resilience, and hours of hard work it takes to master this sport.

We ended the season on a high note with a victory at Intermediate at Aspen Farms in Washington—a competition I wholeheartedly rate five-stars for its challenging courses and breathtaking scenery.

Through all the highs and lows, one thing remains constant: the reward of seeing hard work come to fruition. Fuego and I have poured countless hours into this journey—not just in the saddle but also in his rehabilitation. Over the years, Fuego has faced injuries and setbacks that tested both his body and spirit. Yet, every time, he has come back stronger, teaching me lessons about perseverance that extend far beyond the arena.

What makes Fuego’s story truly special isn’t just the ribbons or results. It’s the unwavering partnership we’ve built over 10 years—the longest I’ve ever had in this sport. It’s the way he meets challenges with courage, even when the odds seem insurmountable. He inspires me, every day, to be better for him.

To anyone navigating a setback with their horse right now, know that you're not alone. I understand the frustration, the doubts, and the fear of an uncertain future. But keep your head up—there is so much joy in seeing your horse return stronger than ever.

Jan 13, 2025 Education

USEA Podcast #378: The Ultimate Rider Fitness Q&A Show

It's the start of a new year and what better time to talk about prioritizing yourself and your fitness than at the start of a new season? USEA Podcast Host Nicole Brown sat down with Olympian Boyd Martin and equestrian sports performance fitness coach Tony Sandoval to answer all of your submitted questions regarding your health and fitness so that you can start your year off on the right foot!

Jan 12, 2025 Association News

How 2024 Shaped ShowConnect

This past year was an impressive year of growth for ShowConnect, the innovative event management system for equestrian events. Not only were many updates made by the development team to further enhance the user experience, but many events adopted the platform as their event management system for the year with immense success. Here are a few fun statistics showcasing some highlights of ShowConnect's 2024 season:

Jan 11, 2025 Rules

Rule Refresher: Not a Non-Compete? Not Allowed on Grounds

Bringing your future eventing prospect with you to a horse trial as a non-compete can be a wonderful educational opportunity for horses not used to the hustle and bustle of the show grounds. However, horses must be registered with the show office as a "non-compete" horse in order to be allowed on grounds. Bringing horses to an event to school, to provide lessons, or to campaign for sale is strictly prohibited.

Jan 10, 2025 Profile

2024 RevitaVet USEA Young Rider of the Year Molly Duda Has Weathered the Ups and Downs of Top-Level Sport and Come Out Stronger

Molly Duda’s 2024 got off to a strong start as she completed her first Advanced event with Disco Traveler, her 2023 USEF Eventing Young Rider Championship gold-medal partner. The pair won the Advanced division at Twin Rivers (Paso Robles, California) in February and followed it up with a second-place finish in their first CCI4*-S at Galway Downs (Temecula, California) in March. But it wasn’t totally smooth sailing on the way to their second consecutive RevitaVet USEA Young Rider of the Year award.

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