United States Eventing Association

Olivia Dutton: Eventing Genes and Family Strength

This article originally appeared in the April 2024 edition of Sidelines magazine.

As the daughter of two-time Olympic gold medalist Phillip Dutton, Olivia Dutton has loved horses for as long as she can remember. Now 22, Olivia is forging her own path in the upper levels of eventing, guided by her famous father. “I am so grateful to share my passion for horses with my dad,” Olivia said. “I have always looked up to him, as he is such a humble person and always puts the animals first.”

In addition to being her dad, Phillip is Olivia’s coach and biggest supporter—even when father and daughter find themselves competing in the same event. Last November, Olivia placed an impressive third in the $20,000 Indoor Eventing Challenge at Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair—an event that was won by her father. “It was an exciting day for us all,” Olivia said. “To be able to be out there competing on the same stage as my father—it was just incredible.”

Eventing Roots

Born in West Grove, Pennsylvania, to Phillip Dutton and his wife, Evie—a former two-star-level eventer—Olivia was introduced to horses before she could walk. She first sat on a pony when she was still a baby, along with her twin sister, Mary. “I immediately loved everything about it,” Olivia said. “I’ve been drawn to horses ever since.” While Mary opted to stop riding at the age of 6 to pursue other interests, Olivia was completely hooked on the sport. “I would watch my dad work the horses and I knew I wanted to follow that same path,” Olivia said. “Being able to watch him represent our country in the Olympics was amazing; it really inspired me to one day do the same.”

Olivia made her eventing debut at the age of 10 aboard the family pony, a mixed breed named Chocolate Mousse. “I think that pony got me off every single day,” Olivia said. “But he taught me so much.” After outgrowing Mousse, she moved on to a larger pony—a Connemara-Irish cob gelding named Dougal, aka The Dude—whom she leased from Cathy Schaffer. Even at such a young age, Olivia displayed a talent beyond her years—along with a strong willingness to work hard. By the age of 13, Olivia had successfully completed her first Training level event aboard The Dude, just two years after her debut at Beginner Novice. “The Dude was truly the coolest pony,” Olivia said. “Riding him made me fall in love with sport of eventing.”

When it came time to make the leap to horses, Olivia was paired with Santa’s Playboy, a white-blazed bay off-the-track Thoroughbred whom had competed to the Advanced level with his owner, Amy Ruth Borun. Amy, a longtime student of Phillip, had recently retired the 17-year-old gelding from upper-level competition and thought Santa would be a good match for a young rider such as Olivia. As it turned out, her hunch was correct.

“Santa was much easier for me to get round and go forward. I didn’t have to kick him forward to the jumps like I did with my pony,” Olivia said. “Also, my dad knew the horse so well and knew what I had to do to have him perform his best. Amy Ruth was also very helpful to me in teaching me all about Santa’s likes and dislikes.”

Olivia and Santa placed an impressive second in their first competition together at Plantation Field in the Junior Novice division and moved up to Training at Fair Hill the following month. Within a year, Olivia and Santa won the reserve championship in the Junior and Young Rider division at the USEF One-Star Eventing National Championships at the Hagyard Midsouth Three Day Event & Team Challenge. It was an exciting day for the entire Dutton family, as Phillip was named reserve champion in the CCI1* at the same event.

By the time she turned 14, Olivia completed her first two-star course before Santa retired from competition. “I was so lucky to be given the opportunity to ride such an amazing horse,” Olivia said. “I am forever grateful to Amy Ruth for allowing me to ride Santa.”

Family Strength

Despite the early success, Olivia’s path to eventing in the upper levels didn’t come without challenges. In 2016, a heartbreaking tragedy struck the Duttons when LeeLee—the oldest of the family’s three daughters and an accomplished rider—sustained a devastating traumatic brain injury while working a horse shortly before Christmas. She spent nearly eight weeks in the ICU and began a long and arduous road to recovery. “The accident was very hard for all of us,” Olivia said. “It kind of knocked my confidence for a while and made me look at the sport a bit differently. There was a time where getting on a horse was difficult for me after my sister’s accident. It definitely put things into perspective, because things can change in a moment.”

LeeLee’s accident changed how Phillip and Evie saw their daughters’ riding career. “It was the most difficult time for our family,” Evie said. “Olivia was 15 at the time and just starting to ride at the upper levels, as well as play sports at school. As time went on, it was clear that she wanted to ride competitively. As her mother, I desperately wanted to tell her not to, but I also never wanted to deny her passion. I truly believe that LeeLee wouldn’t have wanted her to give up riding, either. So although Phillip and I tried to steer her towards show jumping, she kept coming back to her love of eventing.”

Now in a wheelchair, LeeLee continues to make progress every day at the family’s home in West Chester, Pennsylvania, lovingly cared for by her mom, Evie. “My mom does such an incredible job of caring for my sister. I try to help out as much as I can,” Olivia said. “It’s such an inspiration to me to watch my sister improve every day and to see how dedicated my mom is to her care—while also managing all of the paperwork for our farm and having a horse of her own. I am so proud of both of them.”

With the support of her family, Olivia continued pursuing her passion. Following Santa’s retirement, she was given the opportunity of a lifetime when she was handed the reins to one of her father’s horses, the Olympic veteran Mr. Medicott. Among other career accolades, the chestnut ISH gelding had helped secure team gold for Germany at the 2008 Hong Kong Olympic Games. Later on, Karen O’Connor campaigned him and rode him in the 2012 Olympics.

“Being able to ride Mr. Medicott was incredible,” Olivia said. “He took me to the three-star level at Young Riders when I was 16 and showed me the ropes. He taught me what it was supposed to feel like on a horse that could take you all the way. Even now, so many years later, when I try a new horse, I think back and remember how it felt when I rode him.”

The Upper Levels

After Young Riders, Olivia took the skills she had learned from Mr. Medicott and began riding young, green horses. “My dad told me it was time that I learn to ride the young ones, as I had ridden so many made horses,” Olivia said. Along came Iniesta, known as Indio, a 6-year-old Dutch Warmblood who was imported by Caroline Martin Pamukcu. “He had just done the jumpers and I was able to bring him along to the two-star level. He had all of the makings of a super-talented horse. Unfortunately he was injured and could no longer compete, but I learned so much from riding him after previously riding experienced horses. He is retired at our farm now and is a babysitter for one of the foals.”

More recently, Olivia took over the ride on Sea Of Clouds, fondly called Socs, a tall bay off-the-track Thoroughbred whom her dad had competed to the five-star level. The horse, who had two unimpressive starts on the racetrack, has been a superstar in the eventing world. Olivia and Socs competed successfully at the three-star level this past season with hopes of moving forward. “He is only 13 and still feels great. I’m looking forward to doing a four-star with him,” Olivia said. “He’s a very cool horse. He’s a bit quirky and sensitive, and he was used to having a stronger rider in my dad. But we’ve really formed a partnership now and I’m super excited for the future.”

Perhaps that future will involve a trip to the Olympics someday. “The first time I was able to go watch my dad in the Olympics was 2012, and I was still pretty young,” Olivia said. “Then I went to the Tokyo games in 2020 when I was older. It really opened my eyes to see what an honor it is to represent your country at the Olympic Games. I’m hoping one day I will have that honor.”

And it’s not just Phillip that inspires Olivia—Olivia inspires him as well. “To be honest, Evie and I had mixed feelings when Olivia would talk about riding full time,” Phillip said. “Not because of her ability or commitment, but because we’ve lived it—we realize how difficult it can be to make a living from the sport, and the added safety risk of riding at the higher levels. Obviously, there are enormous pluses as well, and eventing has allowed us to make incredible friends and experiences. Having Olivia come into this now has really given both of us a boost. Her energy, enthusiasm and passion for horses is contagious and very special.”

While Evie stays home to care for LeeLee while Phillip and Olivia spend winters competing in Florida, Olivia is grateful for her family’s support, wherever they are. “I consider myself very fortunate to have such a loving and supportive family and to be able to follow my dreams,” Olivia said. “I am just so very thankful.”