United States Eventing Association

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“I don’t know what to do with this pony!” I lamented, to my husband. It was October 2024, and I was frustrated, with no plan nor direction. “I have tried to sell her, but she’s not what people want for their kids right now.” She was just supposed to be a quick training project while I searched for my next horse.

That pony today is fondly known as All That Glitters, and since January 2025, she has been capturing hearts, points, and ribbons in the Starter division at events in Southern California. Most people don’t know my name, but they sure know "Glitter." But in October 2024, she was a green 4-year-old Welsh cross, sized for a child at just under 13.3 hands, with the heart of a lion and an ego to match! I purchased her in December 2022, at 2 1/2 years old. I had recently lost a horse, and was very discouraged. I thought a pony to start would be a great diversion.

However, I will say that this pony was not what I expected. She was not easy. She was not near “born broke,” as her siblings apparently were, and she did not prove to be kid ready by 4. Suffice to say, I had to rethink my plans of moving her along to a kiddo in the near term and figure out what was next for us. Because, it was obvious, she’d be with me for a bit.

As a youngster of 2 1/2-3, we hauled out to wilderness parks and went hiking. I taught her to load, and soon she was jumping into the trailer. She crossed rushing creeks and jumped over logs and actual ditches long before she was under saddle. She was literally practicing cross-country before she ever had a rider. By 3, when I was ultimately able to back her without dying, we started with lots of trail riding. She was spicy, but she was also catlike, agile, athletic, and confident.

Interestingly, Glitter fell in love with me long before I fell in love with her. Immediately, she would scream to me when I arrived, scream when I left, and followed me without a halter. I think she liked the consistency, leadership, and boundaries. As a school administrator, she has always reminded me of those students who really respect consistency and boundaries, they act like they want control but they truly do not. She seemed to love to work and learn.

Between 3-4, she trained up nicely, but, she sure didn’t show signs of being a kid’s pony any time soon. What to do with this? She was beautiful, brave, and a lovely mover… suitable for an experienced adult and sized for a 9-year-old child.

Back to October 2024, my husband said, “Why don’t you try that thing you used to love to do? You know, where you run around and gallop cross-country and jump all those things out there. You loved that.”

Eventing. He was talking about eventing. He then said, “That was your favorite thing you ever did, but you didn’t have horses that wanted to do it, so you quit. Well I think this one would want to do it. You always says she’s so playful and brave.”

I tried to protest, but he was right. I had the horse, er, pony, that might be a great candidate. And I did not have a better plan. Copper Meadows Sun Series clinic was coming up in a few weeks.

I rode in the cross-country clinic with Chloe Smyth, who I had known for a few years. I was terrified everything would go wrong, that I’d come off, that Glitter would refuse, that everyone would laugh at me. None of that happened. Chloe was encouraging. What did happen is I had the most fun on a horse that I had in years. I didn’t realized how much I missed cross-country until I was out there again and I felt I was “home.”

A month later, I reached out to Olivia Putrino, who my dear friend Tina Fitch had recommended, and joined a cross-country lesson at Galway Downs. Olivia was patient and kind, gave us super tips, and we had a wildly successful day.

In December 2024, I took another lesson with Olivia and informed her that I was entering the Galway Downs Winter Kickoff in January 2025. It seemed a great idea, because it was still a month away!

As the weekend approached, I felt differently. What had made me think I could do this? That weekend in January, I was so nervous I thought I would pass out. I hadn’t shown in years and never in a rated horse trials. I thought our dressage was rough, but we were in second place after dressage. I checked multiple times to see if this was a mistake. Before entering the Grand Prix arena for show jumping, again, I thought I was going to pass out. But the moment that the buzzer sounded, it was game on for Glitter and me. We had a blast and went double-clear. I’ll never forget looking around that gorgeous arena and hearing friends shout “Go Jen!” My heart burst at the seams.

Cross-country was incredible, and I thought my face would split in half with my smile. Meanwhile Glitter thought she was just warming up and came off the course spicy and wanting more. We finished on our dressage score in second place.

I entered the International Horse Trials at Galway Downs in March. Our dressage was challenging, but again we went double-clear in show jumping and cross-country. We conquered some cross-country questions that had me really concerned in the course walk with absolute ease.

In April, I met Auburn Excell Brady, who trains out of the equestrian center where I board, and she agreed to support me with lessons too. I didn’t have the heart to tell her I’d never had a dressage lesson in my life, and she started helping me with dressage. She’s been absolutely instrumental in our growth and progress.

I entered the May Horse Trials at Galway. I was one show away from full qualifications for the AEC. How was this possible? A few months prior, I had no plan, no goals, and now I could literally qualify for a national championship? We earned a nice score in dressage, sitting in fourth, and I felt super about cross-country. The weather was hideous, but I knew we could do it. And we could, until we didn’t. I underestimated the effects of rogue winds on flowers atop a coop, didn’t ride well enough, and had our first cross-country stop ever. I circled, and tried again, and the remainder of the course was foot perfect, but we’d lost our qualification.

After the disappointment, acceptance, and a little loss of confidence, I did what any self respecting eventer would do: I signed up for the horse trials at Shepherd Ranch in June. Because while a few months back, I was terrified to do ANY events, I was now terrified to miss out. FOMO fully engaged! Also, my husband would not let me shy away from anything. “You are having fun, and you are doing it. You are doing well. I don’t care if you’re riding a pony!” he said.

Meanwhile, I met friends at every horse trials I entered. People seemed to love Glitter, and rather than judging me for riding a pony, they would make a point to watch my rounds and cheer me on. This has been one of the very best aspects of eventing for me; the support and camaraderie from everyone. I hadn’t had an experience like this in years, and my heart swelled.

Shepherd was a very different environment from the now familiar Galway Downs. But, after dressage at Shepherd, I was sitting in second in Open Starter. Cross-country the next day was a blast and an exhilarating double-clear! Show jumping on Sunday, with a tired Glitter pony, wasn’t fancy, but was still double-clear. And our AEC qualification requirements had been MET.

July 9, 2025: “Congratulations Jenny McCann! You are being contacted because you are the owner of a horse that is qualified to compete at the 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships Presented by Nutrena Feeds! This year, the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) will be held August 27 - 31 at Galway Downs in Temecula, CA.”

The words I have for this are: grateful, humbled, surprised, thrilled. Friends and coaches have helped me immeasurably. This pony I didn’t actually really want has taken me on a journey I never could have expected. I have grown as a rider, trainer, horsewoman, and friend. It’s not about the prizes or the placing. But, I am going to give the AEC a good try for the sake of my little pony who could, because, All That Glitters…is gold.

About the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC)

The USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is the pinnacle of the sport at the national levels. Held annually, the best junior, adult amateur, and professional competitors gather to vie for national championship titles at every level from Starter to Advanced. This ultimate test of horse and rider draws hundreds of combinations from around the country to compete for fabulous prizes, a piece of the substantial prize money, and the chance to be named the National Champion at their respective levels. In fact, the 2021 AEC garnered over 1,000 entries and now stands as the largest eventing competition in North American history. The 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held on Aug. 27-31 at Galway Downs in Temecula, California. Click here to learn more about the USEA American Eventing Championships.

The USEA would like to thank Presenting Sponsor: Nutrena Feeds; Advanced Final Title Sponsor: Adequan; Platinum Level Sponsor: Bates Saddles, Marshall+Sterling Equine Insurance; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartPak, Standlee; and more!