United States Eventing Association

Road to the AEC: Becky Crocket Reunites with a Special Homebred

My story began in July of 1995 when my parents bought my dream horse, B.B. Babauska, “Babs,” from Bruce Davidson when I was 17 years old. She was part of Bruce’s homebred program and related to the great JJ Babu. I begged Bruce to let me try Babs, and he said “No” many times! I was persistent as I knew she was my “it” horse. I fell in love with Babs at first sight.

Together we ran Intermediate and finished the long format CCI2* (now at CCI3*) at Camino Real (Buffalo, Texas). At the finish line were Bruce and Ralph Hill waiting on me. I was congratulated by Bruce with a big hug and smile! Ralph said, “See you at Rolex in the spring!” I was truly elated coming off that show. Unfortunately, my mare suffered a major soft tissue injury at the start of the fall season. All my goals of getting to Rolex were crushed, and my young rider years had just ended due to my age.

I bred Babs four times during her lifespan of 28 years. She had four foals. Her last foal, “Jake,” Northern Sky, was born in 2006. I attended college and was accepted at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. I continued to ride and show at the lower levels on my first homebred Thoroughbred during that time. I sold her to help pay for veterinary college.

I graduated UTCVM in 2008. At that time, I had just quit riding and showing. I hung up my helmet, put away my spurs, and I was DONE! Well, at least a big thought of done…

Babs and her three babies grew up together and became pasture ornaments. I sold Jake to professional Alex Green when he was 6 years old. An amateur owner, Ann Johnson, bought Jake from Alex. Jake evented preliminary with Alex and taught Ann the ropes of eventing. I followed them all on social media.

Babs died in November of 2018. Being a veterinarian, we deal with death a lot. She was a fighter and was fighting that day. My heart broke; my heart horse neighed at me for the very last time, but I knew what I had to do. Putting your own horse to sleep is brutally painful! Broken hearts are very hard to fill. At that time, it solidified that I was truly done with my riding career. So I thought!

I went to see Jake in the summer of 2019, and I met Ann for the first time. When I said hello to Ann, a horse stuck his head out the stall door and looked straight at me without breaking eye contact; it was Jake. I went to see him, and he put his head in the center of my chest, allowing me to kiss him on the forehead, then allowed me to blow in his nose just ever so gently, and softly nuzzled my hand. Ann said, “He remembers you, and he knows who you are.” We agreed together that he absolutely 100% knew who I was that day. I left and came home all teary eyed!

Christmas of 2021, my daughter, Emilia, was 3 1/2 years old and told Santa on the Polar Express that she wanted a pony. I said, “Nope, nope, no, and we are not going down that road!” Just like her mom, Emilia persistently asked for a pony. I called my childhood trainer, Bill Hoos, for advice. He said many times on repeat, “Becky, you let her ride.” Eventually, I caved, and she had her first lesson. At Emilia’s first lesson, she wanted to trot and go over poles! I was like, “Oh, here we go!” and Emilia was 3 years old.

I bought us a feisty pony to ride and to teach Emilia in the summer of 2022. Cookie was a little much for Emilia but perfect for me. I found a mini pony for Emilia, named Peony. Perfect match for mom and daughter rides. I realized at the time how much I missed riding.

In October of 2022, Ann called me about Jake. I thought she was calling to let me know he had passed away. Little did I know, she called to see about gifting him back to me. I was ecstatic and crying happy! She had been watching my daughter and I ride on social media. Ann said that Jake belonged back with me. I went to pick him up. When he got home, he was peacefully happy. Jake met his sisters and within a few minutes they were all bonded again.

That December of 2022, I was out casually riding Jake, and we jumped a ditch pretty smoothly. I took him for a lesson at a local jumper barn with Stephanie Tate. We jumped around a 3’ course like we had been riding together for years. Mind you, my last time jumping was 15-plus years ago. Stephanie begged me to show again, and I said no! Well, a few weeks later, I caved and said yes to showing.

I bought all new show gear and the next day, I suffered a tibial plateau fracture and an ulnar collateral full tear from a snow skiing accident at the end of December and required two surgeries to put me back together. I was in a wheelchair for 10 weeks, crutches for a couple of weeks, and no riding for 12 weeks! I was so distraught and upset.

Late spring of 2023, I finally could ride and show. I did a few 1.0-meter jumper shows and a hunter show. Over that summer, I told Stephanie I wanted to go back to eventing. She said, “I was hoping to take the eventer out of you, and that’s truly impossible!”

I called Bill, he said, “Let’s do it,” and he was happy I was back. Bill had been my coach since I was 7 years old. The Hoos’ took me to my first event at River Glen [Newmarket, Tennessee] way back when in the late 80s!

During my dressage warm up and right before I was to go in the ring, my white Arab cob, Dapple, rolled in the red clay mud. Lori [Hoos] was floored to say the least! Lori hosed Dapple and me off as we were covered in the River Glen red clay! I went in the ring to perform my dressage test afterwards. We were both soaking wet and everything white was stained the red clay color! If you have ridden at River Glen, you know what I’m talking about! I was hooked on eventing since I was a little kid!

Last August, Jake and I did our first cross-county school in many years. Bill yelled at me and said, “It’s only Novice,” and, “Don’t fall off today, Becky!” In my head I was riding like it was Intermediate and very nervous. I did show the crew I could still do it! Everybody was so super proud of us! After all, I had not evented nor seen a cross-country fence since the fall of 2006. We jumped pretty much every Training level fence on the course and no stops! Jake hadn’t seen a cross-country fence since 2017. I was ecstatic and proud of us both!

We entered our first show at Novice the fall of 2023, and we have not looked back. I got my first place and AEC qualification in May this year. I’m 46 years old now. I’m coming to the AEC riding my 18-year-old homebred Thoroughbred that I sold and was gifted back! It is pretty amazing to say the least!

Are you planning on attending the AEC this year and have a cool story? Let us know by emailing Lindsay at [email protected] for a chance to be featured on useventing.com

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 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held Aug. 27—Sept. 1 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. 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, Horse & Country; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, Parker Equine Insurance, Schneiders Saddlery, Smartpak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Canter Culture Riding Apparel, Kerrits, The Jockey Club; and more!