United States Eventing Association

This weekend of June 14 and 15 Susan and Blake Harris hosted the 32^nd annual Spring Run Horse Trials at their family farm in Prospect, Kentucky. The last event I went to was Rolex and as always it was an amazing experience, with the crowds, the vendors, and the best of the best competing. But, it was driving into Spring Run that I remembered why most of our members, from me, whose goal is to get to Novice again, to many of those now competing at Rolex, fell in love with the sport.

From the very beginning when you arrive you feel a part of the Spring Run family. When you first pull in you drive across the cattle gate, down past the trailers of those who have hauled in for the day, on through the woods and park in front of the family’s home. Next you are greeted by an amazing group of volunteers. From the secretaries to the score runners to the dressage ring stewards all are friends, family, or students at Spring Run and volunteered to spend their weekend helping Susan and Blake because they simply love being there. One such volunteer, Patti Naiser, put together the program, assisted the secretary, and competed for the first time at Beginner Novice at the event. It is these type of individuals that help make our sport possible.

Another Spring Run family member that I had the pleasure to meet was Janet Zoller. Janet began her riding career as a Pony Clubber, achieving her B rating, and riding in the same club as Susan Harris, when both were growing up. Then, as happens to many of us, riding was put on the back burner, as she went through college, then med school, got married, began a family, and developed a successful practice. After a twenty-four year hiatus she is back, and having as much fun as ever. She now enjoys the sport competing along side of her daughters Rachel and Alice. It is with Rachel’s previous Advanced level horse, Ben Starr, that she completed the

Training Level Rider division at Spring Run this year. Adding nothing but time penalties to her dressage score, Janet finished in eighth place. Janet also won the 2008 Spring Run Poco Award! This award is presented to the highest placed finisher with the greatest combined age of horse and rider. Janet and Ben’s ages added up to 77. (I’m not telling the individual ages.)

(Above Left: Janet & Rachel)

Thank you to everyone at Spring Run, and to all of USEA’s organizers, that put these events on for the love of the sport!