United States Eventing Association

Starting 2019 with a Clean Slate

In 2018, adult amateur rider Frankie Thieriot Stutes was awarded the $50,000 Rebecca Broussard International Developing Riders Grant. Frankie will be sharing her eventing experiences with the USEA Foundation this year.

I’m Frankie Thieriot Stutes, an amateur three-day event rider with a wonderful horse named Chatwin. I have been riding since age three when my mom decided her very wild child needed an activity that could assist in working off some of her exuberant energy.

Since that time I have always ridden in some capacity, but I, unlike many upper level riders, never dreamed of coaching and riding numerous horses per day, but instead aspired to work in sports marketing and communications. After working in the NHL, for NIKE, as the Director of Communications for a fitness, media, Sports company, and a freelancer for the USEA as an on-camera reporter, I decided it was time to start something of my own to help equestrian athletes and in 2011, my equine marketing company Athletux was born.

Although 2018 was an incredible year for me, I am a firm believer in that you give yourself a bit of time to be upset when things don’t go right and you only allow yourself the same amount of time to celebrate your successes before it is time to move on and get back to work. With that said, 2019 is here, my horse and I are both certainly a bit out of shape from the winter (remember, I only have one horse who has been on vacation since October), and we have a lot of work to do to be as good as we dream of becoming.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant, I will be able to further my training under the instruction of German Dressage Hall of Famer Lilo Fore, which I have begun doing this week - and let me just say there is a lot of work to do. With a portion of the funds I received, my focus early in the season is to go to dressage and jumper shows that were financially a bit daunting in addition to my necessary three-day events last year, and I am excited to get going with those at the end of January.

I believe in being out of your comfort zone as much as possible, and I also believe you can always get better in some way both on and off your horses. So here I am, ready for 2019 with a clean slate, bringing what I learned from last year with me, but also remembering that all that counts is what lies ahead. I have a hunger bigger than ever to make every day count because of the tremendous gift and opportunities I have been given thanks to the honor of being the 2018 “Big Becky" recipient.

The Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grants are bestowed by the Broussard family through the USEA Foundation in honor of the memory of Rebecca Chaney Broussard. The International and National Developing Rider Grants (affectionately referred to as the "Big Becky" and "Little Becky" grants are awarded yearly at the Year End Award Ceremony at the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention to encourage the development of event riders at the highest levels of the sport.