United States Eventing Association

Team Spirit, a Trusted Trainer, and a Special Thoroughbred Gave Lila Apple a New Outlook

For 13-year-old Lila Apple, the pathway to eventing hasn’t always been easy. Self-doubt and confidence issues hindered her progress, but after partnering with a precocious and experienced Thoroughbred and a new trainer who helped her hone her skills, she’s thriving—and even has this year’s USEA Interscholastic Eventing League Championships (IEL) firmly in her sights.

Horses have always been a part of Apple’s life, thanks to her mother Brandi Apple, who grew up eventing. Though Brandi stopped riding when she went off to college, her first horse remained a part of the family, carting Lila around as a toddler. While Lila’s 10-year-old brother Reid Apple is more interested in soccer than horses, Brandi herself will hop on occasionally, “But I mainly live vicariously through Lila now,” she said with a laugh.

Besides her mother’s old horse, Lila partnered with memorable ponies in her early years, including a pinto named Hiccup who was prone to bucking and a feisty Connemara named Gunner whom she competed at local combined tests. But it was Toujours Prêt (“Beau”), a 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Mysterious Peintre x Hot Like Me) with Training level experience who would take her riding to the next level.

In late 2023, the family connected with Sarah Lawrence, a trainer based near the Tryon International Equestrian Center (Mill Spring, North Carolina). Though Lawrence primarily focuses on upper-level hunter/jumpers, she also has a background in eventing, having competed on Area VII Young Rider teams while growing up in Washington. “She introduced me to Beau, and I was really scared at first,” recalled Lila. “I remember being too scared to even trot him. I was like, ‘Can we do it on the longe line?’ ”

Lawrence told the family that Lila’s success with Beau would depend on the right training approach. Initially, they planned to buy the gelding and continue riding with their current trainer, but ultimately switched programs to ride with Lawrence, who encouraged Lila to take things slow, prioritize safety, and build confidence step by step. “I never pushed beyond what felt comfortable, always letting her decide when she was ready,” said Lawrence. “Over time, she shifted from hesitation to self-trust—now, when I ask how she feels about a challenge, she responds, ‘If you think I can do it, I know I can.’ ”

“The transformation she’s had over the past year has been incredible,” she added. “When she first came to me, she was nervous riding outside the arena and hesitant to jump even small poles. She clearly wanted to improve but had never been given the tools to feel safe and in control.”

Lawrence took her time in their training sessions, focusing on empowering the teen to make decisions and build trust in herself and Beau. In just three months, Lila went from nervous walks in the field to confidently cantering on her own. Now, she’s competing at Beginner Novice, consistently scoring in the top placings at shows, and planning a move up.

Beyond riding, Lila’s confidence has grown in every aspect of her life. Friends and family have noticed the change, with people even approaching Lawrence at events to say how different Lila seems—more self-assured, outgoing, and determined. “It’s been incredible to witness her growth,” Lawrence said, “not just as a rider, but as a person.”

Lila’s thankful for the confidence boost from her coach and all the educational opportunities over the past year—schooling cross-country, trailering out to Lawrence’s farm for training sessions, and competing in local shows. “She’s a great instructor because I feel like she not only tells me what I need to do, but why I need to do it, so that it makes sense,” she said.

When the family first tried Beau, they leased him for a month before deciding to buy. “Sarah wanted Lila to ride off-property, so we took him to a cross-country schooling course,” Brandi remembered. “At first, she would only walk and trot—she was too nervous to canter or jump. So, Sarah turned the outing into a simple trail ride instead. Three months later, we went back, and the difference was incredible. She went from being hesitant in open fields to confidently cantering over logs.”

For Lila, the turning point came when she finally trusted Beau. “I remember a lesson where a jump looked huge to me, but I told myself, ‘We’re just going to do it,’ ” she said. “From that moment on, everything changed. I started believing in myself, and Beau helped me see that I can do it.”

“I also trust Sarah,” she added. “She never pushes me to jump something I’m not ready for. That trust has made all the difference. Cross-country used to be my least favorite phase, but now it’s one of the best parts of the sport. There’s nothing like being out in the field with my horse, just the two of us, taking on the course together.”

From the start, Lila felt a bond with the affectionate gelding, but they grew even closer when he was rehabbing from a minor suspensory ligament tear last spring. “I spent every day at the barn—not riding, just taking care of him and being with him,” she said. Even now that the gelding is back on track, he relishes attention. “Just last weekend, we drove by the barn and saw him hanging out by the fence with two little girls cuddling him.”

The family lives on the outskirts of Charlotte, North Carolina, boarding Beau at a nearby barn, and though they’re over an hour away from Lawrence’s facility, they still squeeze in a few lessons a week, plus a virtual lesson. For these, they use a Pivo camera on a tripod, which tracks Lila as she rides, giving Lawrence the chance to watch every second of their session remotely. The Bluetooth system also allows Lila to converse with her coach. “It definitely took some getting used to,” Lila recalled. “But it’s great because Sarah can still see everything and coach me, even if she’s not physically there.”

In January, Lawrence launched the Tryon Collective, an IEL team of 12 members from around the Tryon area, all of varying ages and experience levels. Some younger riders are preparing for their first Starter events, while older kids are enjoying their final season before heading to college.

When Lawrence first moved to Tryon a year and a half ago, Beau’s previous owner Leslie Threlkeld Bryant introduced her to intercollegiate eventing. “We soon found out about the interscholastic program, which was a perfect fit since Sarah wanted to get involved with young riders, just like she had in Washington State,” said Brandi. “After researching and trying to gather riders, I finally told her, ‘You need to put something out, gauge interest, and see what we get.’ It kind of just exploded when she put the word out. We were just hoping to get three, and we got 12!”

Lawrence was drawn to the program because it breaks the isolation often found in equestrian training, making it accessible to all riders, regardless of their trainer, horse, or school. “Its inclusivity excites people, and sponsors are eager to support it—especially because it helps young riders build a sense of teamwork in what has become an increasingly individual sport,” she said. “Everybody’s really looking forward to that aspect of it and connecting with riders from a wider area.”

In Lawrence’s eyes, the program also serves as a valuable bridge between Pony Club, the Young Rider program, and intercollegiate riding.“It’s a really good middle ground for some riders that don’t have elite goals, but want to be in a more professional program than maybe what Pony Club has to offer,” she said. “It creates a strong foundation, helping young riders gain real-world experience while still benefiting from the support of structured programs.”

The first team meeting was the chance for all the riders to get to know each other. “Now, they have their own group chat, with messages and updates shared almost daily,” said Lawrence. “Beyond competitions, the kids are most excited about finding friends, which makes this experience even more meaningful.”

The parents also have a group chat to stay connected, support each other at shows, and keep everyone in the loop. “Before our first meetup, I mentioned I had extra riding clothes, and soon others joined in,” said Brandi. “So at the meetup, we ended up hosting a small consignment sale. It’s been a great way to keep the moms involved while also giving the kids their own space. It’s been such a positive and much-needed addition to our area.”

Like others in the group, Lila is looking forward to the camaraderie aspect of the program, including reuniting with one of her best friends from a former barn who’s on the team. “For me, it’s all about the team experience,” she says. “I remember how much fun it was when a group of us from my old barn went to a show together. After leaving, I didn’t have many friends, so being part of a team again—bonding, traveling, and experiencing it all together—makes it so much more exciting.”

In fact, Lila was the sole Tryon Collective rider at Stable View’s (Aiken, South Carolina) January event. “Sarah had just submitted all the paperwork, and there was an opening at the event,” said Brandi. “She was like, ‘Great, I’ve got a rider!’ so she represented the team as their only rider.”

The rest of the team met up at Southern Pines Horse Trials I (Raeford, North Carolina), which was the first event where they were all together.

Afterwards, they’ll head to FENCE (Landrum, North Carolina) and then the Championships, which will be held at Stable View on May 2-4. Last year, Lawrence got a taste of what’s to come when she coached a few of the University of Kentucky’s riders at the USEA Intercollegiate Championships. “It was unbelievable how thrilled they were to be competing. So now I’m excited for the team aspect sport with our own group, especially because a lot of them have goals to continue riding in college.”

Besides attending the IEL Championship this spring, Lila is aiming to move up to Novice by the end of the season, and she’s looking forward to getting involved in her Area’s Young Rider committees. Two other long-term goals loom on the horizon: the Area III Championships and the USEA American Eventing Championships. She’s planning out her qualifications and hoping to compete in the Junior Beginner Novice, 14 & Under division.

Now that Lila has finally come into her own this year, Brandi’s enjoyed reliving her childhood and seeing her daughter embrace a sport she also treasures. “I love watching Lila on cross-country—seeing her confidence, hearing her talk to Beau and herself as she figures things out on her own,” she said. “But I also cherish our drive times. Being in the truck on the way to shows gives us time to bond, just like I did with my mom when I was eventing. We talk about the competition, our fears, or just life. Those moments together are truly special.”

About the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL)

In August 2020, the USEA Board of Governors approved the creation of the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) as an official program of the USEA. The mission of IEL is to unite junior riders who are in the 5th—12th grade and provide a supportive community through which students can continue to pursue their riding interests. A group of junior members in the 5th—12th grade who share a common bond, such as the same barn, school, Pony Club, or other connection, can register with the USEA as an IEL Club. The second annual USEA Interscholastic Eventing Championship will be held alongside the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, on May 2-4, 2025. Click here to learn more about the Interscholastic Eventing League.

The USEA would like to thank Bates Saddles, Horse & Country, Kerrits, Nunn Finer, Sidelines, U.S. Equestrian, WeRideTogether, World Equestrian Brands, and Young Rider for sponsoring the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League.