United States Eventing Association

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Holly Hudspeth, formerly Holly Hepp, is Eventing Nation's first ever guest writer. Holly has competed at Rolex multiple times and earned her red coat by finishing 9th at the Pan American Games in 2003. Holly is based out of North Carolina, and recently placed 15th at the Fair Hill CCI*** on the fantastic Last Monarch. A Level IV ICP instructor, she’s a well-known coach, having trained the Area VIII Young Riders for several years.

In her article, Aiming High the Smart Way, Holly shares her training insights, for those with high hopes for their eventing careers – find out what questions you should ask yourself before moving up the levels.

By Holly Hudspeth:

I have always been a supporter of "dreaming big." That is what pushes athletes to reach for stars they themselves never knew existed. Setting the goal is exciting, and for many, obtainable. Yet anyone involved with horses knows all too well that things do not always go as planned. This should not be a time to walk away, but a time to look at all the factors intertwined with producing a solid base for "aiming high."

I have seen many hard working and dedicated riders out there who enter competitions because they are "qualified." Time and time again I see riders enter a championship or FEI competition because they are allowed to from their qualifications. Unfortunately, the paper that they are looking at with results does not always tell the truth! It does not define their preparation or skills, and they many enter that horse show under par. In the situation where a person is truly not ready, the competition will end in failure. Speaking from personal experience, failure is no fun, and makes for a long ride home! Whether one's goal is a half star or 3 star, there are a few things that I tell my students to look at before they send in that entry for the next big step.

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