United States Eventing Association

This is the 35th entry in the USEA’s Member Story Series. Help us reach our goal of over 300 stories – email your story to Leslie.

My horse story doesn’t start at birth; in fact it didn’t really start until the summer before my first year of high school. It was at a ranch camp just outside of Bakersfield, California that I was bitten by the horse bug. I was bit bad, after my month at summer camp, horses were all I could think about! I began riding western pleasure and then a year into riding I decided I wanted to learn how to jump, it was that summer that I had convinced my parents to buy me a horse, well in particular I wanted, Bella a beautiful grey Quarter Horse mare that I had been riding, and I was absolutely devastated when she didn’t pass the vet check.

I sulked for few months until I moved to a new beautiful barn in Malibu, California called Zacharosa Farms, were my trainer at the time began searching for my first horse, you know the been there done that, calm type horse, yet somehow I ended up with Chuck, a five-year-old OTTB gelding. Chuck is beautiful, talented, powerful, intelligent, and naughty. He had never seen a cross-country course before, and had no concept of dressage, and either did I.

A year into our partnership we tackled the Eventing world together for the first time. I wish our story together was that of great accomplishment and defying the odds against us as a green pair. But instead it was that of hard work, heart break, and perseverance. Eventing Chuck or “Just Because” named for his unpredictable behavior was the most aggravating, frustrating, best experience I have ever had! But the best feeling in the world is crossing the finish flags on your best friend knowing it was your hard work that made that happen.

Chuck and I faced many obstacles together. He went from nothing to high-point winner at first level dressage, and jumping four-feet. Nothing was consistent with Chuck and the progress went up and down. He started stopping and kicking out. Chuck was also well aware of his athleticism and used it to benefit, and was often considered bad sometimes dangerous. I almost quit riding.

In August 2010 Chuck and I make the journey from Southern California to the Bay area for college. This gave me the opportunity to train with Matt Brown and Cecily Clark of East West Training Stables, thanks to them I loved riding again, Chuck was enjoying his job again, and jumping everything with great joy!

Chuck and I have since parted ways but I will never forget my wonderful best friend! He was the best mistake I ever made. I hope one day I will be back on the cross-country course with my next best friend! Good luck to you all and your Eventing futures!

Photos courtesy of Julia Wood