United States Eventing Association

This is the 54th entry in the USEA’s Member Story Series. Help us reach our goal of over 300 stories – email your story to Leslie.

Hello, my name is Deb Crawford. I am 19-years-old, and I am from Medford, NJ. I currently compete my horse A Little Tricky at Training level, hoping for a move up to Preliminary this season.

I started riding when I was six-years-old at a local hunter barn. I rode for about a year when I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a cancer called Leukemia, at which point I had a 60% chance of survival(the rate of survival is MUCH higher now). I was hospitalized immediately, and had to take a break from riding until my immune system was strong enough.

I started up riding again when I was eight with Kathy Adams at Flora Lea Farm. Kathy is still a huge inspiration and mentor to me, and would not be where I am today without her. I went to my first horse trial with one of her school horses named Little David, a chestnut thoroughbred, who was a saint. As my yearn and interest in eventing continued to grow, Kathy had given me the opportunity to work with and compete one of her school horses for a long period of time. Watch the Ruckus, or "Ruckus" as we called him, is worth his weight in gold. He took me to my first USEA recognized horse trial in 2002, and five years later, carried me around the Training Level Half Star at Waredaca in 2007. Those fortunate five years of my life are cherished in my heart. That horse is worth his weight in gold, and I cannot be more grateful for what that horse did for me, and the fantastic opportunity Kathy gave me by letting me work with him.

When my time with Ruckus had ended, I bought my horse A Little Tricky, "Jester" off of a race trainer near Fair Hill. Jester was a bit rough around the edges, but turned out to shine more brilliantly more than I could ever deserve. We had our ups and downs, but he has taught me so much. Jester has been in my life for almost four years, and continues to amaze me every passing day. From winning his first USEA horse trial, to the Area II Novice Championships, the ESDCTA Dressage Championships, to now competing at Second Level Dressage and Training level eventing...This horse is my world!

I look forward to seeing what the future has in store. I continue to keep my eyes open for new opportunities and try to learn something new whenever I can.