First USEA Recognized Prelim

When I first began my eventing career in 2019, I set my sights on reaching the preliminary level. In August 2023, with, Adrenaline Rush, my partner of two years, I completed my first preliminary horse trials. Achieving this long-term goal has been the highlight of my equestrian career thus far. Qualifying for and successfully completing a nationally recognized event at this level was incredibly gratifying. This achievement represented the value of every hour invested, sacrifice made, and step taken along the way. Every setback and learning curve helped to prepare me for this milestone and enabled me to achieve my goals.

The equine world is often marked by unpredictability and risk, where resilience, strength, and perseverance are not optional but essential. While only a select few have the opportunity to ride world-class horses or compete at the Olympic level, I remain committed to doing my very best. For me, riding has never been about perfection or winning—it has always been about the journey and the process of progressing through the levels with my partner. After every competition, I reflect on how I can improve. The desire to do my best and define my own standard of excellence is deeply ingrained in my mindset. I will take a moment to fully enjoy my achievement of officially being a recognized preliminary event rider, but I cannot wait to start working towards my new goal.

Pictures from the first phase of eventing: Dressage. Every horse and rider pair preforms a test to showcase their elegance and communication. The test should look effortless on both partner's half and every movement should be precisely executed.

Our favorite phase is the second phase-- Cross Country! This tests the pairs bravery and speed over varying terrain where you must clear fences, banks, ditches, water, and more! Every cross country course has an allotted amount of time that you cannot go over without accumulating penalties.

The final phase of the competition is show jumping. The show jumping tests your precision and finesse. Unlike the cross country obstacles, these fences can be easily knocked down and will result in additional penalties.