Now that we have looked into the worlds of trail riding, competitive western riding and competitive English riding we’ll look into the world of an eventer. Eventing is pretty much an open invitation to a heart attack for the riders and spectators alike. Eventing has the third highest death rate of any sport in the world today. This sport takes place over a period of three days, which includes, dressage on the first day. Dressage is the beautiful harmony between a horse and his rider. Day two is Cross Country day; cross country is the most dangerous of the three days. The horses and riders gallop at approximately 22-25 mph around a course that is approximately 11 miles long, taking on 30 solid obstacles along the way. Approximately 10-15 people, around the world, are seriously injured or die from the second day in an event. The third day of the competition is the show jumping phase. The horses and riders jump a course of approximately 12 obstacles in an enclosed arena with a time limit also being a factor. In the end, first and second place is determined by very few points. It comes down to a single rail being knocked down to find out who will come out victorious.
I have been eventing, riding dressage, and jumping for several years. I began jumping horses at the tender age of 10 and found that it was my true love. My current horse is a 16.1 hand high 7 year-old, bay, Thoroughbred gelding named Buck Naked or around the barn, Gunner.
We have competed all over the state of Wisconsin and at several shows in Illinois. Gunner and I have been successful at all of our shows in bringing home trophies, ribbons and checks.
Gunner is a born jumper and has been in professional dressage training, with my personal trainer, Megan McIsaac since February of this year. During the 2002-2003 show season I had won the TK Riders High Point Traveling Trophy of the year, TK Riders Junior Division Grand Champion Award for the Memorial Day competition, Junior Division Reserve Champion for the June Show, Junior Division Grand Champion for the August, End of the Year show, a Top Ten at 4H State Horse Expo in Western Showmanship and Hunter Under Saddle and I also received Reserve Grand Champion at the 4H State Horse Expo, out of 30 competitors, in Hunter in Hand. In the beginning of May we will start our show season again through the boarding stable he will be kept at, Country View Equestrian Center in Monroe, Wisconsin. We will be traveling all over the Midwest as a team to dressage shows and events.
In August, Gunner and I will be heading off to Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio to compete on the college’s intercollegiate eventing, dressage and jumping teams.
In short, whichever way one decides to ride their horse. Be it a relaxing trail ride or the adrenaline rush of eventing, every discipline takes hard work, time and dedication. Now all of your questions about the BHS equestrians have been answered and no longer will we be a mystery to the masses.
