EN’s Rising Stars is a new weekly series about up and coming riders in the sport of 3-Day Eventing who are exceptional in their performances and personalities. Spotlighting riders under the age of 15, the series is meant to call attention to the next generation of talent before they even become Young Riders. Have a child, sibling or student who you think deserves some notice and praise? Tip me at [email protected]!
Maddie & Carson
(Editor’s Note: Madeline was injured last week during an accident in the barn and lacerated her liver, so she unfortunately will be out of the tack for a few weeks. Let’s send healing vibes her way, and watch out for when she and Carson get back in the game!)
Name: Madeline Parisan
Age: 14
Hometown: Rising Sun, Maryland
Horse: Hope To Star, “Carson”, an 18-year-old grey thoroughbred, 16 hands
Level of Competition: Preliminary
How did you get started in Eventing? “I started riding when I was five, and I did Hunter/Jumpers until I was eight. Then I started riding with Alex Zavoyna, and I got into Eventing. I did little local shows on a pony until I got Carson four years ago. He was a racehorse until he was eight, and then he did some work in the Jumper ring until I got him as a 13 year old.”
“Carson and I started Eventing at Beginner Novice, and both of us were starting from scratch. We didn’t really do very well until I found Molly Kinnamon (nee Rosin). She has really helped me develop as a rider, and influenced the way that I have trained Carson. She has a really great style of teaching, and we get along really well. I was a full time working student for her for two years, which was an amazing way to learn how everything works from the inside out.”
“We quickly moved up to Novice and Training level, and we were winning pretty frequently. I went to the AEC’s last year at Training level, and we did pretty well. This year we went to Aiken and did a few Training levels, and I won my last one before I moved up to Preliminary at Pine Top. I went double clear at my first attempt at that level, which is pretty awesome. We were 2nd on a 28.6 at our second Prelim at Fair Hill, and since then we’ve always placed in the top three. Carson is a really amazing horse.”
Maddie & Carson in the CIC* at Plantation (photo credit to Steve Berkowitz)
Recent Accomplishments? “I think my biggest accomplishment has been moving up to Preliminary this year and successfully navigating my way around some of the biggest courses on the east coast. There aren’t a lot of people my age at my level! I’m also really proud to have created my horse on my own, we learned to Event together.”
“The biggest event I’ve done so far was the CIC* at Plantation this fall. We ran double clear in both phases, but we ended up in the middle of the pack because our dressage just wasn’t competitive enough. However, it was really fun to compete against Boyd and Phillip and beat some of the big upper level riders!”
Favorite Thing About Eventing? “I think everything about it is amazing. It is so fun to have a sport that is out in the open, and it’s just you and your horse, one on one, working as a team. I love my horse a lot, and I like having that quality time with him. Obviously Cross Country is my favorite phase.”
Maddie & Carson in the Preliminary at Fair Hill
Plans for the Future? “I’m back in real school, and I need to get Carson back in shape over the winter while Molly is in South Carolina. I want to kick off the year with some more Preliminary horse trials and qualify for Young Riders in the summer. Event though he’s old, I think Carson will have more than a year left in him. He’s a tough old man, he raced for so long and didn’t get any injuries!”
“I just got a gelding straight off the track, and he looks like he’s going to be something super cool in the future. He’s going to try to compete this year, and he’s 9 so he can get going soon at Novice or something.”
I want to try to keep into horses and keep Eventing as long as possible. I can’t even see myself not doing this, like what else is there?! I would like to try to be a professional, and ride full time. My long term goal is Rio 2016, which given the right horse and the right luck, nothing is impossible!”
