Thanks to Joan Davis and Flatlands Foto for the photo.
Area I comprises the northern most region of our country and for the EN spotlight I chose to interview Marcia Kulak, a professional based outside Saratoga, NY. I met Marcia last summer and had the privilege of visiting her farm, where she was riding my current horse to sell. Marcia picked me up from the airport, put me up in her house, and introduced me to her top standard of horsemanship. Let me tell you: no one turns out a horse like Marcia. I don’t think Spenser ever looked so good as he did under her care (I mean I try my hardest, but those stain-prone socks…). Not only are her horses and farm kept in pristine condition but Marcia is also deeply involved in Area I and was the mastermind behind the PRO Junior Training Scholarship, created earlier this year to give junior riders the chance to train with professionals around the country. She served most recently on the Active Athletes Committee, competed successfully at Rolex and Burghley, and is also involved in the Hunter Jumper circuit and has had successes at the top shows in the nation. Needless to say, she demonstrates a dedication to horses, Eventing, and her fellow Eventers that is admirable and certainly deserving of recognition. Here is her interview. Go Eventing.
How did you get into eventing?
I was fortunate to be raised in the business and have tremendous family support. My mom Anne Kulak ran a small breeding and training operation while I was growing up. I had a great pony, but also began to ride the young stock and just about anything else that came up the driveway (even an occasional spin on my dad’s prized Herford cows). In addition, Essie Perkins (mom of Beth Perkins and Bea DeGrazia) was a close friend of our family’s. I spent several summers in Vermont when South Strafford was an Eventing Mecca. It was an incredible opportunity for a young teenager. I went thru the Area I young rider program with Tad Coffin coaching, fresh off his Olympic gold medal. My interest and commitment grew and basically I never looked back. In 1985 Anne Kursinski began coaching the high performance riders, like Katie Prudent today. During one of the sessions she spoke to us about training in Wellington during the winter. So I made it a priority to organize a trip that winter to train and compete. I believe Anne Hardaway Taylor and I were the first to venture to Wellington. I saw lots of opportunities for business and began to integrate my eventing into other avenues, like show horses, dressage etc. I now spend 6 months in New York and 6 in Florida, with a full complement of horses and clients. Most of my clients and owners are more like family and have been involved with me for many years.
What defines Area I for you?
Area I has always had a great group of events within 3 hours of our farm (located in Scotia, Ny, not far from Saratoga). Inevitably, with urban sprawl, the competition landscape has changed. Ledyard, Flying horse, Over the Walls and several other world class events have disappeared. Fortunately other really nice competitions have survived and new ones popped up! The Area I calendar is jam packed. Historically we have cool weather, a good amount of rain and nice footing. It’s a very appealing place to be in the summer. In addition, it’s easy access to the Hunter Jumper shows (Lake Placid, Saratoga, Hits Saugerties and the Vermont Summer Festival). So I am able to maintain 2 strings of horses and have accessibility to top A shows. With so many quality competitions in close proximity to home, and an incredible staff, it allows me to successfully accomplish an enormous amount!
Who are you currently competing?
I have a great group of horses this summer, 13 in work. A mix of eventers, show horses and sale horses. Dangreega, owned by Gretchen and Robert Butts has been moving thru the levels. With Gretchen’s busy schedule officiating she asked me to bring him on and sell him. He’s won 4 out of 6 events! Iseabau owned by Vicky Koss (Vicky’s son David now rides for Bruce) is a Prelim/intermediate ride that came east to be sold as well. Rori a young hunter owned by long time clients Michael and Lora Schultz. She’s very new and could probably excel in any discipline. Our goal is to start her in the hunters in Florida and see how she develops. I’m hoping for a super hunter derby horse for next year. Keator’s Rift a young OTTB, is the horse that gets me out of bed every morning, no matter what. He’s one of those rare special Event horses oozing with athletic ability, brains and beauty! I’ve had him almost a year and going slowly. I didn’t buy him to sell, but the interest in him has been extraordinary, so we’ll see where it leads. There are 9 more in the pipeline that event, show or do dressage on any given weekend.
Favorite area event?
So many nice ones. Stuart, Fitch’s Corner, Millbrook, ENYDCTA, GMHA! For me GMHA, in Woodstock, Vermont, is near and dear because that’s where I got my start. The facility has an incredible history, not only for eventing, but driving, competitive trail riding, Dressage, Horse shows, Pony club camp. They have been hosting horse trials for 54 years. I was lucky enough to teach at the Area I Adult rider camp in June, run by Barbara Marks and judge the Novice and Training level three day held there recently. It was a super week, with the emphasis on education and fun. In addition GMHA has under taken a huge upgrade endeavor. They have hired Tremaine Cooper to build a new Intermediate course and revamp the entire cross country for all levels. They have made a commitment to the future of Area I eventing. The facility has beautiful stabling, lovely arenas, hacking and a new improved cross country to go along with an incredibly charming town.
Favorite non area event?
Favorite non area events are Rolex and Burghley. What a privilege it has been to successfully compete at those events!
What do you consider your crowing achievement so far?
Winning the Checkmate *** with Galleria, a mare I produced from novice. She was special and I lost her to a fractured leg in the paddock. As my career has evolved no single event or win stands out as much as achieving a high level of success and respect from my peers, in two very different disciplines. Eventing at the highest level (Rolex, Burghley, Blenheim, Boekelo, Fair Hill, Radnor, shortlisted for the Olympics etc.) was always my dream as a young rider. But to also have success at the country’s leading Horse shows (WEF, Devon, Lake Placid, Kentucky, Hits) as a trainer, expanded my horizons way beyond my initial expectations. To quietly meld two very different disciplines, often frowned upon by one another, with the common bond of good old fashion horsemanship and meticulous horse care, for me has been quite an accomplishment!
Describe your involvement with the sport and PRO.
In the last couple of years I have served on several committees. Most recently the Active athletes committee to choose our next Olympic coach. It was challenging in many ways, particularly with the internet and a great deal of misinformation swirling about. We had an excellent group of individuals on the committee and eventually were able to work thru what was undoubtedly an encumbered system, but eventually got the right result. It was a great experience. During the last two seasons I have offered free course walks at all the Area I events that I attend. It’s been so special to help out and have PRO encourage, organize and promote that service. I’ve met so many super people who genuinely appreciate our guidance.
How did you come up with the idea for the scholarship?
The PRO Jr training scholarship idea came to me during last year’s Millbrook horse trials. I was coaching in the Junior Training cross country warm up. I was amazed (actually dismayed) at the kamikaze riding that was going on, chipping, dipping, flyers. You name it, I saw it. It dawned on me that maybe PRO could offer a motivator for these aspiring youngsters that could impact their riding much sooner in their careers and at a younger age. Within an hour I had the support of a dozen top riders and Samantha Lendl. The PRO junior training scholarship was born! Everyone thought it was a great concept and then said “Marcia now go put the criteria together”. By November I managed to have a final draft and thanks to Samantha, present it at the Annual meeting. With a bit of tweaking it was ready to go at the March Southern Pines event and then off to the west coast. The structure of the scoring is geared towards horsemanship, a safe, effective position, strong work ethic, and maturity in a competitive situation. I especially wanted to reward good riding, not just a fancy horse or a blue ribbon. The judging is done by PRO riders and everyone involved has been incredibly helpful, taking time out of their busy schedules at the events to watch the riders who have applied for the scholarship. The reward is an all expense covered weeklong camp with Hawley Bennett-Awad, Amy Tryon, Jan Byyny, or me. The recipients get to be submersed in the inner workings of a top rider’s operation, bring their horse and train with the best. An opportunity like this will help any young rider prepare, not only for eventing, but for the inevitable challenges that life presents. I hope it serves as a vehicle for top riders to mentor the next generation. As the program matures we may have to modify it some. I’m open to new ideas, so I welcome the juniors and anyone else to offer input. It’s a start and I’m thrilled with the response so far.
Do you have any particularly laughable mistakes you have made along the way?
Too many to keep track of! Our operation runs on humor- we just plain have fun. I run a tight ship, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. In the end if you do right by the horses and are true to your principles, everything, for the most part, falls into place. Eventing is a tough sport on the emotions. Looking at Boyd’s tragedy, suddenly 4 faults or forgetting a movement in the dressage isn’t worth being ugly about. It’s important to keep a realistic perspective.
Who was your first pony?
My first pony: Chestnut, 4 white socks, welsh/Arab. Hot, smart, fiercely independent. (You get the picture) My mom bred her, I got the ride. I spent a lot of time getting dragged around or dumped, at least initially, until I figured out how to keep her in front of my leg and on the bit at the same time. She gave me and many others a great start and lived here with us to 28. My first event ever with her was in Vermont somewhere (Eddie Farm?). I trotted down the center line like it was the Olympic Games; she promptly jumped out at C and headed back to the trailer. I would have none of that and spun her around, jumped back in and picked up where we left off, hoping the judge would overlook that minor detail. To no avail, eliminated after my final salute. My first taste of Eventing and the character building that goes along with it. Must have helped!
