It seems like these days we look at each other’s lives through the lens of a highlight reel. We get to see the incredible trips, the best jumps, and the moments that we’re proud enough of to put on social media. What we don’t talk about is how much pressure this adds to athletes on both ends of the news feed.
Riders, whether professional or not, are made to feel like they ‘have to’ post something that makes them look cool and successful. Then, as we consume this content, we are stuck with the disillusioned perception that the sport is easy and that if you’re not succeeding, then maybe you aren’t cut out for it. I would like to take this opportunity to go ‘between the ears’ of some of the riders that make up our Eventing Nation and work to understand some of the real challenges this industry presents.
On this edition of Between the Ears, I had the pleasure of catching up with CCI3* rider Maxine Preston. Maxine is an accomplished equestrian who has built a reputation for her dedication and love for the sport. Her operation, Maxine Preston Eventing, is based in Ocala, Florida, during the winter months and moves to Lexington, Kentucky, for the summer season. During the last decade, she has had the opportunity to ride with multiple professionals and has gathered invaluable insights into the sport. Her journey hasn’t been without hardship, but through these challenges, she’s gained invaluable lessons that have shaped her into the rider she is today.
So, with that, let’s go between the ears…
Photo by JJ Sillman.
Can you tell me a little bit about how you got your start in eventing?
My journey in eventing began when I was just ten years old at a farm in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I fell in love with the sport immediately. My first experience watching the Kentucky event, which was called Rolex back then, was in 2007 or 2008, and it solidified my passion for eventing. I knew that it was what I had to do.
I rode in Michigan until I was 16, and then I moved to North Carolina to become a working student for Holly Hudspeth, who became an incredible mentor. After spending 18 months there, I went back to Michigan to finish high school and then attended the University of Kentucky. During my time there, I joined the eventing team with Emily Hamel, who became a longtime friend, coach, and colleague.
After college, where I majored in art history, I knew I wanted to pursue horses professionally. So, I started Maxine Preston Eventing and moved to Florida to ride with Kyle Carter, who I’ve been with for eight years now. Throughout these years, I’ve had the opportunity to develop multiple horses to the three-star level. The journey has been challenging but incredibly rewarding.
Can you tell me about a time that you lost your confidence in riding or competing? How did you overcome it?
Wow, which time? I’ve definitely had my share of confidence challenges. One that stands out is with a horse named Shannondale Magnum, whom I produced from a young age to the three-star level. He was an amazing competitor but quirky at home, spooking at birds and gravel. Despite these quirks, he would always show up and do his job in the competition ring.
However, once we got to the three-star level, things started to fall apart. He began to stop at fences, and it really wrecked my confidence. It was hard because I didn’t understand why it was happening. He had been my first really big horse to produce, and I had all these dreams and ambitions. Suddenly, it was falling apart, and I didn’t know why. Looking back, I know my inexperience at the time produced the holes, and I learned a lot from the experience, but it was difficult to focus on being OK with those mistakes at a time when I just wanted to be competitive.
Luckily, other horses came into my life at that point, allowing me to regain my confidence by producing them up through the levels. Luck has a lot to do with this sport, and without those other opportunities, I’m not sure I would have found my confidence. It was important to realize that it wasn’t entirely my fault; it was a learning experience. Maturity has helped me understand that setbacks are a part of the process and that gaining confidence comes with experience. It’s great to want to progress and be on lists when you’re young, but the holes come up for everyone, and they need to be addressed.
Photo by JJ Sillman.
What was one of the biggest obstacles you had to overcome in the sport, and how did you navigate it?
One of the biggest obstacles I’ve faced was the loss of my partner, Fernhill HC Highrise, to a lightning strike last year. It was devastating, and the storm that took his life hadn’t even been on the weather forecast for that night. He was a difficult horse to produce, and we spent a lot of time and money figuring him out. He had just done his first 3*L and won his last Prelim when we lost him so suddenly. The grief was immense, not just for losing a partner and a potential upper-level horse, but for the emotional toll it took on me. There are obviously plenty of bad things that can happen to horses, and I accept that as part of the sport, but I got stuck in a mental battle with myself about whether there was anything I could have done to save him.
The hardest part was accepting that he was gone and forgiving myself for not bringing him in that day, even though the storm came out of nowhere. Working through this grief has been a different kind of challenge in terms of moving forward with my operation. I was, and still am, hypersensitive about storms and the weather, but I’ve found that I have to find a balance between the need to protect the horses and not letting anxiety take over every time it’s raining. Bad things can happen to horses that get locked in their stalls just as much as they can out in the paddock. They can get cast, or colic due to the change in their schedule, or be more unpredictable in the saddle the next day. Anxiety is fueled by planning for things that might happen, and unfortunately, with horses, we can’t prevent all those things.
Have you ever experienced burnout? Why? What tools did you use to get through it?
Burnout is something I think most riders face at some point. For me, I know I am facing burnout when I feel a lack of enthusiasm for the everyday aspects of the job, like bringing in horses or cleaning stalls, which I usually love doing. Riding starts to feel like just another task rather than something I’m passionate about. Another trigger is feeling trapped on the farm or trapped in the routine of keeping the wheels spinning. With the growth in my career, I’ve learned to prioritize the horses during these times of burnout so they get what they need, but as a result, I’ve found that it can create suffering both for myself and the people around me.
The key for me has been to get away, even if it’s just for a couple of hours or days. It’s about realizing that the barn can function without me and that it’s okay to take a break. Changing up my routine, like going for a hike or taking time to go grocery shopping, helps me breathe and feel re-energized. It’s crucial to break the cycle of repetitiveness so that the daily operations stay fun.
Photo by JJ Sillman.
What advice do you have for someone in the sport who is currently facing adversity?
My advice is to understand that adversity is part of the journey. Whether it’s a loss of confidence, burnout, or grief, these experiences are inevitable, and they shape us as riders and individuals. It’s important to give yourself grace and realize that these setbacks don’t define you or your abilities.
Surround yourself with a supportive community and take breaks when you need to. We are so dependent on so many uncontrollable factors in our sport, so we need to make sure we have people who can consistently be there for us and push us in the right ways. Your team isn’t just made up of owners; it’s your coach, your friends, your students, and even people outside of the sport.
Eventing is an amazing sport, and there are so many people trying to do good things in it. As a community, I feel like we need to give more good to each other, especially when we’re not at our highest highs or our lowest lows.
To read more Between the Ears interviews, click here.
