Between the Ears with Alyssa Phillips

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 caught up with International CCI4* rider Alyssa Phillips. Alyssa currently owns and operates her own business, Alyssa Phillips Eventing in Ocala, Florida. At just 14 years old, Alyssa won team and individual gold at the 2011 NAJYRC and has had an impressive competition career ever since. With 17 FEI wins, Alyssa is no stranger to the pursuit of excellence. Recently, she has been able to represent Team USA as a traveling reserve for the Pan American Games and a member of several Nations Cup teams. I got a chance to catch up with Alyssa on some of the setbacks she’s experienced recently and how she’s learned from them…

To read more Between the Ears interviews, click here.

Alyssa Phillips and Oskar. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Can you give a brief history of your career and how you got into eventing?

I started out riding Western when I was really young in Weatherford, TX. Then we moved to Fort Worth, and even though we were no longer in the country, I still wanted to ride horses. We found an English barn nearby, and I began riding English which led me to eventing when I was about six. I always loved horses, but I found Western pleasure to be a bit monotonous, so I transitioned to eventing. I loved the thrill of cross country and jumping in general.

Throughout my childhood and into college, I juggled my studies and riding. In my junior year of college, I decided to move to the East Coast to further my riding career due to the numerous opportunities for schooling shows and events.

In 2017, I started riding with Jennie Brannigan and spent several years learning from her. Just over a year ago, I went out on my own. I base year-round at my farm in Ocala, FL. It’s been a learning experience managing the horses and employees, but it’s been rewarding.

Can you tell me about some of your recent accomplishments and hurdles you’ve had to overcome to get there?

Alyssa Phillips and Oskar B make their team debut. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Last April Fool’s Day was particularly tough. I fell off Cornelius during the cross country at Terra Nova, resulting in a shattered talus. The injury was severe, requiring emergency surgery to save my foot due to loss of blood supply. At that time, I had just started my operation and found myself unable to walk, with no staff to help. My mom and my good friends, Alexa Lapp and Tayler Stewart, stepped in and helped me run my barn while I was recovering.

It was hard for me to let go of control since I had been used to doing everything for my horses, but it was a valuable lesson in trusting others. As soon as I was capable, I got back into helping in any way that I could with things like driving the tractor or scrubbing the waters. Doing little things here and there helped keep me out of a victim mindset.

I set a goal to compete at Rebecca Farm in July, which was ambitious but gave me something to strive for. With the help of my friends riding my horses, I managed to compete there, even though my doctor didn’t know I was riding. I won both divisions with the two horses I took, which was surreal with everything I had been through.

In the fall, Oskar and I were selected as the traveling reserve for the Pan American Games, which was an incredible experience. From afar, I think it probably looked like I had a bad year in 2023, but it helped me learn a lot and I don’t think I would have had the successes that I did this spring without the setbacks that I faced. This year, we were part of the developing tour, and although Chatsworth was canceled due to rain, we were able to reroute to run a combined test at Bicton which prepared us for Millstreet where the team finished second.

During the development tour, we had a few last-minute changes of plans and subsequently, I decided to alter the logistics of my trip. Mentally, I felt like I had to be ready for anything because I was planning on extending my trip to do either Luhmuhlen CCI5* or CHIO Aachen. I ended up being selected to ride at CHIO Aachen which was a dream come true. I was grateful to be in a place where mentally I felt ready for whatever was thrown my way.

Did you lose any confidence after your injury, and how did you regain it?

Alyssa Phillips and Oskar. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

The fall itself didn’t knock my confidence because I knew what went wrong, I should have slipped my reins and I would have been OK. However, the severity of my injury made me more cautious, I find myself not wanting to fall off again. I’m careful about what I ride now and avoid riding young, unpredictable horses. When my horses do something naughty, I’m more likely to hop off than I was in the past. I’ve even considered wearing an air vest while flatting or jumping at home. For whatever reason, when I fall, I tend to land on my feet and I don’t think my ankle can handle more trauma.

In competition, I’m not actively worried about falling, but there have been changes to my mindset and preparation. I realize that if I go out on course riding tentatively, I’m going to put myself more at risk for something bad to happen, so I have to stay focused and put the injury behind me.

I didn’t realize the severity of my injury until after the first emergency surgery. My mom and the doctors didn’t tell me because they didn’t want to alarm me. That being said, throughout the entire process the eventing community was incredibly supportive, with people reaching out and offering help. The possibility of a career-ending injury was terrifying, but it made me appreciate the importance of having a good support system.

How do you maintain a work-life balance to avoid burnout?

Alyssa Phillips and Oskar. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

I’ve always tried to maintain a strong work-life balance. Owning a farm is a never-ending job, so I try to focus and work hard when I am here as much as I can but balance it with days away from the barn. Having that personal time is essential for me, and I think it’s important to get away from the grind. I also encourage my staff to take as many vacations as they need to stay fresh on the job, as long as it doesn’t conflict with an important horse show. Because it’s hot in Ocala, we also have the luxury of having some quiet time over the summer. We ride early before it gets hot and have a more leisurely afternoon.

When I broke my foot, I was forced to take time off, and that helped reinforce the importance of stepping away occasionally and trusting that everything would be fine without me.

What advice would you give someone facing adversity in the sport?

Alyssa Phillips and Oskar. Photo by Shelby Allen.

My outlook on riding horses is that adversity is inevitable. Horses can break your heart, but it’s important to maintain a positive mindset. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. When my foot was broken, I could have easily spiraled into negativity, but I chose to stay positive.

Everything in life happens for a reason, even if it’s not clear at the moment. I don’t think I would have had the success that I did this year if I didn’t have my struggles last year. You can make any good situation bad and any bad situation good. This perspective has helped me a lot, and I hope it can help others too.

5 2 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments