Olympics … meh. There’s nothing I savor more than a good ol’ fashioned Intro level showdown, and we got one recently at Shepherd Ranch Horse Trials in Santa Ynez, CA. The contenders:
Addie Churchill on Walle
AND Carole Lieberman on Gimli
On one hand, there are plenty of similarities: Spots, obviously. Also both horses’ modus operandi seems to be maximum chill-mode, which I can relate to. Why canter when you can trot, is what I always say. Meanwhile, both riders are on fire, getting the job done with a mix of sheer will and pony kicks.
Walle literally poops over fence #2 — I have definitely been on the brink of this on the front end of scary cross country courses, so that makes me love him even more. Poop aside, his ears are perpetually pricked, and thanks to Addie’s confidence-boosting encouragement he looks game as heck the rest of the course. Meanwhile, throughout the course Gimli seems to be scoping the sidelines for a beer garden and a shady tree — also very relatable, first round is on me, Gimli! — but Carol coaxes him through to glory at the finish flags.
It’s fun to follow Olympians on their path to Tokyo, but I’m always just as happy to watch budding eventers on the front end of their journeys into eventerhood. Keep up the great work, Addie and Carole. Your horses seem to really believe in you, and we believe in you both!
To those contemplating eventing: We might seem like an intimidating sport, but we’re really just one big family and we welcome you with open arms. The USEA is a great resource — check out their new member resources here — and you can always email us as well.
