John Michael Durr’s Road to the AEC

John Michael Durr’s road to the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships has been a long one. Earlier this month John Michael, an upper level eventer and show jumper and rising course designer, packed up and departed his base in Castro Valley, Calif. heading East.

Three days later, John Michael arrived in Tryon, North Carolina with eight horses, a working student and Sterling, the cat. His wife Kimmy drove across the country the following week with four more horses in tow.

The horses of Durr Eventing have spent the last several weeks acclimating to the environment and getting in some jumping practice during horse shows at the Tryon International Equestrian Center. This is John Michael competing Ruth Bley’s Secret Story in yesterday’s $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby:

John Michael Durr and Secret Story. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

John Michael Durr and Secret Story. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

We ran in to John Michael during Saturday Night Lights at TIEC yesterday evening and learned more about how he’s been enjoying his time on the East Coast.

Many thanks to JM for the impromptu chat and huge apologies for the awful lighting.

The AEC is getting steadily closer and we can’t wait to meet more of the many riders that will be trekking to North Carolina from all corners of the country! Go Eventing.