Another week gone by, another LLRP to share with the rest of Eventing Nation! What began as a simple reader request has turned into a fan-favorite weekly staple on the site. If you wish to be featured in an upcoming profile, fill out the Questionnaire and email it to [email protected].
FEATURED RIDER:
Name: Marina DiMarco
Age: 17
Location: Houlton, Maine
Primary Horse’s Name: Allegro ‘Aly’
Age, breed, pertinent info: Aly is a 13 year old QH mare, built like a cross between a tank and a bathtub. I found her ten miles away (practically in my backyard!) miserable with her job as a western pleasure and showmanship horse. Aly showed a strong interest in learning to jump, so she became my event horse and took me from my first Pony Club D rally to my first USEA Training!
Level currently competing: Training
Short term goals for spring/summer:
I’d like to run a Novice to get back in the swing of things and then focus on getting in my 3 remaining qualifiers for the GMHA Training 3-day.
Year-end goals: GMHA Training 3-day, possibly run a PT.
Overall goals:
I hope to compete a lot more this season, since we spent last summer working on (and passing!) our C3 traditional test. I’m also working toward my traditional B rating, but our dressage needs some polish.
What’s the best thing you’ve learned recently?
I’ve learned that some things are easier without stirrups! I also started going to yoga classes for the first time, which is really helping my body awareness and balance. Mostly, though, I’ve learned that the best way to stay on top of my own riding is teaching my younger Pony Clubbers- if I’m yelling “leg!” to a student, I’d better strengthen my own base of support, too! Strengths? Knowing my horse, perfectionism. Weaknesses: I have to sing on cross country or else I forget to breathe!
Favorite eventing moment/story:
Bubble to a ditch at Snowfields Horse Trials last year. I lost a shoe in stadium and didn’t have time to tack it back on, and I was the last Training rider. The course was completely torn up, and we cantered down to a skinny roll top spattered with mud. Coming out of it perfectly, I was thrilled! I gave a big whoop! coming across the finish line and everybody laughed, but I didn’t care.
