Eventing Nation would like to wish a belated Happy Birthday to Abby Clutz of Weston, Massachusetts. Abby’s good friend Ilana sent this profile in to us, saying, “We have been riding together off and on for almost 14 years. She is such an amazing teacher and an even better friend. Right now I am on the University of Vermont and she is at College of Charleston, even though we are separated by distance we always bond over riding and our love for eventing.” Thanks Ilana, and Happy Birthday Abby! If you would like to be featured on Eventing Nation, fill out the questionnaire and send it to [email protected].
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Name: Abby Clutz
Age: 19
Location: Weston, Mass
Primary horse’s name: Hey Jude
Age, breed, pertinent info: Thoroughbred, Off the Track
Level currently competing: Novice
Short term goals this spring/summer: Making Championships again at Fitches, but at Training level this summer, and competing in Aiken – finally – next fall!
Year-end goals: To continue to make progress with Jude and to compete successfully at the training level.
Overall goals: To one day call myself an Olympic rider.
What’s the best thing you’ve learned recently?
I am always learning patience. Jude and I have come a long way together since I got him in 8th grade. I am a freshman at the College of Charleston and brought Jude down with me to work hard, especially on our dressage, and had planned to compete for our first time in Aiken in October. I have an amazing new teacher Laurens Bissell and I was so excited for our first Aiken show. However, about two days before the show, Jude collapsed when I was tightening his girth. It was a scary few months. After believing that it was a back problem and trying many things, we finally brought him for tests to the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital and discovered that it was an ulcer. It is a huge relief that we will compete together again. Now we are back on track and working towards competing again in April. I know we will get there together, but I have to be patient.
Favorite eventing moment/story?
I love every minute of eventing, but probably my very first event is still one of my favorite moments. It was at Green Acres in New Hampshire, I was 10 years old and I was riding a very talented Welsh
Mountain Pony, Christmas Twinkler or “Twinky.” When I was that age I was scared of everything: the dark; roller-coasters; the bad guys in my closet; my friend’s older siblings; and anything new and different. But for some reason, I had no fear on the back of a horse. Those five minutes of galloping freely, harmoniously, one with everything around me, were the very moments when I realized that this is something I want to do for the rest of my life. That day Twinky and I won a blue
ribbon that is still hanging over my bed.
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