Rider profiles have been pouring in since Monday’s announcement of the return of the Lower-Level Event Rider Profile. Today we meet Harley and her horse Chevy, from Dallas, Texas. Want to be featured on Eventing Nation? Fill out the Questionnaire and send it to [email protected]! Reminder: we must have permission from the photographer to use any photos.
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Name: Harley
Age: 51
Location: Dallas, Texas
Primary horse’s name: Chevy (USEA show name “Three Quarter Ton”)
Age, breed, pertinent info: rising 10, 3/4 Percheron X that I purchased in 2007 as a green broke 4 year old
Level currently competing: Beginner Novice, maybe forever
Short term goals this spring/summer: Lower my dressage score by at least 5 points
Year-end goals: Qualify for the AECs
Overall goals? I didn’t start riding until I was 40 in 2002, started eventing in 2009 and did my first recognized show in 2011. I may compete at BN forever. I just want to enjoy my horse and friends and the sense of “team” and fellowship at the schoolings, clinics and events that I attend. Be healthy and happy.
What’s the best thing you’ve learned recently? We’ve been working on our partnership for the last 6 months and are a better team than we’ve ever been. I trust him and he trusts me and that sense of mutual confidence is showing up in our performance.
Any big epiphany or light-bulb moment? Several shows in after our first show, we entered the start box at Texas Rose Horse Park. Chevy had never really paid much attention to the start. It was obvious by his reaction at that show that it “clicked” for him. That the count down in the start box meant “woo hoo, let’s go!!” It was really cool to sit on his back and almost hear that switch go on in his brain. And really gratifying. It meant to me that he enjoys cross country and thinks its big fun.
What are your strengths/weaknesses? I have an enormous amount of “try.” I haven’t ridden my entire life and don’t have an abundance of natural talent, but I have a lot of heart an! d a desire to do the best I’m capable of. However, I need to demand more from Chevy and be a better “employer/manager” with more clear direction and expectations. I can’t expect he’s going to just pack me around just because he loves me. He’s totally capable of everything I ask him to do and more.
Favorite eventing moment/story? In 2008, I attended Rolex – my first three day event. I hadn’t even begun eventing myself. Nothing like starting at the top! We were at the second water jump and Teddy O’Connor and Karen O’Connor were horse and rider number 1. I’ll never forget seeing them appear over the hill, tearing down the galloping lane towards the water. It gave me goosebumps. He was so small and they jumped an enormous sycamore log, over a brush fence and then through the water. I’ll never forget that incredible thrill – it got me hooked on eventing, even if we are only jumping 2’7″ pimples in a field.
