Rider profiles have been pouring in since last week’s announcement of the return of the Lower-Level Event Rider Profile. Today we meet Heather and her horse Bobby from Albuquerque, NM. 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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Your Name: Heather
Age: 27
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Primary horse’s name: Bobby Socks
Age, breed, pertinent info: Bobby is an 8-year-old TB/Mustang gelding. I used to compete with his sire, and Bobby was an accident. The mare’s owner did not want any more horses at the time, so she gave him to me before he was born. It’s been a privelege to have known him from Day 1 and to have the opportunity to bring him along exactly as I want.
Level currently competing: Novice
Short-term goals this spring/summer: I am hoping to get Bobby back to up to training level after a year of injuries and soundness issues. Last spring he tore a hind suspensory ligament, which was followed by developing arthritic changes in his stifles during stall rest, and we are slowly but surely getting sound and fit again! Our first recognized event in over a year will be at Abbe Ranch HT in Colorado in June, followed by Coconino HT (AZ) in July, and Goose Downs Farm HT (NM) in August.
Year-end goals: I would like to compete in the Classic Format T3D Event at Meadowcreek Park Fall HT in Texas in November.
Overall goals? Rolex! My short-term goal is to compete a 1* with Bobby, and my long-term goal is to complete a 4* in Kentucky.
What’s the best thing you’ve learned recently? While going through the painfully slow process of rehabbing my horse from his suspensory tear, I discovered quite a few holes in his flatwork training. He’s so fun and easy to jump that I may have skipped over some important dressage in his previous training in favor of the fun stuff. But being forced into months of walking and trotting on flat surfaces gave me the chance to go back and fix all those little holes, which has improved our dressage drastically. Lesson learned — never rush the foundation!
Favorite eventing moment/story? My favorite eventing moment was completing Bobby’s first training level event. I had entered the show not knowing that it was a tough, hilly, long XC course with quite a few combinations and technical elements that presented problems for riders and horses more experienced than me and my horse. Despite being somewhat terrified and having an extremely ugly (but clean!) show jump round, I headed out to XC with blind faith in my brave little steed. Sure enough, he carried me around that course like we’d been doing it for years, clean and inside the time. Not even the fact that he had stopped mid-dressage-test to poop (he made it clear what he thinks of dressage …) could tarnish how great I felt at the end of that show. I can’t say enough words to explain how wonderful and brave my horse is, and I know that it’s his can-do attitude and spunk that make him so special.
