Lower-Level Event Rider Profile
Jamie and Nike, photo by Beth Stelzleni
Name: Jamie
Age: 21
Location: Athens, GA
Primary horse’s name, age, breed, pertinent info: His Highness (Nike) , 20 years old, Dutch Warmblood
Level currently competing: Novice
Short term goals this spring/summer: No more stops at half-coffins on cross-country—none!
Year-end goals: Compete in the AECs at the Novice level in Texas!
Overall goals?: To continue having the time of my life riding and competing with my best friend. I love when people tell me Nike looks like he is still 8 years old. My main goal is for Nike to continue to be healthy and enjoy showing off for as long as we continue to compete. We’ll slow down only when he decides he wants to.
What’s the best thing you’ve learned recently? Less IS more. The more relaxed I am during dressage, the better Nike goes. When jumping, if I focus on myself and my position, then Nike just seems to flow to the fences underneath me.
Favorite eventing moment/story? The first time I enjoyed the gallop. I rode in the hunter-jumper circuit for many years, and had become used to having complete control within the arena at all times. The idea of letting my horse go full speed in an open area seemed insane! Nike and I were running cross-country at Chattahoochee Hills at the beginner novice level when I finally just grabbed some mane and let go in the galloping stretches. We ended up coming in way under time, and despite dropping a couple places as a result, I couldn’t stop smiling.
Photo by Holly Breaux
Photo by Holly Breaux
