I announced the eight awesome finalists in the Third Annual EN Blogger Contest yesterday. I’m back today to bring you their bios and Round 1 entries that landed them a spot in Round 2. Our finalists are currently hard at work pounding out their Round 2 entries, in which they’ll answer the following question: If you had the power to make three changes to the sport of eventing, what would they be? Without further ado, meet the Blogger Contest finalists, and be sure to leave a comment letting us know who you like the most in the early stages of the competition. Go bloggers!
Nina Bellucci: I’m a lifelong eventing addict, recently recovered from an unfortunate period of abstinence. I was “sober” for ten years while I did fun things like: get a graduate degree, live in a city, and spend money on nice things that I didn’t have to worry about getting horse slobber on. But two years ago, I got my gear out of storage and fell off the wagon. I’m working toward getting a horse of my own and have reinstated the tradition of every horse-crazy, horse-less young girl: the horse fund. Click here to read Nina’s entry.
Sarah Clark is a 30 year old mother and eventer from the middle Tennessee area (AreaIII). She is a graduate B from the USPC and her background is solely in eventing. Although she did compete a Walking Horse in her local hunter circuit for a season once (what??). She prefers cleaning stalls to changing diapers, but seems to be proficient at both. Oh and she has a My Little Pony tattoo on her arm. Click here to read Sarah’s entry.
Erin Critz is a 30-something who after a life time in Hunter/Jumper land came to her senses and took up Eventing three years ago. Erin rides with Earl and Jennifer McFall at Dragonfire in Wilton, CA. When not at the barn she is busy giving high fives to new hires at the world’s largest fruit company. Click here to read Erin’s entry.
Staci Meyer, 44, is an adult amateur from Kansas City, MO. While her full-time job is training a stubborn 14.1 h paint pony to at least contemplate the right hand bend, she actually earns money by making you want to buy stuff for your horse. She’s been riding and eventing for 20 years. And although she wouldn’t pass a vet check, on competition day she prides herself on always jogging out sound. Click here to read Staci’s entry.
Emily Przyborowski: I’m 15 and an eventer from Area Two. After working for Kate Chadderton for about a year, I’ve experienced the life of a professional rider and I can’t get enough of it! Kate has taught me a lot (mostly proper grammar and the teenage mutant ninja turtle theme song, but a lot of lessons in riding too) and all in all it’s taken me one step closer to my dreams of being a professional rider, and worsened my obsessions with bareback puissance. Click here to ready Emily’s entry.
Ella Rak, 16, is a High School student, Aspiring Lower Level Eventer, C2 Pony Clubber and Equestrian-procrastinator extraordinare. Defining Characteristics: Strong willed, Easily distracted by horses (I should be studying for final exams right now, but instead cleaned tack and wrote this article), and slightly OCD (that record book WILL be perfect). Embarrassing Tidbits: My first event had a combined score of over 200. I was so scared of going too fast we walked over the first jump… Click here to read Ella’s entry.
Sally Spickard is from St. Louis, MO and has been riding for about 13 years, with more than a couple hiatuses thrown in. If I were chosen to be the next EN Blogger, I would find a way to convince SmartPak to sponsor all EN staff; it would look good for everyone to have matching SP gear, right? I think it makes sense. Click here to read Sally’s entry.
Rick Wallace: Upper level event rider — AGAIN. After years in hibernation. Father of awesome upper level event rider Elisa Wallace and also known as Mustang Girl. Have string of super talented horses: Ultimate Victory – 3 Star horse, Ultimate Decision – Amazing new horse which is dominating in dressage and Ultimate Timing – my dressage horse now being converted to eventing. Click here to read Rick’s entry.
