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Name: Kristen Gallo
Age: 19
Location: Collierville, TN
Relationship to Eventing: Competitor
Favorite Eventing moment/story?: The first time I went Training on my previous horse, Sonny Side Up (Sonny) is one of my favorite memories. Sonny is a very stocky, 15.2h Paint. He was maxed out at Training so that whole event was like our miniature Olympics. We worked so hard all Spring in preparation, and it was an event where everything just came together. We had one of our best dressage tests. We had one rail in show jumping, but the round was one of our best otherwise. It was a One-Day, and he was getting tired by the time we went Cross Country. He gave it his all, and we even made the time! There were some challenging questions, but I completely trusted him and knew he wouldn’t take a second look at anything. In the end, we ended up winning our division!
I also had an amazing time on my current horse Tiamo at the 4-day O’Connor Clinic at Holly Hill Equestrian Center in May of this year. I rode with David, and I learned so much and gained a lot of confidence from it. I was in a group with solid Training riders, most had also competed at Prelim or were planning on moving up. Tiamo competed at Prelim before I got him, but we have only competed at Novice together. Before the clinic, I was nervous about holding everyone back, but I’m so glad I was in that group now! It pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I realized I was capable of more than I thought. Tiamo took care of me and was amazing the whole clinic!
If you had to pick one reason why you love Eventing, what would it be? I like the partnership between my horse and me and knowing him in and out. We’re a team, and I trust him and know he’s going to take care of me even when I mess up!
Overall Goals in the sport: Training 3-Day next fall, and then just see where I can go from there.
Biggest Role model: I have multiple ones! I rode with Bill Hoos when I lived in Tennessee, and I’ve been riding with Dorothy Crowell while I’m at college in Kentucky. The Hoos and the Crowells are all fantastic. Bill, Lori, Becca, and Josh Hoos and Dorothy and John Crowell are all great horsemen and horsewomen!
Link to blog: www.eventingwithtiamo.blogspot.com
Photo(s) or videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/kbgeventer
