A true “field of dreams” destination, The Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana, is special to our sport as a national and international competition, a three-day event, and host of the North American Youth Championships. For many eventers the road to Rebecca is long and winding — literally AND metaphorically. We are pleased to present the first in a series chronicling that journey for two Area II Young Riders, Caitlin O’Roark and Maddie Chisholm.
Caitlin O’Roark and Lucky Devil. Photo by Cindy Lawler.
Summertime. For most high school sophomores, it’s a time for hanging with friends, relaxing, going to the beach and maybe learning a new sport or skill. For Caitlin O’Roark and Maddie Chisholm, this summer is different. These girls, with all of their motivation and ambition, have steadily been working towards making the Area II Young Rider team over the last several years, and both have recently been named to the team that will represent Area II at The Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana at the end of the month.
Caitlin grew up in a horsey family and always wanted to be an event rider. Her mom, Shannon O’Roark, is an eventer herself and also bred the two horses that Caitlin will be riding in Montana, Lucky Devil (“Taz”) who will do the CCI2*-L and On A Mission (“Fancy”) who will do the Training Three-Day.
Caitlin O’Roark and Sparky. Photo by Caitlin’s mom, Shannon O’Roark.
Caitlin got her start on an older 12-hand pony named Sparky that they had gotten for free from their farrier and she received as a gift for her fifth birthday. Caitlin is the first to say that she has Sparky to thank for the grit and determination that she has today, fondly remembering the days when Sparky would gallop up to a jump, then run around it, and she would end up jumping it without him. But Caitlin wasn’t a quitter, and after finally having some success and winning a blue ribbon at the third intro event she took him to (after getting eliminated at the first event and falling off at the second) she decided to end it on a high note with Sparky and graduate on to a different horse.
Maddie has also always loved horses, and spent her younger years trail riding and going to years of horse camps before getting started in eventing at age 10. She credits her trainer at the time for teaching her strong basics which could have taken her in any direction, but Maddie knew that eventing was the direction for her. Luckily, Maddie’s mom, Michelle, complied and with her first pony, a 15.2-hand paint named Boo, Maddie got her start in eventing. Maddie credits Boo for teaching her true horsemanship skills, commenting that Boo was always a handful at shows. With Boo, she learned how to deal with a horse that was less than relaxed at an event. Luckily, Boo had a redeeming quality of excelling in the cross country phase, which Maddie credits as why she loves going cross country with her current horse, Baron.
Caitlin has had the ride on Taz, a 15-year-old three-quarter Thoroughbred, one-quarter Dutch Warmblood, for about two years. He was bred, started and competed at the lower levels of eventing by Caitlin’s mom, Shannon, before Lauren Kieffer took him through the former CCI3* level. Caitlin acquired the ride on him about two years ago and the partnership has been building ever since.
Caitlin describes Taz as having a strong, quirky personality. Although he is a bit of a character, Caitlin comments that his heart of gold and the effort he puts into his work make him an exceptional teacher, especially in the cross country phase, and she considers herself very lucky to have the ride on him for the CCI2*-L in Montana.
Caitlin’s other mount for Montana, Fancy, is also a homebred and is a full sibling to Taz, and has been started and brought up to the Preliminary level by Caitlin herself. Caitlin enjoys reminiscing about the day that Fancy was born on their farm in May 2011, when Caitlin was just seven years old, and decided right then that Fancy was going to be her horse. With two homebreds headed to one of the coolest events in the U.S., Caitlin says that this opportunity to compete at Rebecca Farm really is a dream come true, especially after getting a taste of the event last year when she went as a groom for Haley Carspecken and Summer Stage.
Maddie Chisholm and Beechcraft. Photo by High Time Photography.
Maddie’s CCI2*-L horse for Montana is a 10-year-old OTTB named Beechcraft (“Baron”), whom Maddie received as a Christmas gift in 2017. Maddie seems to have an affinity for Thoroughbreds and has competed both Baron and her family’s Space Ranger (Buzz), who Kurt Martin currently has the ride on, at the Retired Racehorse Project in Lexington, KY. Maddie affectionately says that Baron is a typical thoroughbred who struggles with the dressage phase, but loves the cross country. She says, however, that she is lucky to refer to him as “Carebear” because he is always looking out for her safety while on course.
Looking forward to Montana, Maddie is most excited about the experience of being a part of a team. She says that in a sport where she has always been an individual, she is really looking forward to getting to know her teammates better and encouraging them as they take on the week of team competition at Rebecca Farm.
Maddie Chisholm and Beechcraft. Photo by High Time Photography.
Both Caitlin and Maddie have many people to thank along their journey so far most importantly their families and trainers. Caitlin currently rides with Lauren Kieffer and Kurt Martin, and Maddie rides with Patrick Tigchelaar, Kurt Martin and Aaron Stuckey Hill. They both credit their trainers with being excellent role models, who have played a large part in getting them this far along their eventing path.
Maddie Crisholm and Beechcraft. Photo courtesy of Maddie Crisholm.
Stay tuned as these girls travel the Road to Rebecca. Our next update will cover details on the progression of training, travel to Montana, and how they deal with show nerves. Caitlin and Maddie are thrilled that you are coming along for their journey!
