January is always a time for reflection—looking back on the previous year and setting goals for the new one, both in horse sports and in life. Luckily for me, I get to spend most of my January in sunny Ocala. I arrived on January 14, and after a couple of days unpacking and getting the horses settled, I pretty much hit the ground running.

While in Florida, I plan to ride with Peter Gray and Hannah Sue Hollberg. My first introduction to Peter was at the 2024 AECs, where I scribed for him. His dedication to teaching was immediately apparent from the judges ’ booth. He is a wealth of knowledge, and after that experience, I knew I wanted the opportunity to ride with him in the future.

Hannah Sue is no stranger to Area VIII. I had the opportunity to ride in a mindset clinic with her this past spring at Erin Strader ’s farm in Georgetown. I walked away from that clinic feeling invigorated and excited to apply everything we worked on over the two days. I ’m incredibly thankful that both of these professionals have been so welcoming and generous in sharing their knowledge.

My first lesson with Peter Gray was on January 17. Peter put eyes on both Canvasback—known around the barn as Shack (owned by Cathy Wieschhoff)—and Zambian (owned by Lisa Thomas). He began by asking thoughtful questions about what I ’ve been working on, each horse ’s strengths and weaknesses, and their upcoming competition schedules. Since this was our first lesson together, we used the ride to evaluate warm-up routines, focusing on lateral suppleness and responsiveness to the aids so both horses could work through their entire bodies.

We started with a walk exercise: riding a 20-meter square and performing a quarter turn on the forehand at each corner. The goal was to ask the inside hind to step under and through the turn while staying active. At the same time, we worked on increasing and shortening the walk stride. To lengthen the step, I allowed my hips and seat to swing and move with Shack; to shorten it, I closed my knee and thigh and thought about gently blocking the energy of his topline with my seat. While it sounds simple, the walk is often one of the hardest gaits to influence without creating tension or losing rhythm.

As the lesson progressed, we spent significant time developing travers (haunches-in) at the walk, eventually building toward the beginnings of half-pass. We created the bend by riding an eight-meter circle in the corner before continuing down the long side in travers. I used my outside rein to half-halt and regulate the front end, my outside leg to activate and bring the outside hind inward, and my inside rein to maintain suppleness and bend. Over time, this work progressed into half-pass at both the walk and trot. While the lesson was slow and technical, it was mentally demanding for both Shack and me.

Zambian, on the other hand, is full of talent but can be a bit on the lazy side. Lisa Thomas gave him a very positive start after his racing career, and I ’m thrilled to have the ride on him. Picture the classic lesson pony who slowly falls through the inside shoulder with no bend through the rib cage, making the circle smaller and smaller until he ’s standing happily in the middle—and the rider doesn ’t even notice. That ’s Zambian.

We approached his warm-up differently, focusing heavily on responsiveness to the inside leg to encourage bend through the rib cage and prevent him from falling through the shoulder. Peter had me hold both reins in my outside hand while walking on a ten-meter circle and spiraling out to a 20-meter circle. With my stick in my inside hand, he had me reach back and lightly tap Zambian ’s inside hind—between the hock and stifle—while reinforcing the aid with my inside leg. This helped clearly communicate that when I use my inside leg, I ’m speaking directly to his inside hind. We did this exercise in both directions, and it was incredibly effective in improving responsiveness without creating tension or quickness.

One quote from Peter during this lesson really stood out to me: “When we ’re working on the early stages of suppleness—just getting them to bend left and right—we don ’t worry about activity, forwardness, or march. We just want them to bend. Horse yoga.”

We did a lot of “horse yoga” with Zambian. When we moved into trot work, the focus remained on lateral suppleness and riding the inside hind under the body, while also developing a slower tempo with a bigger step, rather than a quick tempo with a short stride.

On January 18, I had my first light jump school with both horses at Hannah Sue Hollberg ’s farm. It was absolutely pouring rain, with temperatures in the low 50s—definitely not the Florida weather I had envisioned, but still better than January in Kentucky.

We jumped both horses with the same idea in mind. Hannah Sue places a big emphasis on the horse “drawing” to the fence. This doesn’t mean getting strong or dragging the rider, but rather teaching the horse to lock on and give the feeling of, “Oh, I know where I ’m going next.” You can tell this is happening when the horse ’s ears are focused forward toward the fence, rather than flicking around the environment or constantly back at the rider.

We spent a lot of time developing this feeling, which required me to focus on my body position and avoid being busy or loud in the tack. Hannah Sue emphasized that in the final three to four strides to a fence, she almost wants to be bored—her job is done. She ’s established the balance, shown the horse where it ’s going, and made the necessary adjustments. In those last strides, she simply holds her position, supports the horse ’s balance with her lower leg, and lets the jump come to her. Sounds easy, right? We all know better.

Zambian is a very different ride than Shack and can be a bit behind the leg. One comment from Hannah Sue that made me laugh was, “The lazy ones are like a diesel engine—you ’ve got to let them run for a little bit before they lock on.” That rings very true for him. We ended the lesson discussing bitting options for both horses, something we ’ll continue to evaluate and experiment with during my time in Florida.

It was an incredible first week, and I ’m excited to see how much progress we make while I ’m here. I ’m thankful to Cathy for allowing me this training time—being immersed in this environment provides endless learning opportunities. I ’m also incredibly grateful to my husband, Mike, and my friend Olivia for holding down our farm in Paris, KY, so I can be here focusing on my own development. I feel supported, and my ears are forward and locked on to 2026 and everything this year has in store.

-Nikki Burns

The Riding Your Best Test panel discussion, featuring Peter Gray, Karen Winn, and Susan Posner, brought together practical insights from judges and riders alike, starting with one key area: the warm-up. You truly can’t do too many transitions. Transitions sharpen responsiveness, balance, and focus without drilling movements.

Riders are encouraged to hack around the venue, incorporate multiple warm-ups, and keep intensity low. Relaxation matters more than repetition. As Peter Gray put it, one of his favorite comments to write at the end of a test is, “Happy horse, happy judge.”

When you enter the ring, think of your tour as an introduction. Show the judge something your horse does well around the outside of the court. Judges want you to succeed, and each movement starts at a 10, working downward, not the other way around.

Scribing was another key topic. Scribes should never text during a test, and riders should remember that judges are allies, not adversaries. Presentation matters too: clean tack, clean horse, and polished basics. As Karen Winn noted, choosing a new saddle pad over another lesson will not raise your score—fundamentals will.

Riders were reminded not to overdo the bling. Basics improve scores, not decoration. A new rule was also highlighted regarding number holders, which must now have numbers that are 1.5 inches tall and 3/8 inches wide.

Horse welfare remains paramount. Judges can issue warning cards, and if frustration builds, riders should take a walk break on a loose rein and breathe. Public perception matters, and how riders handle stress reflects on the sport as a whole.

If a judge blows the whistle, riders should calmly trot up and listen to instructions. Questions are welcome—communication is encouraged. Riders should study the directives, use corners to balance the horse, and understand that bending and flexion are essential components of quality movements.

One of the most commonly weak movements discussed was the free walk to medium walk transition. A helpful fix is adding a five-meter circle before the transition to maintain relaxation and balance. Keep the idea of the free walk in mind and resist the urge to rush into collection.

In the end, thoughtful preparation, respect for the horse, and attention to detail are what consistently produce better tests—and better partnerships.

Training the Young Horse: Building Confidence Before Competition

Peter Gray’s Philosophy on Development and Patience

Peter Gray’s approach to training young horses is deeply rooted in patience, perspective, and responsibility. Growing up in Bermuda, galloping ponies through sand dunes and competing at just a handful of shows each year, Gray developed a mindset that prioritized horsemanship over pressure.

Pony Club played a major role in shaping his foundation, as did an upbringing where it was “never the horse’s fault.” One of his most impactful beliefs is that knowledge is passed down, and how we train reflects who taught us.

Gray compares riding a young horse to meeting someone for coffee — casual, relaxed, and without pressure. You wouldn’t expect a full commitment immediately, and you shouldn’t expect it from a young horse either. Over time, that relationship becomes like an “old married couple,” built on trust and understanding.

A correct training pathway means that every day, every week, and every month, the horse approves. You never ask for something beyond the horse’s mental capacity. Because of this, when Gray takes a horse to a show, the horse doesn’t feel pressure — it has never experienced pressure at home.

He strongly believes it is better to move up a level a year or two late rather than one day too early. In today’s sport, we often show too much and train too little. For four-year-olds especially, Gray advocates taking them out as non-competes, exposing them to the world without expectations. If there’s a birthday party in the neighborhood, take the horse. Let them see life before adding the stress of competition. He also emphasized that moving up too early and having a horse loose confidence can set a partnership back by a year; his recommendation is to over-prepare for the move-up for optimal chances at success. 

Gray also discussed the shift in eventing after the removal of the long format, which led eventers to search for the same type of modern sport horse as jumpers and dressage riders. While scope and movement are emphasized, he cautions that genetics matter deeply, and America still lags behind Europe in breeding development. The dream event horse blends blood, bravery, and durability — and that starts long before the first show.

How to Mentally Ride Your Best Test

Dr. Samson on Preparation, Focus, and Performance

Dr. Samson emphasizes that riding your best test starts long before you enter the arena. Mental performance, like physical performance, is something that can be trained — and it begins with preparation.

Success, she explains, is roughly 85% preparation and 15% in-the-moment execution. Preparation includes studying the test, knowing your horse, planning logistics, and creating routines. These are all things within your control. The remaining 15% is about accepting and adjusting — managing what happens in real time when things don’t go exactly as planned.

Self-awareness is the cornerstone of strong mental performance. Riders should reflect on questions such as:

• What helps my performance?

• What stresses me out?

• How does competition stress affect me?

• On a scale of 1–10, where do I perform best in terms of energy and arousal?

Every rider has a Zone of Optimal Functioning, and that zone looks different for everyone. Understanding where you perform best allows you to regulate your emotions and energy more effectively on competition day.

Patterns and routines reduce stress. When riders know what to expect and follow familiar processes, the brain stays calmer. This includes physical preparation, mental rehearsal, and planning for each phase of the competition day.

Dr. Samson also encourages riders to create fire drills — clear responses to common problems. “When this happens, I will do this.” Having a plan reduces panic and keeps riders focused on solutions rather than mistakes.

Breathing is often the first indicator of stress or over-arousal. Intentional breath work can quickly regulate emotions and refocus attention. Riders should also pay close attention to their language, especially during post-ride evaluation. How you talk about your performance shapes how you process it. Accepting where you are is not the same as settling — growth comes from honest evaluation paired with intention.

Dr. Samson led members through various exercises that can be completed prior to, during, and after competition to garner success. She reminded members that, as riders, we have more control over our success if we have better preparation and more tools when the competition doesn’t go as planned.

So You Want to Ride Your First FEI: What You Need to Know

Insights from Cavan Allen

Making the leap into FEI competition can feel overwhelming, but with the right preparation and understanding of the system, it becomes far more manageable. According to Cavan Allen, the most important point to understand is that FEI riding is as much about organization and responsibility as it is about performance.

Competition starts with your USEF number. You receive one number, and it follows you everywhere throughout your career. This number connects all of your memberships, results, and registrations, making it the backbone of your competitive identity.

From there, riders must register with the FEI, which introduces an entirely new layer of requirements. One of the biggest misconceptions is about the horse passport. Receiving a passport does not mean you are finished — it means you are just beginning. The passport is a living document that must be kept current and accurate throughout the horse’s career.

The FEI Horse App is an essential tool for modern FEI riders. Vaccination records, temperature logs, and other critical health information can all be tracked digitally, making it easier to stay compliant and organized. That said, Allen stresses the importance of maintaining hard-copy vaccination records as well. Keeping records can save riders from unnecessary stress or disqualification.

USEF resources are invaluable during this process. Riders should lean on official guides and checklists rather than relying on word-of-mouth or assumptions. Understanding the paperwork is just as important as understanding the test.

Allen also offered a helpful analogy when explaining European passports. Think of a European passport like a birth certificate, while an FEI passport functions more like a driver’s license. One establishes identity; the other allows participation. Knowing the distinction helps riders navigate international requirements with confidence.

2025 MSEDA Team Challenge presented by Hagyard Equine Hospital brought new levels, increased participation, and, as always, a fabulous end to the eventing season in Area 8. 

We cannot recap the competition without first thanking our organizing team led by Mary Fike, our secretary Erin Murphy, our wonderful officials and staff, and the amazing volunteers who came out in droves to help the event run smoothly. There are far too many people to individually name, but we know the competition, quite literally, could not go on without them! 

A special thank you to our sponsors who helped fund the event and provide amazing prizes for our competitors. Hagyard Equine Hospital for continued support as the Title Sponsor, Ashbourne Farms and The Tack Shop of Lexington for sponsoring use of the Rolex Arena for Show Jump, Kentucky Performance Products as the presenting sponsor, Kentucky Equine Research and Tess Utterback Realty for supporting sponsorships. Our FEI and Classic Format divisions were sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, Rider Hopsitality sponsored by Neuman Insurance, and flowers sponsored by Heronwood Farm and Meadow Lake Equestrian Center. We had amazing prizes and awards sponsored by many wonderful companies.

This year, we added four starter divisions with about 50 entries and a FEI 1* division, which boasted 18 entries. It is a pleasure to support the grassroots of eventing through the starter divisions, and the beginning of many horse's and rider's FEI journey with the 1*. Offering a multitude of levels brings some of the top riders in our country to the Horse Park, while also catering to local competitors. We had about 600 riders at the event this year, with 45 in the FEI divisions, 70 in the classic format divisions, and 100 teams across the levels. 

We welcomed Carol Kozlowski to lead our classic format riders through their Novice and Training Classic Three Day journey, with educational meetings, course walks, and support through the weekend. Riders learned about the importance of appropriate pacing, balance, and position for steeplechase. Kozlowski also offered steeplechase, cross country, and show jump course walks that were very well attended.

Our MSEDA Teams brought the action this year. Special congratulations to our beginner novice team: Natanya McMahon on Quality Minutes, Joshlyn Hernandez on Kynymont Indelibly Irish, and Jennifer O'Niell on Snowscape, who won the team competition out of 25 beginner novice teams. 

We loved seeing the team spirit shine in costumes on cross-country day. Our costume contest winners, sponsored by Winners Circle Trailers, were the "Disney Villains". We loved seeing all of the creativity in the costumes this year. 

As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, we welcome feedback from competitors, trainers, and volunteers so we can improve and continue to run this competition as a pinnacle of the eventing season in our Area. The MSEDA Board thank you for joining us in 2025 and we hope to see you in future years! 

The MSEDA Long Format Clinic held May 25 th at Masterson Station Park was a hit with all that attended. A total of 8 riders, from Beginner Novice through Training level participated. The clinic was a fun learning experience, with a varied group of riders, from a few that had already done Long Format competitions, to some considering entering one in the future.

The clinic consisted of 3 phases of instruction; the jog up, the steeplechase portion and the vet box. Our clinicians, Kerry Millikan, Cathy Weischhoff, and Sarah Escaro shared their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm. Kerry provided tips to perfect your jog up, along with stories from her past, and comments on today’s trends. Cathy and her crew not only set up the steeplechase portion, instructed, and broke it down, but they provided entertaining scoring and cheerleading, too. Dr. Sarah was able to bring her knowledge as an FEI vet to address many topics for not only the vet box, but for general show horse care, as well. Refreshments were enjoyed during this section, while discussing a variety of useful information.

Anyone could benefit from this clinic, even if not planning on doing a Long Format event, because the level of experience and instruction provided a fun learning atmosphere in a creative way. It offered an opportunity to learn from the best at a very reasonable fee. How often does the chance to learn from an Olympian, 2 KY3DE riders, and a FEI certified vet, all in 1 clinic, come up?

Masterson Station Park was the perfect venue for the clinic. The hunter ring pavilion provided an escape from the rain for the vet box portion. Many folks brought this clinic together, including Shelley Ryan, and Cathy, for taking great care of Masterson Station Park.  Most of all, thanks to our 3 clinicians for their positivity and generosity.

Kerry Millikan and David O’Connor led our ultimate panel of the day, with a call in from Tamie Smith all the way from California. These three powerhouses shared their experiences rising to the top level of riding from three very different backgrounds. While Millikan and O’Connor shared many experiences in their careers, Millikan worked her way through nursing school taking care of her personal horse and a second sale horse. O’Connor rode from a young age but didn’t achieve the level of riding his peers did until he was taken into an intensive, personalized training program that refined his riding skills. Millikan expressed how important it is to study your craft, she paid close attention to horses and riders as a child to learn what she liked and what worked. Smith rode a lot of bad horses, and had a lot of ups and downs in her early career, but always asked herself “ok, what’s next”. All three riders shared stories of the highs and lows of the sport and proved that perseverance does pay off. 

The panelists shared many stories of how show nerves affect each rider differently and how important it is to be respectful of your team members who may process differently than you. The Team experience also teaches riders to fulfil the role as needed for the team, which means do the things you already know how to do at a competition, don’t try to do more as that’s where mistakes are likely to happen. 

Nuggets of advice abounded throughout this discussion. O’Connor encouraged riders to get into a program one believes in and stay there until you have a core philosophy. Use this time to learn your trade and hone your craft. Smith told riders to “be particular” in every aspect of their life from presenting yourself well to knowing the minute details of your horse’s legs. She, notably, admitted that she would never continue to work with an owner who valued results over the horse’s welfare. Smith inspired members to never sacrifice one’s own integrity and honor for an owner, result, or sponsor. Millikan taught riders to channel their nervous energy into results, dare yourself to be better, and to surround yourself with good riders. 

Millikan and O’Connor shared their thoughts on how the changes in the sport of eventing have changed the style of horse that wins, but O’Connor argues that a horse with mostly thoroughbred blood is still the horse that will win at the 5* level. O’Connor also loves steeplechase for riders to learn to go faster than the speed at which they travel on cross-country (but is glad we do not ask it of horses anymore). 

All three riders shared some of the sacrifices they have made to make it to the top of the sport, and told members to ask “What the price to win is, and are you willing to pay it?” Riders must stay true to who they are, work hard, and figure out a business strategy that supports them to their goals. 

David O’Connor and Alexa Thompson stepped in to lead the Junior/Young Rider session when Tamie Smith was unable to attend due to personal reasons. O’Connor has been integral to the development of the current young rider program that involves the pipeline of regional camps to national camps in the U21 program. The YR program is, at its core, an educational program aimed at creating well-rounded horsemen on and off the horse. Thompson is an A Pony Club graduate and YR program graduate, and shared her experience on YR teams that shaped her into the rider and trainer she is today. 

Our junior and young riders were told “You are the next.” In essence, they are to look for what’s next, learn about what’s next, so they can be the next top riders in our country. O’Connor encouraged riders to always add new tools to their toolbox of training tools. Thompson expressed that riders should focus on on what’s next and do it for the love of the horse. 

While the Jr/Yr program is an excellent program for training the next generation of top athletes, O’Connor and Thompson had advice for all of our juniors. Thompson explained how she made it through college while riding and training, noting how she scheduled her day down to the minute and was never afraid to ask for help from those who knew more than her. O’Connor encouraged riders to be interested in other activities beyond horses and enjoy high school, as it is a fleeting time in life. Both panelists expressed hope in our next generation of riders to be even better than the ones before. 

Karen Winn, Wayne Quarles, and Debbie Boeh hosted our required continuing education for officials. MSEDA thanks each of these officials for their time; officials and riders alike learned about rule changes and current event updates pertaining to officiating at MSEDA competitions. 

Winn, Quarles, and Boeh presented several 2025 rule changes for FEI and USEF competitions at both USDF Dressage Shows and USEF Horse Trials. MSEDA sanctioned shows may run under USEF rules, so these rule changes and updates are important for our MSEDA officials to be aware of entering a new competition year. 

Our panel led a discussion about horse abuse and dangerous riding, specifically explaining the FEI and USEF’s take on these topics. While MSEDA does not carry a yellow-card rule, we encourage officials to use MSEDA shows a educational opportunities for coaches and competitors. MSEDA officials were empowered speak up about rule infractions and dangerous riding at a show. Quarles suggested that TDs take another adult with them to have discussions about dangerous riding with competitors to ensure that there was another bystander to oversee the communication. This helps protect officials from safesport violations when speaking to a minor, as well as congruence between each side of a story. 

Winn shared her safety checklist that she discusses with a show’s organizer (USEF and MSEDA) before she comes to an event. This helps ensure that all safety measures are in place, such as communication between event officials and the EMT, and steps to take in the case of an emergency. This document is posted on the MSEDA homepage so officials can use it for the 2025 season. 

Finally, the panel discussed the roles of a technical delegate and the president of the ground jury. While both are a necessary part of an MSEDA sanctioned competition, they hold different roles. A TD’s job is to make sure the competition is safe and fair for all competitors, and will check heights of jumps and ensure safety measures are in place. A PGJ confirms that the course is a fair test for the level. Organizers should remember to ask an official to fulfill a PGJ role before their arrival to the competition. Officials can assist in this by confirming their roles (and the roles of other officials) leading up to the competition. 

Karen Winn, Wayne Quarles, and Debbie Boeh provided a wealth of experience to our officials that we know will assist them in serving the MSEDA community in the upcoming season.