Sunday brought gloomy skies but, fortunately, dry weather for the final day of competition at the 2026 MSEDA at the Park presented by Bimeda. All three competition rings hosted beautiful rides throughout the day, judged by our dedicated officials and supported by an incredible team of volunteers.

This year, MSEDA saw a new face take over the role of presidency - Lindsey Howland. While Lindsey is no stranger to the event, having competed, coached, and volunteered over the years, this year she experienced the show from a new perspective.

"In my first year as president, I was hoping to see more sponsorship engagement, more teams, and greater participation in the MSEDA Championship classes," Howland said. "I enjoyed meeting new members this weekend and volunteering in equipment check on Saturday!"

Lindsey mentioned that this show feels like a place for our experienced dressage members to show off in the MSEDA Championship Classes but it also gives a platform for newer dressage riders, and our eventers, to dabble in the dressage rings at the KHP. 

"This show has such a positive atmosphere," Howland said. "All riders are welcome, and everyone works hard to create a place where all levels are celebrated."

Like many competitors and volunteers, Howland experienced Saturday's weather firsthand while coaching and volunteering. Despite the rain delays, she was inspired by how everyone came together to keep the show running smoothly.

"I am most proud of our volunteers and organizing committee for handling the adverse weather conditions on Saturday and adjusting through a long break," she said. "Staff, volunteers, and board members all jumped in to communicate, help, and get the show rolling again."

As another successful MSEDA at the Park comes to a close, MSEDA extends its sincere thanks to our sponsors, officials, judges, volunteers, and organizer, Susan Posner, for the tremendous effort and preparation that make this event possible year after year. And, of course, thank you to all of the competitors who chose to spend their weekend with us. We look forward to seeing you again next year! 

The first day of MSEDA at the Park concluded Saturday, June 27, at the Kentucky Horse Park after a busy day of competition across three rings. Despite periods of rain and weather delays, competitors, volunteers, and officials worked together to keep the event running safely and smoothly.

While the rain presented a few challenges, volunteers worked tirelessly throughout the day to help create a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

MSEDA at the Park is one of two events where members can complete the four volunteer hours required to be eligible for year-end awards. One member embracing both roles this weekend is Leah Cole.

After competing Saturday with her off-the-track Thoroughbred, Monstrodamous, in multiple divisions, Cole will return Sunday, this time not as a rider, but as a volunteer scribe.

"Scribing is one of my favorite activities to do for volunteering," Cole said. “ I even made sure to sign up to volunteer early to get my favorite spot.”

Cole is passionate not only about competing but also about supporting the show and volunteers, who make the sport possible.

"These shows don't happen without volunteers," she said. "If riders, owners, trainers—whoever—don't step up, we won't be able to have these shows."

In addition to competing individually, Cole also represented MSEDA in Saturday's Team Competition brought to you by Blue Grass Equine Laundry alongside Erin Murphy, Kelly Rover, and Robyn Munson. The team awards are sponsored by Blue Grass Equine Laundry. TEAM MSEDA finished 5th in the ranks. Below are the the official results of the team competition

1. The Ginger Snaps, 72.290%

2. Infinity Dressage, 68.280%

3. Prancing Queens, 66.385%

4. The Yellow Cards, 64.868%

5. MSEDA Thank God for Dropped Scores, 63.754%

6. Harley Heights, 63.716%

Competition continues tomorrow, Sunday June 28, with hopes of a better weather forecast!

Thank you to our arena sponsors: 

• Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital

• Meadow Lake Equestrian Center

• Daffodil Dressage

• Tess Utterback Realestate 

• Intension Wellness

• KBC

When I was little, many moons ago, I was lucky enough to get my first pony, Sage, at the tender age of 12. The saddle for her cost more than she did, and pasture board was a struggle for my folks, but I was in heaven! I started doing little shows, mostly at the barn where I kept her. They had a 3- show series, in the middle of winter, on Friday nights, with Series Championships rewarding the high scorer that did all 3 shows in each division. (Sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it? Picture parents freezing their butts off, until 10 pm, to cheer on horse-crazy kids after a long week at work.) Well, as luck would have it, Sage and I had the lead in pony hunters after the first 2 shows.

A Strangles outbreak at our barn put a quick end to my dreams of being a winner on my $200 pony against much fancier ponies, with more experienced riders. Worse than that, I had read John Steinbeck’s The Red Pony. I knew that Strangles killed the pony in the book, and was soon having nightmares of fighting off vultures of my own as they tried to feed on my precious Sage. The 3 ponies affected were put in a quarantine barn, and I spent my time visiting, scouring and praying. Needless to say, the third show was no longer possible. 

Fortunately, as the night of long-awaited third show approached, Death revoked its nasty threat, and the afflicted ponies turned the corner. As relieved as I was to know I wouldn’t lose my pony, or an eye to an angry vulture, I now coveted the almighty what could have been. I was almost a Series Champion! I went to the show that night, and I watched a spectacular black pony, named Lissiter Opal, secure the win. Although a few points shy of Sage’s total, he competed in the final show and became the Series Champion. I am not proud to say that I pouted a bit. Give me a break here since I was only 12, and had been cleaning out pus pockets under my poor pony’s jaw for a week. 

I watched the presentation, got a hug from Mom, and we started to head out. That is when something extraordinary happened. The young rider, my age, and her coach approached us. Her name was Joanie, and she rode at a much more serious show barn than I did. She stopped in front of me, and even though it must have hurt, she held out the Series Champion plate. She told me, that I should have won because I had more points, and that she was so sorry my pony was sick.  To say I was shocked is an understatement. I held the shiny, engraved plate and mumbled thank you with tears in my eyes. Although trophies have come and gone over the years, I still have this one, at the not so tender age of 60.

As soon as my parents could afford it, I went to ride with that trainer, a woman named Joy Hall. She was super tough, but taught me so much, including what it meant to be a good sport. Sportsmanship is the person that pulls their horse up on cross country 2 jumps from home, even though in the lead, because the horse doesn’t feel right. It is the competitor that had a bad day in dressage, but still goes to the ring to cheer on a friend. It is the person that puts a smile on your face when you see them during a course walk, and the person that lends you their girth because yours is still hanging on the tack hook at home. Whether a professional or amateur, kid or adult, this rider knows it is about the journey, and the camaraderie, not just the wins. 

I don’t feel like Sportsmanship is on the radar much anymore. I remember there being Sportsmanship awards at many shows when I was young. These are not to be confused with consolation prizes. You can do well at a show, and still be a good sport. It is all about how you carry yourself on the playing field. Good turnout, knowledge of the rules, good horsemanship, and not being a sore loser, are all components of the word. I am pretty certain, as I write this, that someone you know has popped into your head. If so, please submit them to MSEDA for the inaugural awarding of The Sportsmanship Cup, sponsored by my farm. This special award, near and dear to my heart, will be voted on by the board, and given out at the year-end banquet. Send in the name of your deserving competitor, with a short description of why you feel they exemplify the meaning of sportsmanship, and the positive example they set for our sport. Meanwhile, read The Red Pony, if you haven’t yet. Spoiler alert: it’s a tear jerker!

The Midsouth Eventing and Dressage Association is pleased to announce new year-end awards to be presented annually at the MSEDA Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet. Voted on unanimously by the Board of Directors, these additions to the already robust year-end awards program are intended to drive membership, increase volunteer hours, and recognize the hard work and dedication of our community.

The following awards are live and will be awarded for the first time at the 2026 Awards Banquet at the Shelbyville Conference Center on January 30th, 2027.

In order to be in contingent for Year-End Awards, all riders must be MSEDA members and complete their mandatory volunteer hours.

COMBINED TEST PERPETUAL TROPHIES

Similar to MSEDA’s High Point Trophies for Dressage and Horse Trials, three new trophies will be added on recognizing the Combined Test High Point Junior Rider, Combined Test High Point Senior Rider, and the Combined Test High Point Master Rider. These awards are given to the rider in each category who has amassed the highest number of points. If you are interested in sponsoring one of these perpetual trophies, please reach out to awards@msed.org.

YOUNG DRESSAGE HORSE

A year end award ribbon will be awarded to the young dressage horse who has achieved the highest score. Riders must submit scores on a signed test. Tests must be emailed to theadmin@mseda.org by November 1st of the competition year in order to be eligible. Ties will be broken by the highest collective scores, followed by the highest first movement. Eligible tests are materiales, 4yo, 5yo, and 6yo tests.

PONY AWARDS

These new perpetual trophies will highlight the versatile ponies in the MidSouth Region. Each year the highest scoring pony in dressage and eventing will be awarded a perpetual trophy. In order to qualify for these trophies please email a copy of your pony card to theadmin@mseda.org. Don't have a pony card? No problem! Fill out this form and have your veterinarian sign it and email it to theadmin@mseda.org. Once the pony is 8 the pony status is permanent with MSEDA.

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

Often overlooked, good sportsmanship is the foundation of competition. Each year MSEDA will award a sportsmanship award to a MSEDA member who's been nominated by one of their peers for exemplary sportsmanship. If you have a person you think is deserving please send a short description of what they did to deserve the award and a photograph to awards@mseda.org. Please note that all nominations may be recognized on MSEDA's social media.

“This award is given to the competitor that demonstrates good sportsmanship, horsemanship, and a positive attitude at the shows. This is a rider that puts their horse first, and is the one that has a smile, even after a rough day. Their horse is well cared for, and they are well turned-out, and prepared when competing.This is the competitor that cheers for fellow riders, and that is willing to help others. This person understands that it is about the journey, and the relationships with their horses, and their friends.” Tracy Scott, Co-Chair of the Awards Committee explains.

Also voted on by the Board of Directors, MSEDA is thrilled to announce the new Medal Program. Recognizing both Eventing and Dressage Riders, the Medal Program was created with the goal to recognize riders' growth throughout their career, similar to national award programs. Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals will be awarded in both Eventing and Dressage disciplines.

“Our medals programs have been modeled after the USDF and USEA programs. We are truly excited to offer this program to our members and give everyone an opportunity to earn their bronze, silver and gold medals locally” said Kerri Sweet, Co-Chair of the Awards Committee.

Dressage Medal Program

The award may be achieved at an MSEDA-sanctioned show at Training, First, Second, Third, and Fourth Levels. Riders must earn scores of 60% or higher at the respective level at United States Dressage Federation (USDF) events, or 63% or higher at the respective level at schooling events. Qualifying scores must be achieved by the same horse-and-rider pair; scores from multiple horses may not be combined. The rider must be a current MSEDA member who has completed their volunteer hours, and the horse must be activated for that rider. Eligible scores may be earned at any MSEDA-sanctioned event beginning January 2026. All scores, along with the judge’s signature, must be submitted via email to theadmin@mseda.org by November 4 of the competition year in order to receive the award at that year’s banquet.

Eventing Medals

The award may be achieved at an MSEDA-sanctioned show from Starter through Intermediate levels. Riders must submit either three different scores earned at a horse trial, four different scores earned at a mini trial, or a combination of four total scores. Scores may be achieved on different horses. The rider must be a current MSEDA member who has completed their volunteer hours, and the horse must be activated for the rider. Eligible scores may be earned at any MSEDA-sanctioned event beginning January 2026.

You can learn more about the medal program at mseda.org/Medals-Program

At the start of the competition season, I talk to each of my clients to set goals for the new season and make a plan, and usually a back-up or two, to accomplish their goals. As I step into the MSEDA presidency this year, I find myself doing the same for our board, our membership, and our sport in the midsouth region. Thanks to Julie Congleton’s leadership over the past five years, we have an active and passionate board, a growing membership, and a variety of educational and competition offerings for our competitors. In 2026, the board will focus on membership growth, improving our competitions, and providing engaging and affordable educational opportunities to our membership. 

A chance to ride with 5- time Olympian, William Fox-Pitt? I signed up before I even  thought about it. How often did an opportunity like that come along? Let’s go! I didn’t hesitate for a second. Not until it got closer to the clinic, that is.

For those of you that don’t know me, I have been in the eventing world for a while now, but I am getting a bit long in the tooth. I have managed to take 4 or 5 horses up through training level, and done a few prelim CT’s, but it is safe to say, my glory days are over. Jumps look a lot bigger now, and green horses have gotten a lot less amusing. My current mounts are Wiley, a slightly quirky TB that has fox hunted a lot, and evented a little, and my young, green, very chubby draft cross, Westley.

Winter being winter, for someone with no arena on their property, I kept at it the best I could, until the snow hit, and stopped me cold. I didn’t ride at all for about 6 weeks so I was greatly cheered to get going again with Angela Ariatti’s help and arena. I had 2 weeks to get up to speed for the clinic. Angela was a bit nervous because in January, I had the brilliant plan to ship up to Lakeside and jump Wiley around some courses. I judged the hunters there on Saturday, and figured on Sunday I would skip around the 2’6 jumpers. After all, Wiley ended his season at a Novice CT. They say horses keep you humble, and I guess I was due, because Wiley wouldn’t even jump a 2-foot vertical! He wasn’t nasty about it. He just wasn’t having any part of jumping in that closed up arena. I spanked, I cajoled, I begged. Nada. We didn’t get around a single course! Most folks would think there was a serious problem, but I know Wiley pretty well. He just didn’t like it there, and no meant no.

Sure enough, jumping at Angela’s went well, and I was starting to get my confidence back up after the winter hiatus. Then disaster struck. 4 days before the clinic, Wiley was lame left front. He managed to get kicked in the field. I momentarily considered taking Westley. I had a quick chuckle imagining careening around the ring on an obese woolly mammoth that hadn’t been ridden all winter, and has only gone starter, in front of an upper level phenom before I sobered up. (Thankfully, or I would have died.)

PC: Leah Vasquez Photography.

After hosing and dosing Wiley, he was sound and good to go by clinic day, although a bit keen with a few days off. Off we went! We were riding with 2 friends the first day, that both had more experienced mounts, and many less years of aches and pains then in my worn body. As we warmed up, I watched some of the novice group before us, and thought it seemed a bit high for Novice. I started wondering what the heck had I been thinking when I signed up. When we entered the ring for the meet and greet, I mentioned that we were a beginner novice group, as the fences didn’t seem to be coming down much. The Great William replied, “Are you making excuses already?” Gulp!

That session consisted of some bounces, singles and a combination. We practiced tight turns, and not giving up on our line so we could make it happen. Key take aways were maintaining straightness and rhythm while worrying less about a perfect distance. He is a big fan of trotting jumps to warm up so that the horse has to think about his leg placement, with less rider input. Also, if we had a stop, he wanted us to back up rather than circle over the smaller jumps. He stressed keeping the horse’s options clear, which basically meant few. When presented with a jump, they need to jump it. I was extremely pleased that it went rather well for all 3 of us, and I was only called a chicken once.

It was the second day that had our eyes popping out, mine and Wiley’s that is. The soft going switched our cross country session into a Kamikaze arena cross. The ring was strewn with trash cans, dressage letters, plastic rocks, orange cones, and anything else that didn’t look like a jump. There was even a faux corner and a brush jump so skinny it had to be on Ozempic. (Westley would have gotten lodged there for certain if I had brought him!) I am quite sure that crafty Mary Lowry had some involvement in this set up. Adding to the excitement, we had a gaggle of pony club kids having a splash fest in the near-by water complex. Wiley wasn’t particularly confident entering the ring, but after a spook at one of the trash can jumps, and a stop at the Liverpool, he settled right in.

Not much for dilly-dallying, William started us on short bending line courses with roll backs. We had 5 in our group today, and hardly any problems so he started raising the jumps! Beginner novice? Heck, we were jumping novice, and I am pretty sure the upright barrels with a flower box on top and the skinny chevron would have qualified as training. By far, the most interesting jump was the 2 trash cans side by side long ways with picket gates strewn across them that were jumped from end to end, that was also a skinny with gaps between the standards. I wasn’t certain that any horse, but especially Wiley, would be able to tell it was even a jump. But we did it! All 5 of us were able to do the courses and finish on a high.

After the clinic, I got some interesting messages from friends. Some that said they could have warned me. Some that said those lines were insane! Almost all that said Wiley and I did great. That felt pretty darn good. The best thing I got from the clinic was a well-needed boost to my confidence to start the season. So, if you get the chance to ride with the incredible WFP, I would highly recommend it. Just remember that if he says parallel that means the oxer, and a chevron is an arrowhead. Then just keep kicking!

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.