Featured Article (February 2002)

Eye On Eventing

This is the second half of a two-part article spotlighting the U.S. Eventing Association Area (USEA) II year-end award winners. For a complete roster of points and special awards, log on to www.usea2.net.

Life's A Sport and owner Penny Lynch of Springfield captured top honors for both the AMATEUR ADULT BEGINNER NOVICE and the YOUNG HORSE NOVICE divisions. "I grew up in Washington, DC, and got my first horse as an adult. After doing hunters, I was first exposed to eventing in 1979," she recalled.

Three years ago Penny was in the market for an older horse when a friend asked her to evaluate a 3-year-old TB/QH gelding. According to Penny, "Not realizing I'd ultimately be the buyer, I suggested she increase the asking price. Sport was worth every penny." A part-time computer analyst, Penny exercises regularly at a gym. "After a few falls I decided to work on my fitness level to help me stay on my horse. I'm not a spring chicken anymore," she added.

Emergency room nurse Amy Jo Cattell of Exton, Pennsylvania garnered the AMATEUR ADULT TRAINING year-end award with her 8-year-old Hanovarian/TB gelding Aaspen's Black Diamond. "When my trainer Keith Taylor was killed at Radnor in 1998, it was a turning point for me. The difficult decision was to pick another safer sport or to continue eventing. After reevaluating my priorities, I became more dedicated to the discipline," she confided.

Amy's lifetime achievement goal is to compete at a one-star. In preparation she and her homebred have dabbled at Preliminary, sandwiching horse trials around her August wedding. Now fully recovered, Amy was injured in a riding accident in October, breaking her back, pelvis and hip. "I was riding a friend's horse and it reared and fell on me. This only made me appreciate Aaspen more," she concluded.

"Now enthusiastic and brave, Phoenix was a little bit of a pig in a poke when we first bought him in 1999. Up until that point he had never seen the world outside of the show ring. This Selle Francais cross is definitely the most talented animal I've ever sat on in the 12 years I've been eventing," said Wendy Bebie. Finishing tops in the AMATEUR ADULT PRELIMINARY division, the Round Hill based rider juggles competing with her schedule as a mother to three busy teenagers.

The key to the 10-year-old gelding's transformation was the introduction to cross-country. According to Wendy, "The obstacles themselves were never the issue, it was the person sitting next to the jump with an umbrella that was the surprise." Phoenix is scheduled to do his first one-star in May.

With two horses to condition, 13-year-old Julia Briskin of Radnor, Pennsylvania focuses all of her free time on them. Paired for only a year, Julia rode her newest horse Balliough, nicknamed Spring, to the top award for YOUNG RIDER NOVICE. In addition to excelling in competition, this Irish TB gelding successfully overcame a major issue. "To bridle Spring we had to put it on one piece at a time," she confided. To get him used to being touched, she spent time tracing circles around his eyes.

Now doing well at Training, her immediate goal is to move up to Preliminary with the promising 6-year-old. "We stand out because Spring is so new to eventing and has already done extremely well. That and probably because at 5'9" I'm very tall for my age," she said.

Following in her sister's footsteps, Kellie Van Pelt of Clifton started eventing at age eight. Now 13, she was the recipient of the YOUNG RIDER TRAINING year-end award with her 15-year-old TB mare Special Edition. "A few days after my pony died some people called up and offered Lucy as a free lease until we eventually bought her. She took a lot of work but I didn't give up on her," shared Kellie.

"I have two horses now and plan to take them both Preliminary this year and even do my first three-day. It's my goal - a BIG goal," Kellie said. When not conditioning the horses or taking weekly lessons, she finds time to serve as Secretary of the Junior Board of the Dominion Valley Pony Club where she is a C-2.

"We've had no wild experiences. This horse is super consistent and a pleasure to ride every single day," stated Veronica Metzler of her 11-year-old TB gelding Mezzanine Prince. Recipient of the YOUNG RIDER PRELIMINARY top award, the 17-year-old rider wrapped up the competition year on a high note. Back in August she unfortunately was unable to finish the North American Young Rider Championships due to an injured horse.

Last year Veronica and her supportive family moved from California to Pennsylvania so she could train with Phillip Dutton. "Watching and trying to emulate his ride is pretty great. We work on the winning frame of mind while remembering that safety is more important than speed," she said. In September Veronica will head to Massachusetts to attend Mount Holyoke College, known for their riding team.

Emily Mastervich's exposure to horses was through the local 4-H in Michigan. "I got involved with some good instructors right from the start and trained with the O'Connors and Jimmy Wofford," she said. From traveling with her family to watch Rolex as a youngster, Emily went on to compete there in '95, '96 and '97.

Recently, Emily rode Jane Dudinsky's 7-year-old TB/Holsteiner cross Kalliope to first place in YOUNG HORSE PRELIMINARY. "Three years of flat work helped to harness the horse's natural talent. She got to really know and trust me. I'm not just the person that hops on her back every day, it's all about consistency," she confided. When not competing, Emily can be found at her Brickland Farm in Charlottesville where she teaches and trains. Best wishes to Emily on her engagement to Jeff Beshear, D.V.M.