United States Eventing Association

I have never considered myself a naturally talented rider. In fact, I spent most of my first years on a horse flailing around pretty ineffectively trying to figure out what the heck I was supposed to be doing to make the horse do what I wanted it to. My very first horse trials when I was 10 years old at a Pony Club rally resulted in my palomino pony jumping out of the dressage ring during our test. Of course we jumped right back in, since my pony thought that the dressage ring was a really fun jump, and was not at all undeterred by my emotional turmoil at the time.

Many years later, after being a working student for a summer during college, I then decided I wanted to become a professional. I didn't begin competing at the Preliminary level until the age of 21, never competed at the Young Riders Championships, never held a riding position at one of the upper level event barns I worked for, and hadn't quite reached the Advanced level at the time, but I threw myself into the jaws of the professional eventing world.

I admit, I've always felt inadequate among my peers as a rider. Because of getting into the game a bit later than most other professionals I find myself feeling years behind them. I've only recently started to feel as though I know what I'm doing when I sit on a horse. And yet I still have moments when I'm wondering, what the heck am I supposed to do? Or, those even more panicked moments when I get two strides away from a jump and realize I have no idea what distance I'm going to get.

When I have a ride where I feel as I haven't ridden very well, I try to dig down a bit deeper and tell myself to figure it out and do it again. Horses are remarkable creatures in their forgiveness for our mistakes. Their willingness to try again and again, despite all of our errors, is what makes this sport so intriguing and addictive. Knowing that the correct answer is only a few strides away, and having a partner willing to keep trying, is why this sport is so enjoyable.

Recently I have been inching closer and closer to my goal of running Advanced. Of course I'm nowhere near close to being competitive, since my current two-star mount quite agrees with my former Pony Club horse and would just rather jump out of the dressage ring instead of actually complete the test in a civilized manner (and when I say civilized, I mean not parade around like a giraffe with a bridle on). While I try to live the "it is what it is" motto, I am definitely an extremely competitive person and seeing my dressage score after completion still hurts my ego. These are the times when I remember a saying my dad has always given me, "You may not always be the best, but you can always work the hardest."

As a rider who may not always be the most naturally gifted, I have really taken these words to heart lately. I'm extremely grateful for all the horses I get to ride everyday, and I try to do just that; I ride and think through every ride I do that day. I find that every horse is like a puzzle, and it's my job to fit the pieces together to create one who can perform to the best of its ability. Very much like puzzles, each one is different and requires different approaches, with the same underlying principles. And it's not just the simple getting on and getting off each horse which I think makes really great riders; it's the thinking through every single movement, transition and jump, and having the knowledge and work ethic to try again with a different approach if one didn't work before (or to try with the same approach if you're correct and have the horse figure it out). I also try to learn from any avenue possible. Whether that's at lessons, at shows, in warm-up areas, even in groundwork, there is so much that can be learned from just watching other good horsemen handle their own horses.

With the new year already past us and the beginning of the season already beginning, I challenge those of the eventing community to face the challenges presented to you head on, to take the time to figure out the pieces of the puzzle which each horse requires to become a better partner and performer, and to work harder when you feel as if you've given it your all already. Dig deep, keep your head up when all seems to fall apart, and always, always, put your leg on USEA. This is your year!

About Ashley Kriegel Trier

Ashley is a CCI2* rider who is based out of The Plains, Va. Following a lifetime of riding and competing and several years as a working student for CCI4* riders, Ashley branched out on her own as a professional in 2013. She currently is competing her own horses at the Intermediate and Preliminary levels and bringing along a few young OTTBs all while teaching a slew of juniors and adult amateurs to learn to love and compete safely in the sport of eventing. Ashley will be sharing her experiences navigating the eventing world as a young professional in her monthly blogs. To learn more about Ashley visit: http://ashleytriereventing.com/