Page 68 - 2302_full

66 SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE S I D E L I N E S

J R

A Few Minutes with Eirin and Lene Bruheim

By Rebecca Walton

Eighteen-year-old Eirin and 16-year-old Lene Bruheim ride for their family’sNordic Lights Farm, a 70-acre establishment located in Tomball, Texas. Both girls have worked their way up through the ranks and are currently competing at the top levels in the hunter and jumper divisions aboard their incredible string of horses. Eirin has competed World Cup Qualifying classes and was the sole U.S. representative for show jumping at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. Lene is currently focusing on the low junior jumpers and the junior hunters after leading the country in the NAL Children’s Jumper standings in 2010.

Sidelines: What originally drew you to riding and why do you enjoy it so much? 

Eirin: Ever since I was little I wanted to ride. Unfortunately for my parents, it wasn’t just a phase all girls go through, I ended up falling in love with the sport and can’t imagine my life without it. I like riding because it’s a positive outlet for stress and the results correspond to the work you put in with the horses and courses. I also remember being in awe of the show jumpers who jumped so high.

Lene: My sister was already riding when I frst started. I was terrifed of horses for the frst year she rode; but then one day I just told my mother I wanted to try to ride one, so we gave it a try. I enjoy the challenge of riding and just being with the horses.

Sidelines: How do you prepare and train for different competitions?

Eirin: Usually the week before competition we start by doing lots of cavaletti work and gymnastics to get my horses thinking faster again. We do small courses and work a lot on manners on the fat. However, if we’re going to a long circuit or Young Riders we like to work on the horses’ endurance starting about four or fve weeks out so they won’t fade as the competition progresses. During this time I like to work my horses on our hilly track and for a long time on the fat. Fortunately my horses love to work and stay very ft during the year.              

Lene: I do a lot of fat work usually, some poles, and a few courses and gymnastics in between horse shows

Sidelines: Can you tell us about your competition schedule and how you balance school and riding?

Eirin: It used to be very hard to balance traditional school and riding due to the sheer amount of absences I would accrue over the show season. This ultimately led to our decision to transfer to an online high school, so we could travel all over and I could still keep up with school during my down time, whether it was day or night. I graduated this spring and took a year off to fnish up my last junior year. Next year I’ll go to Southern Methodist University, and I intend to keep riding during the weekends, and showing.

Lene: We show usually at least twice a month. I go to an online school, so it really doesn’t interfere with my riding schedule at all. I do my schoolwork in the morning, and then I’m free for the rest of the day to ride. If we’re going

to a show, I work ahead with my schoolwork so I can concentrate fully on the show.

Sidelines: What is it like riding with your sister? 

Eirin: It’s so much fun, she helps motivate me to win and consoles me when things don’t go as planned. She is also very competitive so when she wins a class I feel obligated to also win! When we start riding in the same divisions it will be harder because we will both want to beat each other so badly! 

Lene: I enjoy it a lot. She’s a good role model and I try to follow in her footsteps as much as I can.

Sidelines: What are your goals and hopes for the future, both short term and long term?

Eirin: For the short term, I would like to step up to bigger grand prix classes and competitions. I have a great horse that I know can do it. I also want to keep riding in the amateur jumpers next year with my other mounts. My long-term goals are to get on some U.S. teams and hopefully go to the Olympics one day.

Lene: My short-term goal has always been to ride well and keep challenging myself at shows. For the long term, I would love to show in some FEI World Cup Qualifers when I am ready.

Lene Bruheim and NLF Valhall

Photo by Shawn McMillen

Eirin Bruheim and NLF Trans Atlantic

Photo by Flashpoint Photography