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10 SIDELINES JULY 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE E V E N T I N G

Five Questions for Olivia Loiacono

By Lauren R. Giannini

Olivia (Liv) Loiacono, 22, and Subway, finished 15th in their successful debut at the four-star level at this spring’s Kentucky Rolex Three-Day Event. Subway started out as Liv’s Pony Club mount in California: She wanted to move up and to earn her “A” level rating. Liv accomplished both goals, but the partnership didn’t end there. In 2007, Subway and Liv crossed the continent to ride with Buck Davidson. The duo competed as individuals in the North American Young Riders Championships where they finished fourth. After giving college a try, they again headed east, this time to Karen and David O’Connor.

Sidelines: How did you get started riding if your parents weren’t horsey?

OL: My dad had an office job and when we moved closer to San Diego, it was to sort

of a horsey neighborhood. He tracked down a couple of Quarter Horses, and we went to the neighbors for advice how to take care of them. I was 10 and joined Fallbrook Pony Club. My parents didn’t ride at all. My sister did Pony Club with me, but after she went novice level, she decided she’d rather do just dressage. She was up to 3rd level and then she got married and had babies. I kept riding.

Sidelines: When did you get serious about eventing?

OL: I was 15. I had a horse that was going novice and doing the Pony Club thing, and I sort of ventured out every once in a while to do a horse trial. I wanted to get a horse that I could get my “A” on and sort of start moving up in the levels. Ann Horrell, who’s now married, was out in California at the time and she would do some clinics for the Pony Club. She was the closest thing to me that was big in eventing. At the time Hawley Bennett Awad was working under Ann. I got talking to her and they had Subway. So I went out there and once I got Subway, I pursued the eventing with Hawley and became Hawley’s working student.

Sidelines: Hawley obviously imprinted you with her work ethic and sheer drive and determination. Were you always so determined?

OL: Yeah, I sort of have that personality (laughs).

Sidelines: What was it like partnering with Subway to earn Preliminary Horse of the Year in Area 6 in 2007?

OL: I got him when I was 15 and I didn’t have the highest expectations of him. I thought I could do some two-stars and get my “A” on him. I didn’t really think he’d be the horse I would do my first Kentucky (Rolex) on and it’s been really cool, because we’ve had the time to build a really awesome relationship

Sidelines: What helped to prepare you for Kentucky Rolex?

OL: I’d say Fair Hill last fall was a huge thing. I started riding with David and Karen O’Connor three and a half years ago. They have taught me so much and they’ve been able to tweak the way that Subway jumps to make him a little bit better. He’s never going to win the flat, but they taught me about how to put the right kinds of pressure on him to keep him as quiet as he can be on the flat. I think it really came together at Fair Hill in the fall for me on the cross-country. I had my head on straight and I got the accuracy stuff down a little bit more. David and Karen talk a lot about having the railroad tracks as you go through narrows and corners. I really got that feel at Fair Hill. David’s helped me to tweak a few things in the show jumping. After you do a few three-days, you learn about how tired they’re going to be. So the big thing going to Kentucky was learning how to ride that power grid. All the different aspects came together. It was fantastic.

Olivia Loiacono and Subway, 44th after dressage, jumped clear on the Rolex cross-country with 12.8 time penalties and fnished 15th in their four-star debut

Photo by Lauren R Giannini