26 SIDELINES JUNE 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Jan Westmark-Allan
Alexandra Efrd, a busy high school sophomore in Eads,
Tennessee, is quick to say that she has very little spare time,
thanks to the horses in her life. Allie, as her friends call her,
doesn’t mind that her life is consumed by her equines. In fact,
her life has revolved around horses since she was fve years
old.“My older sister decided to go to horse camp when I was
fve and of course I wanted to do everything my older sister
was doing,” Allie said. “The minimum age to go to camp was
supposed to be six years old but they allowed me to attend.”
Allie said that during camp she had to take lessons with girls
who were much older and more coordinated. “I thought I could
do anything the older students were doing so I was constantly
asking, ‘What about me?’ At the end of the camp they had a
small schooling show to allow our parents to see what we had
learned. The instructor, Barbara Grubbs, renamed my pony for
the show, What About Me. That camp changed my life forever!”
Who do you train with?
I have trained at Spring Mill Farm in Eads, Tennessee with
David Pellegrini and his staff Michael Tokaruk and Emily Hertz
for four years. When I lived in Michigan I trained with Mark
Tompkins.
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And Waffles!
What horses do you compete and in what divisions?
I have a large junior hunter, Chalice, which I have owned for
about a year. I also compete in the equitation classes on Chief
that I was able to lease at medal fnals last year.
What are your career highlights so far?
It is always a highlight for me to be able to compete at the
Devon Horse Show, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and
the Washington International Horse Show. This past year I was
fortunate enough to also compete at the Alltech National Horse
Show. The ribbons I have won at those shows, even the ones on
small ponies, hang in my room. It is so exciting to see all of the
incredible riders, ponies and horses at those shows. I also love
the challenge of medal fnals and the excitement of competing.
What are your riding goals?
My biggest interest is in the equitation. I love the courses, options
and challenges that equitation presents. I am working very hard
in this area of my riding and am striving to be a real contender in
the equitation fnals in the next two years.
What do you like about being a horse person?
I love the companionship and sense of accomplishment I get
from riding horses. No matter what goes on in my day, when I
have fnished riding and taking care of my horses I always feel like
the day was a success. I feel like I always learn something every
day from my horses!
What do you think you would do if you weren’t a rider?
I cannot even imagine my life without horses.
What’s something people don’t know about you?
That my favorite restaurant is Waffe House! Tacky, huh? All of
the staff knows me by name.
Allie
Photo by Cathrin Cammett
Allie and Chief competing in the Maclay
Photo by Flashpoint Photography