24 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Jamie (left) and Nicole Doolittle
be their coach.” Throughout the next four years, they attended
every summer and winter camp.
A Great Support System
In between events and camp sessions with David, Jamie and
Nicole learned to lean on each other and their mom for training
and support.
“Nicole and I have been on our own so much that we’ve
learned to take what we learn in those four weeks at camp to
carry us through,” said Jamie.
“If you face a problem, you have to figure it out,” Nicole said.
“It’s always been just the three of us.”
“If something didn’t work, we’d try new things,” Jamie added.
“Every ride, it was always the three of us in the arena working
things out. It wasn’t always easy listening to mom as a coach,
but it’s gotten easier as we’ve gotten older.”
Suzanne explained that for her and the girls, riding is
everything. “It’s not a hobby,” she said. “It’s a lifestyle and it’s
our family.”
That solid support system has enabled the Doolittles to adapt
to change.
An Unexpected Opportunity for Nicole
When Nicole’s injured mare Lexi needed time off from her
injury sustained at the 2012 NAJYRC, they decided it was a
great opportunity to breed her. Nicole’s other mare, Rosie, had
moved up to training level, but wouldn’t be ready to qualify
for NAJYRC in 2013. It was a big surprise when a phone call
opened the door to bigger opportunities, including a horse
named Tops.
“We’ve known Dani (Danielle Dichting) a long time,” Nicole
said. “We used to joke with her about buying Tops. One day she
called.” In her first big event, Nicole and Tops earned second
place at the Ocala Horse Trials in the 1* (preliminary) division.
Throughout the season, they did well and qualified easily for
the 2013 NAJYRC.
Nicole and Tops were in second place after dressage at the
NAJYRC and moved up to first after cross-country. “It was just
incredible,” Nicole said. “I was so happy after cross-country.
Even in the morning, I was oddly calm. I walked the course and
I don’t even really remember it. It rode so well.”
A Course Change for Jamie
“Maggie taught me to be humble,” Jamie said. “Dressage was
always an issue. I learned to appreciate the little improvements
and to be a good horse person. I never gave up. I’d get to the
ring at a show and she’d lose it. I’m
a competitive person and I learned
to stay calm and get her through it.”
They had successfully moved up
to intermediate and had competed
at the NAJYRC twice before.
Everything was going well – until
November of 2012. Jamie rushed
home from school to learn Maggie
had suffered a critical injury during
turnout. Her family and vet were
there to support her while Maggie
was humanely euthanized.
“I was devastated,” Jamie said.
“David called that night and I really
couldn’t believe the support from the
eventing community. I wasn’t sure
what I wanted to do. I was in limbo.”
“When I was ready to get back on,
I didn’t have an event horse,” Jamie
said. “I went to Florida for the winter,
like always, and it was the best thing.
I talked to David and Lauren Kieffer
a lot and they helped me cope with
Maggie’s death.”
Working through the loss of her
partner and friend allowed Jamie to
focus her goals. At Christmas, she
shared her idea with David. “I was
Nicole on Tops in the cross-country at the 2013 NAJYRC. Nicole and Tops rode away with
team and individual gold medals.
