118 SIDELINESMAY 2014
FORHORSEPEOPLE • ABOUTHORSEPEOPLE
Vicki competingAdvanced onReggaeMon at MorvenPark
CIC***.
Photo courtesy of Vicki Baker
Vicki onReggae
Mon at High
PrairieFarmsCCI.
Photoby Tricia Jone
I ever have to give up riding and I structured my undergraduate
work at Colorado State University to ensure I could implement
plan B if I needed to. I’ve always approached my riding and
training biomechanically. I’m fascinated with movement and I’m
a “closet” veterinarianwhen it comes to soundness issues. I love
to feel tendons and wrap legs. Asmy physical limitation left over
from my fall in 1999 got worse and worse in 2005, it became
clear to me that I needed to pursue my plan B and it’s been an
amazing journey. Not only have I been able to restore my own
soundness throughwhat I learned as a PT, but it has opened up
many opportunities to help other riders and their horses achieve
soundnessand improve their biomechanicsandperformance. I’ve
also proudly been able to help a few riderswith traumatic injuries
much likewhat I had and I’m in the process of helping one noted
horsewomanwhosufferedamajor stroke return towhat she loves.
You are also heavily involved in natural horsemanship. How
do you incorporate that into your training?
I would say that I was a natural horseman before the term
becamepopular. I’vebeenaroundhorsesmost ofmy lifeand I’ve
alwayshadawayofworkingwith them that taps into their psyche.
Iworkwith themasmembersof their herd, not asahuman in their
herd. I’ve imprinted a lot of foals and started a lot of horses and
each of them has taught me something. I’ll never forget the first
time I rodemy mare Fine China down the center line of her first
advancedhorse trials. I had tearsof joy runningdownmy cheeks.
To takea foal thatwasborn intomyarms, that I solely trained, and
togoanentireeventing careerwithout one cross-country jumping
fault, save for one event with a few glance-offs of corners, was
truly remarkable. I feel it ismynatural horsemanship,myability to
gain ahorse’s trust, that helpedme achieve this.
What wouldyou consider your greatest accomplishment?
I would have to say that returning to the advanced level of
competition to be a contender for the 2004Olympics after such a
traumatic fall ismybiggest accomplishment thus far. But don’t get
me wrong; I didn’t do it alone. I worked extensively with a sport
psychologist and was guided and nurtured back by the USET
DevelopingRidersProgramandwas specifically helpedbyDavid
O’Conner andMarkPhillips.What I learned from themwas at the
end of the day it’s your inner strength that you have to draw from
tomake it happen; so I did.
What are your plans for 2014?
Well, I have a beautiful 5-year-old daughter, Katherine, who
loveshorsesso I’ll likelybeplayinghorseshowmom thissummer.
I’ll continue to develop Vicki Baker Eventing, based at Gargot
Farms in Berthoud,
Colorado. I have
great plans for
adding a cross-
country schooling
area focusing on
terrain, ditches and
more to this already
beautiful farm. I also
teach clinics locally
and
nationally.
And, I will continue
to work part time
as
a
physical
therapist at Physical
Therapy
Doctors
in Berthoud. I also
plan to keepmy hat
in the competition
ring on a wonderful
Connemara stallion
named Mosi and
am actively seeking
other mounts to
compete on.
