40 SIDELINESMAY 2014
FORHORSEPEOPLE • ABOUTHORSEPEOPLE
MarilynandDemeter competing in the2012RolexKentucky
Three-DayEvent. In2013, Demeter was named theUSEAMare
of theYear and theUSEAHorse of theYear, aswell as the
being the top rankedmare on theWBFSHeventing list.
PhotobyAllenMacMillan/MacMillanPhotography
MarilynandRFDemeter flying high at the 2012RolexKentucky
Three-DayEvent CCI4*. They jumped clear on cross-country in
their four-star debut and finished in ninth place.
PhotobyAllenMacMillan/MacMillanPhotography
really could have gone either way, but one day while sitting in
traffic en route to teachaCom101 class, I suppose therewas an
epiphany! That was the firstmoment that I knew, without adoubt,
what I wasmeant todo.
Whohavebeen yourmost influential trainers?
GeorgeMorris, Missy Clark, Anne Kursinski, Karen and David
O’Connor, Katie Prudent ... these are a few of the many people
who have been incredibly influential inmy life. I’m so grateful for
the pieces of them I’ve been lucky to bring forward into my own
career in this sport. Regardless, I can say without hesitation that
mymother, Lynne Little, has been the greatest influence in each
andevery aspect ofmy lifeas botha rider andas ahumanbeing.
It goes beyond training. She has shapedmy past, made possible
thepresent, and is largely responsible for everything I dreamof as
botha sportsmanand, I hope, as a horseman.
What would you list as the biggest highlights of your career
so far?
Asaneventingrider,thehighlightsarecumulative,andare largely
thanks to the incredible team behind me! I was lucky enough to
become theLeadingLadyon theHSBCWorldRankings thisyear,
andmyhorseRFDemeterbecameboth theWorld’sLeadingMare
on the2013WorldBreedingFederationofSportHorses (WBFSH)
rankings and the 2013UnitedStates EventingAssociationHorse
of theYear. As aprofessional in the show jumpingworld, I’dhave
to say the final week at CSI***** Spruce Meadows holds huge
memories –wewon the $175,000 1.60mMercedes Benz Derby,
the 1.60m Enerflex Cup and the North American Championship
on Blue Curacao in the same week. It was a dreamweek. As a
junior rider, I’d have to saywinning theOpeningNight GrandPrix
at Madison SquareGarden on Traumjule. I was competing there
in the Open Division alongside my mother, and was also in the
Maclay. It was such anexciting place to ride.
What traitsdo you look for inahorse?
From the fiery, 15.1-hand Pialotta whom I had the privilege of
riding onmy first U.S. Show Jumping Team tour, to the 18-hand
elegant powerhouse RF Tabasco who I now compete on the
international eventing scene, I’ve had horses that run the gamut!
That said, the first necessity in my book is a horse’s desire to
work toward a common goal with their rider. If a horse wants to
workwith you, or if you can findaway toget that horse to
want
to
workwith you, there’s always away tohelp themadvance in their
career.After that, for eventers I’dsay that bravery, soundnessand
a consistent, classical jumping style are key. For show jumpers, I
look for intelligence, carefulness and an instinct to be quick from
the floor andgo
up
.
What thingsdoyou like todobesides ride?
I enjoy scuba diving, fishing and I love to fly. I got my pilot’s
license in2004, though I don’t have the time to takeadvantageof
it as I should. I also love photography; I couldwork in a darkroom
for days onend.
