By Sarah Welk Baynum
Portraits by Kacy Brown
The thunder of hooves and the surge of power from her equine partner beneath as they charge across a two- or three-star eventing cross-country course—this is where Meg Pellegrini has always belonged.
Although Meg didn’t grow up in a horse family, everything changed when, at 5 years old, she tagged along with a friend to a barn in her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma—and something just clicked.
“There was a pony there I was able to ride, and I started going to hunter shows. That was my first taste of competition, and I was hooked,” Meg said. “But a few years later, my parents were ready for a change of scenery, so we moved to California when I was 10. I was devastated to leave the pony and everything there behind. But somehow, in the middle of Orange County, we found this gem of a barn where it all truly started for me. From that point on, horses weren’t just a hobby—they were who I was.”
That’s where Meg first crossed paths with trainer Lisa Sabo, who ran Newport Mesa Pony Club—someone who would soon become a cornerstone of her early riding journey.
“I was so excited—I just knew it was going to be something special,” Meg said. “From there, everything just took off. Riding quickly became my whole world. Lisa and her husband, Brian, were deeply involved in eventing, which was rare in that area. It honestly felt like fate that we ended up with her. She took me under her wing right away. Even with a barn full of kids, I always felt like she was looking out for me. She eventually helped me find my first pony, Ganymede, whom we called Luna in the barn, and that pony changed my life.”
Hard Parts Make You Stronger
Though Luna’s previous rider, Nicolette Merle-Smith, had taken her to the two-star and Intermediate levels of eventing, the pony was a little intimidating for Meg at first. “Those first two years were tough—Luna was fiery, and a little powerhouse of a pony. There were days I was even afraid to ride her,” she said. “But Lisa never let me back down. She’d say, ‘I’m sorry, you have to,’ and honestly, I’m so glad she did! That pony turned out to be one of the most incredible horses I’ve ever had—Luna even took me to multiple American Eventing Championships. We went to a competition in Texas one year, and that trip changed everything. I’d competed a lot in California, but traveling to a new place, meeting new riders—it felt like a pivotal moment. That’s when I knew I wanted to do this for life.”
In 2017, Meg and her trainer headed to the East Coast in search of her next eventing partner, where she met Boyd Martin for the first time. “He sold me this incredible horse, Cici Top, and at the time, I didn’t realize how important that connection with Boyd would become. After that, I continued competing in California with two horses, pushing toward the Preliminary Level,” Meg said.
While she continued to grow and excel in eventing, balancing schoolwork became an increasingly difficult part of her life. “School was tough for me, and it was a struggle I had to face. My siblings were all strong students, so there was pressure for me to keep up. Eventually, I switched to online school, which was challenging because it required a great deal of discipline, but it gave me the space to focus on riding. My parents were so supportive and helped me through it. It was clear to me that riding was what I wanted, and the freedom to choose my path lifted a massive weight off my shoulders. From that point on, I dedicated myself entirely to the sport, pursuing my dream of eventually competing on the East Coast and beyond.”
For years, Meg held onto the dream of working for someone on the East Coast and continuing learning. “In 2019, I rode RF Eloquence, whom we call Ricky Bobby, for the first time—a horse who became my dream partner. We flew to Florida to meet him, and I knew then I had to move east someday. That year, at my first Young Rider Championships in Montana, I was leading the two-star when I missed a jump, and it crushed me. I was only 14, and it felt like everything I’d worked for was slipping away,” Meg said.
Fortunately, Meg still qualified for the American Eventing Championships in Kentucky that year. Since her trainer, Lisa, couldn’t attend, she reached out to Boyd Martin to ask if he’d be willing to step in.
“Boyd was more than willing to help, and it ended up being one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. His groom, Steph Simpson, let me hack their horses and help with the little things. I was so grateful Boyd gave me his time, and I tried all week to show him how much it meant to me. At the end of the week, he pulled my parents aside and said, ‘I think she should come out to the East Coast.’”
The Big Move East
Boyd invited Meg and her parents to visit his farm in Pennsylvania and showed them around the area. “My parents, originally from Oklahoma, were also ready for a change after several years in California. When they told me we were flying out to see the farm, I was over the moon—it was one of those unforgettable moments, and I’ll always be grateful to them for making it happen.”
Meg and her family relocated to Pennsylvania, bringing her horses to Boyd’s farm, where eventing trainer Lillian Heard was renting one of his barns at the time. “I took a lesson with Lillian during our visit and immediately loved her, her program and the girls she had in the barn—it just felt right. That summer was unforgettable. Watching my horses graze big, lush pastures for the first time, riding in Boyd’s ring—it was surreal. Lillian took me under her wing, just like Lisa had, and helped me navigate the East Coast circuit, which was a whole new level. I went from winning in California to realizing I had to be great, not just good, out east. It was a tough adjustment—lots of mistakes, pressure and self-doubt—but I kept going. Working with a sports psychologist was helpful and over time, I started to bounce back. I’m proud of how I stuck with it, even when it was hard. It taught me a lot.”
Then, Meg was offered another opportunity—one that would once again shift the course of her riding career. “I had the chance to groom for my friend Alyssa Phillips at the 2022 Boekelo FEI Eventing Nations Cup in The Netherlands—her first time on a team—and of course, I took it! We’d become close after competing together at Rebecca Farm, and this opportunity introduced me to top riders and people involved at the highest levels of the sport. It was nerve-wracking—I’d never flown with horses or groomed for someone else before—but it pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me so much respect for grooms. When I got back, I felt even more motivated. Alyssa had just set up her farm in Ocala and invited me to bring my horses, and with Leslie Law based nearby, it felt like the perfect next step. I’d worked with Leslie before on the USEF Under 18 Emerging Squad and USEF Under 25 Development Squads and knew how important those connections were. So, I packed up and moved to Florida to keep learning and growing,” Meg said.
Meg reflects that if she hadn’t made the move, she wouldn’t be where she is today. “It was the first time I was truly on my own, with all my horses and no full-care program. I’d always been hands-on, but suddenly I was fully responsible for everything: feeding, vet work, keeping them healthy. It was overwhelming at first, but it taught me how to manage my horses—and myself—on my own.”
A New Chapter With the Colemans
When Meg was struggling with her horse and was in-between trainers, a friend recommended that she take a lesson with Olympic eventer Will Coleman, who lived just down the road. “I didn’t know much about him at the time, but after the first 10 minutes of the lesson, I was completely hooked—his level of riding and the way he pushed me were exactly what I needed. That one lesson with Will changed everything. I kept coming back, kept showing up, and eventually realized this was where I needed to be. His wife, Katie, started helping me on the ground, too, and together they’ve both had a huge impact on my riding and horsemanship.”
The family who owns the farm offered Meg stalls for her horses, and she recognized it as the opportunity she had been waiting for. “I requested a meeting, told Will and Katie how much I wanted this opportunity, and was determined to give it my all. Luckily, they wanted me there, too. Every day, I showed up early, rode my horses and soaked up every bit of advice, even during quick moments while Will was busy. It was intense and sometimes felt like constant critique, but I realized they pushed me because they believed I had the potential to improve. Katie taught me to understand my horses’ bodies and minds beyond just riding for competition—it was about their health and well-being. It took about 18 months before I truly felt confident.”
During that period, Meg was also developing her mindset, a crucial element in her growth as a competitor. “I started working with Natalie Hummel, a nervous-system expert and friend of Katie’s, who helped me shift my mindset completely in just three months,” Meg said. “Instead of just talking, we carefully retrained my nervous system, digging back to childhood experiences that shaped my fear and avoidant reactions, especially around cross-country riding. It was frustrating because I realized how much I’d been stuck replaying tough moments in my head, focusing on what I was doing wrong instead of embracing mistakes and failure as part of learning.”
Today, Meg is still working with the Colemans on their two farms. “We split our time between Ocala and Virginia.”
Meg has realized that at this stage of her riding journey, the most valuable thing she can do for her horses and long-term goals is to prioritize her training at home. “This year has been about slowing down and rebuilding from the ground up—mentally and physically,” Meg said. “After a tough start last season, I lost a lot of motivation and needed to take a step back. With Natalie’s help, I shifted my mindset and began focusing on pushing myself at home. That work has already made a huge difference. I’ve never loved the saying ‘you’ve got to go slow to go fast,’ but I’m starting to see how true it is for me.”
Meg said she’s trying to honor that pace until she’s truly ready to move forward. “I feel excited to compete again, rather than afraid, as I have in the past at some competitions,” she said. “Horses like Dondante, Will Coleman’s former mount, have helped restore my confidence—he’s so experienced that I’ve been able to trust him and stop second-guessing myself. Falcon Crown Z, who I think could be competitive for the U.S., is another one I’m building a strong partnership with, and Troy—Cooley Wish Upon A Star—has taught me so much about patience and communication. He’s quirky and sensitive, but now that we understand each other, he tries his heart out for me.”
As for Meg’s long-term goals, she would love to compete at Bramham Under-25 4**-L Eventing Championships, FEI Eventing Nations Cups and on more senior eventing teams representing the U.S. “But for now, it’s about getting it right, letting each horse be who they want to be, and building a foundation for the future together,” she said.
Follow Meg on Instagram @megpellegriniequestrian and visit her website at megpellegriniequestrian.com
Photos by Kacy Brown, kacybrownphotography.com
