By Valerie Pride
I know it’s really a very big world out there; but somehow, horses make it so small! For years I wintered in Aiken, South Carolina, at the lovely farm of Sidelines founder Samantha Charles. Once a month, pallets of freshly printed Sidelines would take over the office, garage, hallways—it was always quite the scene and rather exciting to see it before it was officially available in stores. Fast forward a few years and I was so honored that Sidelines did a story on me, my horse Favian and his mini equine friend Theodore, and our move to England to train and compete at Blenheim, one of the UK’s most prestigious events.
At the time, Boyd Martin was writing the monthly eventing column and I enjoyed his thoughts on many subjects. Liz Halliday took over after that to make many contributions, and now, as time continues to fly, here I am introducing myself as the next eventing columnist! You just never know what life has in store for you; I’m grateful and hoping I can pick up where both of them left off.
I’m so thrilled for this opportunity and at such an exciting time for eventing, heading into the heart of the three-day season and with the Olympics on everyone’s minds! It’s just so wonderful to be a part of this special sport at a time when all sports are celebrated, uniting us, giving us all something to cheer for and aspire to. I look forward to sharing with you my point of view and discussing and learning about all of yours.
We’re all shaped by our experiences, and mine are quite varied. I started riding Western alongside my mother on her Arabians. I’ve been in Pony Club, foxhunted, had a galloping license, rode point to point, started so many babies and restarted so many off-the-track Thoroughbreds. I’m lucky enough to have grown up in the Young Rider era of the late and great Jimmy Wofford and been shaped by some of the most knowledgeable and practical horsewomen of our time.
Both Linda Zang and Marilyn Payne mentored me not only as an upper-level rider but to start down the path of becoming a licensed official. The universe works in mysterious ways, and now I ride and judge at the five-star level. One of my most respected colleagues is about to judge the Olympics, and four of my friends will get chosen to ride there. I’m so proud, motivated and enthusiastic about all that is to come in a very short amount of time!
My month is broken down into weekly chunks that help me keep a well-rounded perspective of our sport. The young horses and lower-level clients of mine usually compete at a more local event one week. The upper-level horses and students will travel to a different, typically more ‘destination’ event the next. The following week, I’m likely away judging anywhere in the United States, and sometimes outside of it. And then we hit repeat, every month until December.
I get to spend time with my husband and my dogs and recharge (or catch up!), and then we’re off to Ocala, Florida, in January and ready for the next year. At this point in the spring season, my horses and clients have all gotten a big jump start from the winter training season and we’ve moved back home to Maryland to tackle the rest of the year. I’m fortunate that there are so many competition opportunities close to home, with many of the three-days and qualifications we need happening just a little up or down the coast from our home base for the next two months.
Really, however, I feel like whenever I’m at an event, I’m at home. Eventers are different; I fully embrace that and hopefully can help explain it, justify it and make you want to be the same! It’s a small but supportive community, full of very special people from volunteers to organizers, builders and designers to riders, grooms, owners and sponsors. And we owe it all to the horses, the most amazing creatures, that find this sport as fun and addictive and challenging as the rest of us do!
I wake up every morning and count my lucky stars that I get to view current events as an athlete, coach, trainer and judge. I typically ponder them over wine with friends, and now, on paper with all of you! I’m very much looking forward to it, and can’t wait for the next time. Until then, remember that forward fixes it and be brave and kick on!
The About Valerie paragraph:
As a Maryland-based FEI five-star rider, trainer and “S” judge—as well as owner/operator of the aptly-named Blue Clover Eventing—Valerie Vizcarrando Pride is chasing dreams and creating her own luck as she excels in the grueling sport of eventing. She has represented the USA as either a judge or athlete at some of the world’s most prestigious eventing competitions including Blenheim, the Kentucky Five-Star, the Maryland Three-Star, Morven Park International, Aiken Showcase and countless others. Her mentors include William Fox-Pitt, Bettina Hoy, Callan Solem and Ian Stark. She is one of the youngest people in the world to hold her FEI and USEF judging licenses and is one of the few people in the world—if not the only person—currently judging at the FEI level while actively competing at five-star events. For Valerie, it’s all about helping to shape the future, create more confident riders and horses, and pay it forward.
Photo by Isabel J. Kurek
Photo by The Jockey Club
