My best friend and I had competed locally and in Florida in the jumper ring for about five or six years, riding “unconventional horses”. By unconventional horses, we were riding an American Saddlebred (who was half starved to death when purchased), an Anglo-Arab (who was bought as a weanling as a fescue toxicity baby from Auburn University), and a very opinionated Appaloosa mare (bought from a last chance type of horse auction).

Riding among Warmbloods, TB’s, Oldenburg’s, Holsteiners, and the like, we would get more than our fair share of double takes. But more times than not, we would walk away in the ribbons! I guess you can say we always have held the underdogs close to our hearts. We loved the horses we were riding and believed in them and them in us.

In May 2005, we had moved our horses to board at a beautiful and private facility in Canton GA. This facility used to be a Thoroughbred/Quarter Horse breeding and training ground for a wonderful man we now consider a part of the family. Plenty of room to roam in the paddocks, run-in sheds, a galloping track (which we got to try and kill ourselves reenacting the Seabiscuit movie a time or two), a riding ring, trails, and a small cross country course. Initially, fences other than in a ring were a very foreign experience for us. Then we started having fun popping our horses over them! Funny as I look back, we thought the tadpole sized fences were intimidating, due to the fact the “poles” don’t fall down. But we sensed our horses were enjoying the open fields and they seemed to have more respect for the “questions”, and liked what they were doing.

Our jumper trainer had a sister who events, and we were invited to school at Pine Top over Labor Day weekend with her and her students to get a taste for cross country jumps. Getting our feet wet going up and over banks, drop fences, the water complex, ditches, riding through woods, etc. was WONDERFUL! We had so much fun. Needless to say, our thoughts started to drift away from the jumper world.

We decided to give our first shot at a horse trial in October 2005. Green, green, green we were going into this first endeavor, but we got the chance to school the course at Big Bear prior to going and had fun once again. As we arrived for the USEA recognized show, mind you our first experience at eventing, we immediately were amazed by the people involved in this sport. We pulled our trailer by the barn we were in, and were immediately greeted with big smiles and hellos. I felt as though I stepped into the twilight zone. People seemed interested, rather than critical, about the types of horses we were riding! We also met some experienced eventers, whom had nothing but words of encouragement and advice for us rookies. Major league different experience from waiting endlessly for your turn to ride your jumper round (usually because someone before you was waiting on their trainer to give their nod of approval that they could set themselves in the ring), frantically trying to memorize your jump off course prior to memorizing your add back class course right after, and the harsh glances and less than friendly “tudes” especially if you weren’t riding in the latest and greatest $3,000 saddle with matching bridle.

My best friend was approached by the gentleman that owned the facility we were boarding at and asked her if she would be willing to run it. She immediately consulted me and we knew we wanted to share our wonderful introduction to eventing with others. Thus, UCF Stables was born. You may ask what UCF stands for? Well, “unconventional farm” or “united for Christ” in a monogram sort of way. We were being blessed by this opportunity and wanted others to experience the same and know who to be grateful to for this opportunity.

Since started a year ago with eventing, we have been under the wing of our wonderful trainer, Kris Quillian. We realized how much work was going to have to be done with our dressage. No more tilting forward and riding off the pubic bone for us and replacing our emphasis with a new concept of having a “through connection”….not sure we are there yet still! Started off with dressage scores in the 40’s and have progressed into the 30’s. We have had other eventers come to our barn, one boarder who went to the AEC’s, had some former hunter/jumper riders CONVERT to eventing, and had some of those very first people we met at our first horse trial come to our barn and hold clinics! We have competed at Pine Top, Poplar Place, Flat Creek, and Big Bear. Each and every time, taking with us new lessons, new people that have been a delight to meet, new friends, and of course new homework to go back to the barn and improved upon. We have gotten the chance to watch and meet great riders such as Karen O’Connor with Theodore O’Connor (all 14.3 hands of him), Emma Winter, and Bruce Davidson. We also have gotten to see and meet the up and comers such as Elisa Wallace with Jackson and Leap of Faith and Katherine Coleman with Trader Vic. (Such incredibly sincere and humble people….where do you find that in professional and/or amateur sports if you are great?)

Eventing has a way of humbling you, enlightening you, encouraging you, and will definitely get you out of your comfort zone at times, allowing you to grow as a person as your horse. All in all, it has proved to be a wonderful sport, with wonderful people in it. Both for my best bud and myself, playing team sports in high school and college, you needed discipline, teamwork, focus, athleticism, and encouragement by those in the stands. Eventing offers the same deal. Dressage, cross country, and stadium encompasses all of the above.

We are blessed at UCF to play a very small part in it, and hope to spread the word in an area that is hugely populated by other hunter/jumper folks still left in the dark. Step into the light!

By Kimberly Lennon
UCF Stables – Canton GA