equestrian exploits

Paly senior competes on horseback

WARMING UP. Getting ready for her round, Chandler hops on her horse for a final polish on her technique. (top)

text by karrie huang

Rhythmic hoofbeats sound as senior Carly Chandler jumps over a three-foot obstacle on her horse Soul to Squeeze (barn name Squishy). Glancing down at her watch, she realizes that she has made it over the 18 jump cross country course under the optimum time, keeping her in first in the Novice division at the April Twin Rivers Horse Trials. She gives Squishy a pat on the neck and rides off the course to the cheers of her teammates.

She rides her horse almost every day and regularly competes in the rated U.S. Eventing Association Area VI show circuit at the Novice level, which includes jumping up to three feet. She’s thinking about moving up a division in the near future.

“I’m going to a college that has a great riding program, so hopefully I will be able to ride there,” Chandler said. “In the farther off future, I definitely want to buy my own horse, and keep eventing into the upper levels.”

An equestrian for almost her whole life, Chandler said riding has become an integral part of her life.

“I ride for the thrill and the connection you have with your horse,” she said. “There’s nothing like having an animal choose you.”

Her horse, Squishy, is a young and flighty Thoroughbred — the light-build horses known for their speed in racing — whom she has turned into a reliable show horse.

“He’s very picky about who rides him, because he wants to be able to do his own thing,” she said. “He’s the boldest and bravest horse I’ve ever ridden, and will jump anything I point him towards. He’s also very sweet on the ground and loves any type of treat.”

The lessons Chandler has learned from horseback riding are applicable to other parts of her life and have made her a better person, she said.

“Riding has definitely taught me how to persevere,” Chandler said. “There’s been

photos by carly chandler

many times I’ve wanted to quit, but I haven’t, and it was worth it in the end. Riding has also taught me to have a clear head and temperament under pressure.”

Riding can be stressful due to the inherent dangers of the sport, from being stepped on, to being kicked, and especially falling off, according to Chandler.

“Scariest thing I’ve done on horseback is probably jumping a downbank into the water, where you jump over a fence from the ground, and then land farther down into a pond,” she said.

Chandler has had her fair share of riding accidents. Falling off is a pretty common occurrence, but occasionally more serious incidents happen.

“I’ve had a lot of setbacks in riding, but my major one was falling off and getting a concussion from it,” she said. “I got post concussion syndrome which made me have concussion symptoms for months longer than usual.”

In addition to riders getting injured, their partners — the horses themselves — are often out of work from health issues.

“I also had a lease horse that died,” she said. “I lost all the progress I had with him and had to start over on another horse.”

The next horse Chandler decided to lease, Bellini, had health concerns as well.

“Bellini got a ligament injury, which is at least six months without being ridden,” she said. “I had to look for another horse again.”

In spite of the accidents and heartbreak, Chandler said that riding is completely worth it.

“Working so hard for something and finally getting a reward makes it worth it, and you can look back on all that you’ve done and see how much you and your horse have progressed,” Chandler said, “I’ve taken ‘problem’ horses and turned them into winners, and just being able to say I did that makes it worth it for me.”