OFFICIAL SPOTLIGHT

BETH WHEELER

It takes some adjustments to take off your competitor’s hat and put on an offi cial’s hat.

After several years of competing and seeing all the effort and volunteers that were needed to put on a HT, I decided it was time to give back. During this time, I met my husband and trainer/ instructor extraordinaire, Ray Wheeler. Eventually we were asked to be on the board of the Marlborough HT which is in my old stomping grounds in Maryland. At one of the HT, the Stadium Course designer didn’t show up and Ray and I took over the job. We continued serving on the board and setting up Stadium for the next 10 years until we moved to Aiken.

Moving to Aiken allowed me the opportunity to attend the eventing training sessions which can be anywhere in the country. It was nerve wracking and exhilarating at the same time... similiar to showing.

I couldn’t have gotten my USEF “r” Judges license and eventually my “R” without the fi nancial help of my mom and the support Ray gave me at home and at the barn.

It’s just like working as a team at a competition. You’ve got a good group of people and you all work to put together to achieve success. Being a judge has been such an honor and a privilege. I have such respect for the horses. I continue to learn and be amazed by them. And my fellow offi cials have my respect too. The collective desire to do the right thing for the sport and those who compete in it reminds me daily why I chose this path.