Mid-South Eventing & Dressage Association

MSEDA Member Spotlight: Robyn Estep

02/03/2016 11:59 AM | Deleted user

By Sarah E. Coleman

MSEDA: Where are you from?
RE: I am from Huntington, W. Va., but I travel to Kentucky for shows and coaching.

 

MSEDA: When did you begin riding? 

RE: I started riding a Tennessee Walking Horse with my mother and begged her to get me horseback riding lessons. I started taking lessons when I was 10. The only person in the area who taught lessons was Pam Watts. I took lessons with her for eight years; she taught English with an emphasis on eventing.  

 

MSEDA: When did you get your first horse?
RE: I got my first horse when I was 12; his name was Western Artist and he was from Midway University. Pam took us in the middle in the night (because that’s when eventers do things) to look at a horse. She got on this horse without a saddle or bridle--he was such a good boy she said “we are taking this on home!” I later got him on Christmas day.


MSEDA: What horses do you own now?

RE: I own Kranos, a 7-year-old OTTB. I also have a 14-year-old Thoroughbred that I have competed in dressage. His name is Crown Select.  

 



MSEDA: Who do you train with?
RE: My coach for the past 18 years is Maggie Wright of Champagne Run Farm. She coached me at my first Intermediate and held my hand at during all my three-days. She saw Karanos "Indy" at her farm and thought of me. He was very quiet and, after having a child, I needed a dependable, quiet ride.

 

MSEDA: Do you compete your horses?
RE: I have only competed Kranos in Beginner Novice and Novice.  I am hoping to compete Novice this spring and see how he does before I decide if we can do Training. I competed Crown Select in Training and completed the Training level three-day in 2010.  He is for sale, but I might try to compete him in second level dressage this spring.  

MSEDA: Do your horses have any quirks?

RE: Indy has a lot of quirks. He cribs, weaves and is a brat on the ground, but he is the exact opposite when you get on his back. I let my 4-year-old ride him all the time. And he gets spanked with a whip all the time for being lazy!  

MSEDA: Do you have children?
RE: I have two kids, a 4-year-old girl, Vera, and 5-month-old Parker. Vera comes to the barn with me every day and has been at horse shows with me since she was 6 months old. I hope she catches the eventing bug.    


MSEDA: What do you do for a living?

RE: I work at the Equine Medical Center in Chesapeake, Ohio. I work part-time and teach lessons part-time, and own a full-time boarding barn. I have been coaching and teaching lessons in Milton, W. Va., for the past 15 years. I have had students from Starter to Prelim.  

 

MSEDA: What is your favorite show and why?
RE: My favorite show is probably Champagne Run at the Park. Maggie Wright, my trainer, organizes the show and all her students pitch in to help, so it’s a huge party for everyone at the Park.  

 

MSEDA: Do you have any good luck rituals?

RE: When I was younger, I wore the same socks for all my events. I almost refuse to wear white breeches on cross country for fear of falling off and staining them. I also have a belt with my two-star horse’s name on it (Cyrano, whom I put down in 2010), that I wear on cross country to keep him with me.

 

MSEDA: How long have you been a MSEDA member?

RE: I think I have been a MSEDA member for 22-24 years. I haven't missed a Rolex for probably 25 years.   


Midsouth Eventing & Dressage Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

MSEDA’s mission is to promote and preserve the sports of Eventing and Dressage in the Mid-South area, by providing leadership and education to its members and the community at large. To further these goals, MSEDA will provide educational opportunities, fair and safe competitions, promote the welfare of the horse and rider and reward the pursuit of excellence from the grass roots to the FEI level.



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