PrintHey Eventers! This is the third interview in the “Watch Your Back” series featuring fiercely talented Young Riders coming up through the ranks of eventing. Tiana Coudray, Carmel Valley, Calif., just came off a big win in the CIC*** at Galway Downs (Calif.). I talked with Tiana about winning the U.S. Eventing Association Young Rider of the Year award three times, what she has in common with Martha Stewart, competing at Rolex Kentucky, and (naturally) what it’s like to compete on the world stage of Irish dancing.
Q. What words would you use to describe eventers?
A. Well, I think they’re pretty tough, hard working and willing to put in the hours that other sports don’t require. And I think also it’s a tight community that sticks together for the most part.
Q. How would you describe yourself?
A. I am very competitive. And very motivated and driven. I do my best to temper that! I would like to think that I’m sympathetic to my horses, and that I can temper my competitive side with the best interests of the horse. That’s a juggling act that you constantly face at competitions.
Last year I was in the lead after dressage in the three-star at Bromont (Que). The horse had finished third at [the Jersey Fresh CCI***], and he was ready to go well. Saturday morning he had a minor swelling in one leg that wasn’t typical. We ultra-sounded it but couldn’t find anything. But when it came down to it I didn’t run him cross-country. By all means there was nothing wrong. It was that choice of potentially winning a three-star event or going back to California with nothing to show for it. We got home, and he was fine. I’m at peace with it and would do it again. I’d much rather have him for years to come than be a flash in the pan.
Q. Tell me about your horses.
A. My main horse is Ringwood Magister. He’s an Irish-bred that I got when he was coming 4. He’s 9 now. He’s the first horse that I brought up from a young horse, and it’s very rewarding to have him be so special and going so well. I have two other young horses that are both preliminary one-star horses, and both of them I’ve had since they were young—Legal Promise and Calibrated.
Ringwood Magister has a huge personality and is always getting into everything. He has gotten out of every stall at competitions and jumped out of the fields. He has an absolutely uncontrollable, big personality!
Legal Promise is easy-going and as lovely as they come. He’s a little teddy bear, and he thinks if you would cuddle with him for the rest of his life that would be good.
Calibrated just wants to please. He spends every waking hour trying to figure out how to be a better horse. He’s the most rewarding horse because you give him something, and he comes back and asks, “How fast and how high and how hard?”
Q. What got you into eventing?
A. I’d done quite a bit of dressage and hunter/jumpers and was perfectly horse crazy and for sure wanting to do a lot with it. I think that the excitement and adrenaline rush of three-day eventing drew me to it, and there was no turning back.
Q. Is your family involved in your riding career?
