Courtney Young

At just 26 years old, Laine Ashker has already had a full eventing career. She’s competed in England and Hong Kong and headed down centerline at the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** on four different horses.

In 2005, Kristin Schmolze and Cavaldi placed 12th at the Rolex Kentucky CCI****, an impressive finish for this pair of four-star novices. Schmolze was on top of the world—she’d won the U.S. Eventing Association’s Young Rider of the Year award in 2003 and seemed to be going from strength to strength.

But, as we know with horses, what goes up must come down. Schmolze fell off at Rolex Kentucky in 2007 and then Cavaldi suffered a broken coffin bone and Kristin broke her collarbone in 2008, which put them out of competition for the next year.

Are you ready for Rolex Kentucky? Will Faudree is, and he'll be there with his Stetson firmly in place at the jog on Wednesday, April 21, showing off the talented and beautiful Pawlow.

Hey 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.

Our interview with Sean Crocker, farrier to the three-day eventing stars, continues! Keep reading for a key job often overlooked by horse owners, the most challenging foot to shoe, and why he’s still a fan of the three-day.  

Q. What don’t people think about when they think of your work? What would surprise people?

I had the luck to sit down with Sean Crocker (as some have said, Farrier to the Equestrian Stars) in the kitchen of his and his wife’s “Just Enough” Farm in Middleburg, Va., right after he’d flown back from Wellington, Fla.