When Molly Duda’s eventing partner Lilly became injured, she wasn’t sure what the next step would be for her equestrian goals. Then Duda’s trainer, Mickayla Howard, stepped in and suggested she tack up Disco Traveler.

The U.S.-bred Oldenburg (Donatelli—Cadence) had competed through the CCI3*-L level on the East Coast with Emily Bradford before he arrived at Howard’s Avon Eventing at Webb Ranch in Portola Valley, California, but he didn’t click with his next riders.

Duda described the 14-year-old gelding as an unconventional horse. “His jump style is unique, to put it mildly,” she said. “He doesn’t have tidy knees—it’s more he just chucks his body over the fences. But he gets it done in his own way.”

She never imagined they would rocket up the eventing ranks and go from training level to a CCI3*-L in 11 months.

“He chose me,” said Duda, 19. “Somehow the way I like to communicate with horses is the way he likes to communicate with people.”

She and “Disco” won individual gold in the CCI3*-L at the 2023 USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships at Galway Downs (California) last fall, and Duda is planning a move up to advanced this spring.

“I’ve always said they were meant for each other,” Howard said.

Howard described Disco as an incredible horse who would never do anything truly naughty, but she agreed with Duda’s assessment that he has a unique style. “[He] get very nervous at times, especially with noises,” Howard said.

“He doesn’t go his best when someone wants to really change the way he wants to go,” Howard added. “[But] the way Molly rides is the way Disco likes to be ridden. He stays much more relaxed with Molly and is really comfortable with her.” 

Duda claimed the 2023 RevitaVet USEA Young Rider of the Year title as well as the Intermediate Young Rider and Preliminary Young Adult Rider U.S. Eventing Association year-end awards with top finishes aboard Disco Traveler, Lilly and her Irish Sport Horse Carlingford’s He’s A Clover.

Now a freshman at the University of California, Los Angeles, Duda got her equestrian start at Webb Ranch. The 100-year-old farm offers organic produce, an annual Santa’s Village, and a riding program and summer camps. “It was a social thing,” Duda said. “I was not serious about [riding] at all.”

She initially didn’t ride during the school year, but when she turned 12, Duda started riding every week. “The more I rode the more I realized I loved it,” she said.

While Duda loves the emphasis eventing places on the partnership with the horse, she does sometimes feel different than her fellow competitors. “I think the lack of diversity in equestrian sports is a huge issue,” she said. “I am half Taiwanese, and it is natural to feel out of place when I am constantly surrounded by people with lighter skin and lighter hair.”

Duda said she’s received countless questions about her ethnicity and is frequently mistaken for Indian or Latina. “These questions further emphasize my differences,” she said. “I am proud to represent the small but mighty Asian American equestrian community, and I hope that my achievements can show them that they belong in this sport.”

Duda took a gap year after high school to work as a research intern at Stanford University (California) in the Department of Medicine, and that time off from school also gave her time to focus on the barn and training. 

“Most of my internship work was online,” she said. “I only worked in person twice per week, which allowed me to spend all day at the barn during the other five days of the week and complete my work in the evenings.” 

During her gap year, Duda took several lessons a day, and Howard also rode her horses at times. “[That way] we would always be on the same page of what the horse needed and what Molly needed to work on,” Howard said.

Duda leased Disco for six months before she purchased him. “It was somewhat of a leap of faith because I had not yet taken him to a competition,” she said.

But she trusted Howard’s instincts about the partnership. “She instantly saw the bond I had with him, and she knew I was his person before I did,” said Duda.

The 11-month move-up from the lower levels to the two-star level was “a very accelerated timeline,” Duda said, “but I think I was very lucky to be in an amazing program with Mickayla, and she knows Disco so well. 

“When you are leaving the start box at a new level, it’s nerve-racking,” Duda added. “But it’s about having a program you trust and the horse you trust. It’s empowering to have that whole support system.”

Duda’s efforts paid off with more than awards. She was selected to participate in the USEA Emerging Athlete U21 Program as well as being named to the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Emerging Program List. Duda felt lucky to ride with Olympic gold medalists like David O’Connor and Leslie Law and to be in an environment with other aspiring equestrians.

Duda said five-star winner Tamie Smith has also been a mentor in the sport and advised her on her goals and riding career. “[Smith was] one of the biggest reasons I was able to have my success at young riders last year,” said Duda. “She is very invested in me and Disco.”

When Duda left her hometown of Menlo Park to attend UCLA, she moved Disco to Smith’s barn in Temecula, California, about two hours away from the university. “The biggest lesson I have learned is time management,” said Duda. “I am basically at school all week and gone on the weekends. While I am at school I am focused the entire time.” 

Duda started college on a pre-med track. However, her equestrian ambitions have changed her plans. “I am considering switching paths completely and studying economics in hopes of finding a career path that better fits with a horsey lifestyle,” she said.

Becoming a doctor would mean reducing or eliminating saddle time during medical school. “That is not a sacrifice I am willing to make,” said Duda. “Horses are my happiness, and I cannot imagine not having them in my life.”

Duda is planning to move Disco to trainer Robyn Fisher’s barn, which is only 45 minutes away from UCLA. From there she can also trailer to Smith’s barn. “I have had incredible opportunities here,” Duda said, “both academic and horse-related, and I feel like I am living my dream life. Balance can be difficult and stressful, but all the hard work makes the successes that much more rewarding.”

Howard is proud of her protégé and her accomplishments. “It is incredibly important to acknowledge the role of a supportive environment in her success,” said Howard. “Molly was clear on her goals, and we all made sure we could do our best to help her reach them.”

Duda added, “I’d like to just give a shout out to my mom [Jennifer Duda] who is the unsung hero behind me and goes to every single show, supporting me and is so invested. She loves my horses just as much as I do, and her support is what allows me to achieve all of these things.”  

Is her mom a rider? No. “It took a while to convince her to go to the dark side,” Molly said with a laugh.