This article about the equestrian sport of Eventing and other horse sports in Michigan, was published in Grand Rapids Magazine, in August, 2012. Tragically, one of the profiled riders, Philippa Humphries, died in a crash with her horse at a competition in May, 2016, doing what she most loved doing. She is missed.
You breathe in the fresh morning air and listen to the iconic clip-clop as you walk from the stables. You rise into the saddle and gather the reins.
Anyone lucky enough to spend time with horses knows the special magic of partnership with a large animal. To ride is the chance to skim the earth at a gallop, or to fly together over a jump.
The elegant lines of a horse, the power of its movement, the look in its eye — each is part of what leads to the state known as "horse crazy."
There are a lot of horse-crazy people in West Michigan, with more to come when 450 riders — many fresh from the Summer Olympics in London — descend on West Michigan Aug. 23-26 for the 10th Annual Richland Park Horse Trials.
Philippa Humphreys soars on her horse, Rockstar.
Nationally regarded as a top-five venue, Richland Park is a favorite for elite equestrians in the sport of eventing, also known as equine triathlon. Many local eventers will ride against competitors from 18 states and several other nations in the seven levels of competition. Spectators can enjoy watching the three phases of competition: dressage, cross-country jumping and stadium jumping.
Representing the best of West Michigan at the upper levels of the sport are two prominent local riders. Erika Treis Petersen, of Great Lakes Equestrian Center in Holland, will ride her horse Crimson Tide in the CIC 2-star division. Philippa Humphreys, proprietor with her husband, Pete, of Rogue River Equestrian Center in Rockford, plans to ride her eye-catching pinto, Rich N Famous, in the advanced division.
The goal for the horse/rider teams, said Humphreys, is to go "from dressage, which requires an accurate, quiet and limber horse, to the next day, running cross country with a very forward, athletic horse that has to run and jump with enough discipline to listen to the rider at the more complex fences, and then into the third day for stadium jumping, where the horse has to be careful when tired, and still accurate and athletic.'
Erika Treis Petersen enjoys a quiet moment with her thoroughbred, Jake, who is a grandson of U.S. Triple Crown champion racehorse Secretariat.
The heart of the sport, the cross-country phase, involves galloping fast across the rolling 320-acre property, jumping imposing, solid obstacles while traversing banks, ditches, woods and water. It's a rigorous, thrilling sport.
West Michigan is generally a great place to enjoy horses, with its green, inviting terrain.
Petersen, 36, a native of Sonoma County, Calif., was lured here in May 2006 after searching for two years for the light place to establish her equestrian business.
Relatives on her father's side (he summered in Michigan as a boy and retired to West Michigan) "sent me real estate articles to convince me it was great here," she said. "I was scared because I knew it'd be kind of snowy and cold."
But once she and her husband, David, saw the information about the 26 acres they now own in Holland, they were convinced. "I fell in love with it," she said.
Trainer Jennifer Loan given final tips to Kaylee Christensen as she and her horse Lacey prepare to compete in a dressage event.
Petersen's career achievements include state and regional year-end championships at multiple competition levels. At age 14, she won the Bronze medal at the 1992 North American Junior & Young Rider Championships in Bromont, Quebec, on her mount, Zanzibar.
Each of the four horses she has ridden to the elite levels were trained from the beginning by Petersen — an impressive accomplishment. In 2002 and again in 2010, she was selected for the prestigious Developing Rider Program for U.S. Equestrian Team candidates.
Humphreys, 29, arrived in West Michigan in 2005 with a physical education degree from Leeds Metropolitan University, England. A rider by age 5 and eventer by 10, she was held at age 14 for four years until she was old enough to ride at intermediate, the second highest level. In 2009, she earned teaching credentials with the U.S. Eventing Association's Instructor Certification Program.
Professionals such as Petersen and Humphreys are raising the bar of excellence for horsemanship generally in West Michigan, but that doesn't mean there isn't already a good foundation for horse sports.
Lily Hojnacki grooms Danny’s mane before competing.
Fourth-generation West Michigan resident Julie Wallace, 52, started riding in the early 1960s with the encouragement of a horse-owning neighbor. An upper-level rider in dressage — a stand-alone Olympic sport in its own right, she has ridden at many stables across the area.
In addition, Wallace works in sales at Millbrook Tack on 68th Street SW.
"We have a very solid equestrian community," she said. "I see that working in the store. It's beyond English riding. We have vaulting, reining, cutting, endurance / orienteering — pretty much all the disciplines represented, and driving, too. All the schools and colleges have equestrian clubs. I've seen this growth in my lifetime, and it's fabulous."
Wallace cited more reasons for the allure of horses: "Equestrian sports are healthy on so many levels," she said. "They teach people about animals, about something bigger than themselves. It's physically helpful for all age levels. You can ride until you die."
Another long-time local equestrian, Betty Jo Crosby, agrees. At 78, she is still riding, although she retired her national judging licenses in both dressage and eventing in 2005. Despite having to wait until her 40s to have a horse, Crosby has trained several to high levels of dressage — and started training yet another earlier this year. She has assisted both elite riders and those just starting out.
"You can talk about higher level people all you want," she said, "but it's the grassroots people working at the lowest levels that support this broad pyramid of elite athletes. It's important to stress that the world is not filled with elite athletes."
Indulging your "horse bug"
When Richland Park Horse Trials opens the gates this month, anyone with "the horse bug" should consider being there to watch. Experts say watching all three phases of competition is best.
"The cross country is the fun, exciting, adrenalin day, but if they can see all three, they'll have a better appreciation for the sport," said Philippa Humphreys of Rogue River Equestrian Center in Rockford.
Spectators also are welcome in the barns.
"The eventing world is one of the most friendly in the equestrian community," she said. Most riders are happy to show off their horses. "At bigger shows, you can't usually do that."
Elite riders will ride their dressage tests Aug. 23-24, followed by cross country Saturday, Aug. 25, and stadium jumping Aug, 26. Riders at the lower levels will ride in the dressage phase Friday, stadium jumping Saturday, and cross country Sunday. Free shuttles are available to assist spectators as they make their way across the property.
Richland Park is located in Richland, just northeast of Kalamazoo. More information is available at richlandpark.com. The admission fee for parking raises much needed funds for Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center. A multiple day pass is $15, and single day passes are $10 per day per car. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Philippa Humphreys and Rockstar, a Dutch warmblood crossed with a thoroughbred.
Crosby has witnessed the local evolution of horse sports since the 1970s."There's been a whole parade of people along the path, she said. "This ongoing interest in horses has a definite thread that's been there for a long time. While the names and faces change, the interest doesn't."
That's a good thing for many reasons, including the economic benefits of the horse industry.
"People who do horses spend money," said Wallace, "and they are loyal to their sport." Certainly, according to Richland Park competition host Kay Willmarth, "the economic impact is huge. Hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations — all have an increase in business."
By extension, horse-related activities are no minor factor in a state with an equine population of 155,000 in 2006 — and growing, according to a survey by Michigan State University. Statewide, the value of equine assets, including barns, equipment and supplies, was nearly $8 billion that year.
Not counting wages and salaries, $805 million was paid in 2006 for various equine-related expenses, including costs for feed, fuel, health care, transportation, equipment, tack, boarding, bedding, breeding, competition entry fees and taxes.
Then there are the veterinarians, farriers, tack store operators, trainers and others supported by the equine industry but not employed directly by equine operations. In all, the equine industry's annual boost to the state economy is reportedly more than $1 billion.
At the core of it all are the animals. The levels of excellence demonstrated by Petersen and Humphreys come only after building a solid foundation and then refining and improving every day — for years. With another athlete in the mix (the horse), the partnership element is a large reason many feel that equestrian sports are so unique and interesting.
Kathy Walters before she rides Something Spectacular.
"It is a long road to producing an upper-level horse — that's the biggest thing," said Hurnphreys. "It's not just about you. It's about you and your horse. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and you have to be ready to enjoy the highs and deal with the lows. I'm a pretty tough cookie, and sometimes it can be difficult to deal with, such as when a horse gets hurt. You can go, in a moment, from riding at that level to having nothing."
So why do it?
"Because I love it," she said. "I'm an adrenaline junkie. Eventing is a wonderful sport that's multi-disciplined."
Even after competing at the highest levels, both Humphreys and Petersen enjoy teaching others. Petersen said she wants her students to have fun and create fulfilling relationships with their horses. Indeed, with all the various riding options in West Michigan, anyone interested in getting started ought to proceed thoughtfully.
Julie Wallace talks to a rider during a dressage event.
"The biggest thing is to find a good instructor and someone to guide you through it," said Petersen. "Take lessons, because it's a big commitment and you want to be sure (whatever horse sport you choose) is the right fit for you. It is a safety issue: People need to have proper instruction."
Another trainer known for her dedication to proper instruction agrees with Petersen.
Kathy Walters, 49, holds a degree in education from Eastern Michigan University and certification as an assistant instructor with the British Horse Society. She teaches at Thomet Stables in Ada.
"Go to a stable, somewhere you can afford, that has educated instructors. Otherwise, you'll learn wrong and have to start over," she said. "I can help people start and see if they like the sport before they dish out the big money. That's my niche. I've always liked teaching more than showing. If I was on a heavy competition schedule, I would not be there to teach."
In addition, Walters urges newcomers to ride a lesson horse or lease a horse while figuring out which sport most interests them. When it's time to buy, selecting a sport-specific horse who's happy to do the job can make a huge difference.
Of course, it's not only about riding. Just being near a horse is enough for many people. After starting hundreds of riders in her years of teaching, Walters has witnessed the benefits of "corning to the barn and being with like-minded people and having this animal to connect with," she said. "For many people, it is their basis for physical and mental well-being, an integral part of who they are."
Wallace agreed. "Riding creates an incredible bond between horse and rider because it demands it. You have to be in total communication. It begins when you mount, because the minute you get on, you start having a conversation. Dressage is a thinking man's sport. That suits me. I am analytic," she said.
Erica Treis Peterson works with her student, Samantha Barefield, 14, as she performs a rolltop cross country jump.
"And — I love the feel. It's like flying. When you are in perfect harmony with your horse, it feels wonderful in your body. It's like making art. It's my artful expression. Some people make pottery, some paint — and I ride."