About Allison

The focus of Allison Springer Eventing is to train international event horses to the highest level of competition world wide. The ultimate goal is to represent the United States in Olympic competition.

Who Is Allison Springer?
By Carolyn Springer (mom)

Many people, who decide to take on a task, do something or learn something, will give up on it if they find it difficult, hard to do or fail the first time.  That is not Allison.  She is tenacious. If it is hard, she tries harder and will keep working at it until she succeeds.  And we are not just talking about riding horses. Allison is not a one-note person.  She excelled in school and was active in and out of school.  In high school she pursued a rigorous Advanced Placement curriculum (A.P. Physics, Calculus, English, Spanish, etc.).  She was a varsity diver, alpine ski competitor, in student government and assistant editor of the literary magazine.  She earned her colors in the Fox River Valley Hunt at an early age and achieved the A rating of National Pony Club by the age of 16. She went on to graduate from the highly selective Bowdoin College where she was on the Dean’s list.  She continued her active involvement in the Bowdoin community.

Yes, Allison is tenacious.  She sets goals for herself and works day and night to achieve them.  Does anyone question her extraordinary work ethic?  At the American Eventing Championships this year, two of her students who had driven down for the week to watch her, regaled us with tales of what a great teacher she is and how long and hard she works.  They said that at times Allison will give 10-12 lessons with out a break and that everyone is thrilled with their improvement because of her.

Allison has great empathy for horses.  I have heard it said that Allison likes to ride difficult horses, perhaps enjoys the challenge.  I don’t believe that is true. I think she feels something in these horses, she understands them, and she has a connection to their spirit, a great empathy, an understanding of them.  I truly think she can sense horses capabilities and loves to bring it  out in that horse.  An example of this that I love is her little wild red horse Ben, who was unridden until gelded at 7.  She took him all the way to Rolex and we all marveled at that.  And what a turnaround we are seeing in Arthur.  He was so wild and spooky to start and now we have watched him perform a most magnificent dressage test at the Radnor 2 star.

Allison has such fortitude.  She is so good under pressure and so resilient.  It amazes me that when she succeeds she is always thinking how to make it better and when bad things happen she can somehow go forward with even more determination.  When “Berger” was kicked, it was a devastating blow both to him and to her.  But her determination, hard work, and care, not to mention lots of expense, have won out and I believe that we will see great things for that pair.

But best of all, Allison has a truly loving heart. Not just for horses, but for people too and again an ability to bring out the best.  There are many examples among her students but I will give just one.  Several years ago, Allison had a teenage working student that did not talk; she had stopped talking in kindergarten.  There was nothing physically wrong with her and she was home schooled because of this.  After working with Allison for several months, she became a chatterbox.

It is true that Allison is always working to improve herself.  Her trips to Wellington have become a mission to improve her dressage and jumping by working with the best dressage and jumping people.  And as humble as she is, she feels the improvement.

How It All Began
By Allison Springer

I have been riding horses since age six. My infatuation with the animal had somewhat of an odd start… I was a thunmbsucker! Yes, I sucked my thumb into the years my father considered “too old.” This was a concern because I had perfect teeth, and the dentist had told my parents that I had a 99.9% chance of not needing braces as long as I didn’t continue to suck my thumb. All sorts of attempts were made to end this terrible habit – positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, Tabasco sauce on the thumbs (killed my eyes!) – to no avail. Exasperated my father went back to the dentist for more advice. The advice was simple… “Bribe her.” Genius! I happened to be in a Barbie Doll phase and had been constantly begging for the newest doll out – I think the one I wanted at the time was something ridiculous like Malibu Barbie. I do think my dad was hoping it was going to be as simple as Malibu Barbie, unfortunately for him I had missed the bus home from school that day and went home with a neighbor who had a pony. I brushed the pony, fed the pony, rode the pony… LOVED the pony.  I remember thinking that was the most glorious day of my life. So that evening when my father came to me with his proposition -- “I will give you one thing, anything, as long as you quit sucking your thumb right now and never do it again.”—I needed no time to think. “I want a pony.” I remember his face and his response: “What? A real one?” I never cheated. I was so stricken with the pony disease, there was no looking back. My dad was a man of his word and I KNEW my having a pony was meant to be.

And from that point things progressed.

The Olympic dream was something that began at an early age as well. There were two childhood memories that stand out. One was when I was very, very young. My family went to watch the winter Olympics at Lake Placid. I remember sitting on my fathers shoulders taking in the spectacular sights. The patriotism was truly awesome. I’m not sure I could do much more than walk at the time, but this experience instilled in me how special the Olympics are and why they are every athlete’s ultimate goal. The second experience was watching the Los Angeles Games on the television. That was the first time I actually saw my sport, three day eventing. I watched all the equestrian sports, but the Three-Day Event was what captured me… to me this was the ultimate horse sport. And once again I felt destiny knocking on the door! I knew that was what I was going to do. From that day forward my dream and determination have never wavered. I am going to represent our country in Olympic competition.

Accomplishments

Based in Middleburg, Virginia, Allison Springer competes and coaches throughout the country. Recent accomplishments include:

• Winner, American Eventing Championships, Pharoah’s Tale
• Winner, Wayne Horse Trials, Miz Varga
• Reserve National Championship Young Event Horse, Folk Lore
• Multiple Ribbons at CCI*, CCI**, CCI*** Three Day Events.
• Repeatedly named to USET's Developing Riders List
• Featured in USEA's 2006 Dressage Test Video
• "A" Rated Pony Club trainer and coach.
• Training, Coaching, and Clinics.
• Horse sales.