Northwesterners can be proud of Redmond, Washington-based rider Amy Tryon who has just returned from England where she was the highest placed American rider in the prestigious Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. Tryon and the 12-year-old gelding My Beau, owned by the Mesher family of Seattle, placed 11th against the world's best riders and garnered a spot for herself on the short list for the World Games this September in Jerez, Spain.
Badminton capped a highly successful 2002 competition schedule for the 32-year-old firefighter. Riding the eight-year-old Thoroughbred Woodstock, Tryon took second at the Fox Hall*** CCI in early April. Then, two weeks later, she rode the ten-year-old Poggio II to a third place finish at the Rolex**** in Kentucky.
Flying Changes spoke to Amy after her recent return from Badminton.
Flying Changes: Wow - Highest placing American at Badminton. That's got to be exciting.
Amy Tryon: It was wonderful. It was a tough decision because it's incredibly expensive to ship a horse overseas, and we have a great four star event in the States (Rolex). But Beau had done Kentucky before, so we just decided to go for it.
Flying Changes: Your whole spring has been great, though.
Amy: It has been. I never dreamed I'd be in three [world-class] events in a row. It's a tribute to everyone's effortsthe vets, farriers, the girls back home.
Flying Changes: Can you tell us a little about your background. How long have you been riding?
Amy: I've been riding all my life. My mom always wanted horses so she bought our first pony when I was a year old and my sister was four. I did 4-H and Pony Club, then we moved to Issaquah when I was seven. I started riding with Ruth Moore and rode in my first event when I was eight. Ruth's been a great mentor and I still ride with her when I'm in town.
Flying Changes: Is your family pretty supportive?
Amy: Yes. My mom is a retired high school teacher and she helped us get "creative" during our high school years so I could graduate at 16 and concentrate on riding. She's also partial owner, with myself and a friend, of my youngest horse, Woodstock. My husband (Greg, also a firefighter) is also very supportive. He helps pay the horse bills and puts up with a wife who is gone for two to three months at a time!
Flying Changes: It sounds like finances have been an on-going struggle.
Amy: They have been. There's never been a lot of money and we pay all the horse bills. I have four corporate sponsors and receive some grants from the US Olympic Committee which helps with training and competitions, but it's still tough. For example, it costs $10,000 to fly a horse cross country, so we do a lot of fundraising. I try to train and re-sell at least one horse off the track per year and when I'm home, I do a lot of back to back shifts.
Flying Changes: Tell us about the fire fighting. How did you get into that?
Amy: I kind of fell into it. I had a friend who was a volunteer firefighter and it sounded like something I'd like. I tried it and liked it a lot, so later, I applied and was hired [as a regular].
Flying Changes: You've been eventing at a pretty high level for some time now. What have been some of the highs and lows?
Amy: Finances are always difficult but my biggest low was probably in 2000 when I was on the short-list for Sydney. But then we had [a series of] small injuries. There's nothing you can do but re-group and start again.
The "high" would be riding in the 1999 Pan Am Games. There were all these top riders I'd been reading about all my life, and I was riding with them. It was also great because I'd brought a horse (My Beau) to the advanced level all by myself. (Editors note: The American team took the Gold that year, and Amy was fourth individually).
Flying Changes: So what's next? Are you thinking about Athens in 2004?
Amy: Yes, but first are the World Games. It's an honor just to be eligible, but the team selection is a very long process. We'll go back to Virginia in August and they'll start narrowing the field. The top eight horses will be shipped to England, then six will make the trip to Spain. There's nothing written in stone until then. For now, though, we're taking it easy. Everyone needs a short vacation.
Flying Changes: Well, good luck to youwe'll all be keeping our fingers crossed!
(Note: To help Amy Tryon financially, please contact the American Horse Trial Foundation: 221 Grove Cove Road, Centerville, MD 21617-2686. Checks should be made out to the AHTF, but send a note earmarking the donation to Amy Tryon.)