USHJA On Course Episode 31

USHJA: This is episode 31 of USHJA On Course! As always, I'm Terisé and here are your association updates.

The new competition year is here! Don't forget to renew your USHJA, USEF and affiliate organization memberships for 2024. 

Speaking of the new year, we are helping you Know Before You Show with a simple guide of rule changes effective December 1, 2023, for the 2024 competition year! From the new height of Junior Hunters to cross-entering your Young Jumper, get to know all the rules that affect Hunter/Jumper competition before you step into the show ring at ushja.org/knowbeforeyoushow.

USHJA: Today's guest comes to us straight from the Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships. We caught up with Allyn Marie Creel, a Junior rider who is a veteran at the Championships with a touching story, during a quiet moment in Vegas. Hear from her on how the week went and why the Championships are so special.

USHJA: How were you first introduced to horses? How did you start riding?

Allyn Marie Creel: Okay, well, my grandma used to ride a lot. So, she had a farm in Rancho Santa Fe. And I would always go out there and ride the horses. And I never, like, really fell in love with it. But then, I started just doing, like, the little lead line things. And then, my mom tried to put me in gymnastics, even football and soccer. And I would never, I would be like, I need to go back and ride and stuff like that. And then finally I came back, and I got my first pony and then I just fell in love with it.

USHJA: The rest is history.

Allyn Marie Creel: Exactly.

USHJA: So, who do you ride with now?

Allyn Marie Creel: I ride with Jamie Taylor.

USHJA: You're obviously here at the championships. What are you competing in this week?

Allyn Marie Creel: This week I qualified for the 1.20m Junior division, I did a lot of equitation and then I did the derby. So yeah, it's been a great week.

USHJA: What kind of preparation goes into a horse show like this? This is like the last of the indoors. It's local to you, so it's kind of closer to home. How do you prepare?

Allyn Marie Creel: I feel like because indoors is very different from outdoors, like all the rings ride differently and the horses, their minds are so different in it. And so, I just go in with no expectations and I'm just like, “Whatever happens, happens. I'm going to do my best. My horse is going to do his best.”

We prepare. We went to Thermal the week before and we kind of got ready. We didn't do any of the classics on Sunday, so it was just preparing like that.

USHJA: Tell me about some of the horses you're riding this week.

Allyn Marie Creel: I have my Equitation/Hunter horse Balko and he is just amazing. And then I have my horse Barracuda, which I just got him recently and he's just amazing. So, I was so happy we qualified. And then I have my horse Herma, we call him worm, but he's on a lease right now—so is Balco; I don't own them, I lease them—but they're just amazing.

USHJA: You mentioned Balko, you did the 14 and under equitation on him and you did the Hunter Derby last night. Do you have different mindsets going into each ring or do you ride him the same?

Allyn Marie Creel: He's honestly, he's so nice to ride. Like I can find a distance and I know that it's going to be a good distance—whatever it is like deep distance or long distance, he's going to be okay with it. And that's what makes me feel confident I think. He definitely picks up in the big ring a lot more than the Equitation rings, but I like when he rides up. So the lines read differently in the different arenas, but other than that, he's just kind of the same in every division.

USHJA: You've had some success. So how has this week gone in terms of results?

Allyn Marie Creel: So, I went in yesterday morning in the 14 and Under Equitation and it was just kind of a warm up for the derby last night but we ended up getting two 86s in both our rounds and I was so proud of it. And we ended up reserve champs, so I was so excited about that. And then we did the Hunter Derby last night after, and I got an 84 in the first round. And then we ended up sixth. So it was, it was so good.

USHJA: Any nerves so far this week?

Allyn Marie Creel: I get nervous, but I treat it as nerves are good, you know? So, I also, I've never actually had like much success here at the show. I've always had "learning shows" here where I learn a lot. So, I've never really gotten to have some success here. So, it's been amazing. I was really nervous going in. I'm like, "Oh my gosh, I just want to do so well." But I just take those nerves into like, excitement and determination.

USHJA: Did your Equitation success yesterday morning calm any of your nerves before the derby or did it heighten them?

Allyn Marie Creel: I think it heightened them because I feel like, I was like, I did so well this morning and me and Balko are in lock right now. Like, we've been just really on our game and I was like, if I mess it up, I cannot mess this up for us. So those were the nerves, but I mean, I think I handled them well.

USHJA: Like I said, you're in all three rings. Do you have a favorite between the hunters and the jumpers and the equitation?

Allyn Marie Creel: Oh gosh, well, I've always known that I wanted to be a jumper. That's what I wanted to do. Obviously, I started off in the hunters and then I sold my first ever hunter horse and then I got a jumper and I fell in love with it. And so I like it a lot, but it depends on the horse. I think with Balko, he makes the Equitation and the Hunters fun, you know? So, I think it depends on the horse. I think I like the jumpers better, but Balko just makes the Equitation so fun, so I can't really decide if I like both or not.

USHJA: And you mentioned that you've had "learning shows" here. I love that term. You've been here before, and you have a fun little story from one of those times. So, for the people listening who don't know…

Allyn Marie Creel: It was my first ever time showing. I mean, I did the lead line here when I was like, four or something. But then this was like my first ever time jumping in a full course. And I had just gotten this pony. And he's taught me a lot of things, we'll just say that. He was a good boy, but. It was the first jump of the course and I just ate it. I just ate it. It was terrible. But I got up. And I walked to him, and I rolled up his stirrups, and I loosened his girth, and I walked out of the ring, and I ended up getting the Horseman Award. I don't think it was an actual award.

It was just like the best moment of my life, and I will never forget it. I'm always here, and I always see her. I'm like, that's Mary [Knowlton], so. It was a full circle moment, and I saw her in the stairwell, I think. It was yesterday. I was like, do you remember me? And she remembered me. I was like, this is crazy. I think that's also one of the moments I fell in love with showing too because I feel like that's what it's about. You know it's not just about winning and stuff, it's about the horsemanship.

USHJA: Right, horsemanship and sportsmanship. What do you think defines good sportsmanship?

Allyn Marie Creel: I think just always congratulating people I think and always being kind. My barn does such a good job with sportsmanship in general because we always come out to watch each other. We try so hard no matter how busy it is. We always try to watch one another and support. Even yesterday in the Derby, my whole family came, my whole barn was screaming after my round. I was embarrassed, but at the same time, I'm like, this is what it's about. You know, it's sportsmanship and always just congratulating your friends no matter what happens.

USHJA: Mm hmm. I love that.

Allyn Marie Creel: Even though I'm competing against my friends, we just want each other to do well, you know, so yeah, it's amazing.

USHJA: So, why do you think this horse show is so special?

Allyn Marie Creel: I think for me it makes it special because I've been here since I was a baby. And I remember just kind of coming here and watching the World Cup and even watching the Derby and be like, oh my gosh like that's what I'm going to do. And so it makes it so much more special. And also, it's the only show in Vegas, you know, and I'm always gone in California. So, my family can come watch me and the vibe like walking through the casino is so cool And it just it shows what Vegas is, you know?

USHJA: It does. It has a different level of excitement.

Allyn Marie Creel: When you watch the World Cup and stuff like that and you see all the people coming to watch and you're like wow, all these people think this is actually really cool, you know? So yeah, it's really fun.

USHJA: Well, your F1 nails—did you go at all?

Allyn Marie Creel: So last night after the Derby, I was so happy that I was in Section A because I was like if I was in Section B, I'm never going to make it. So, I literally got off of Balko. I ran, I changed and then I went to the Qualifying and it was so fun. So, I made it!

USHJA: Do you have a favorite driver?

Allyn Marie Creel: My favorite driver is Charles Leclerc for Ferrari.

USHJA: Okay, so we've talked about your progression, right? What is next? What's for the future for you?

Allyn Marie Creel: It's crazy to think about, I did my first 1.30m at Temecula, and so that was already kind of a step up for me, and I never thought that I was even going to make it here to Vegas and like, actually be able to be like a competitor. Does that make sense? It's going to be amazing to just see what's next.

I definitely want to try to go to different shows other than just California. I want to try to go to Florida and the Miami show. I mean the goal is the Grand Prix, you know, but obviously I’m not saying it's going to be like next year, I'm going to work up to that. It's going to be a while.

USHJA: So, our last little bit, we call the Victory Gallop. Pick one: a bay, a gray, or a chestnut?

Allyn Marie Creel: Oh gosh, a gray.

USHJA: Would you prefer the long approach oxer or the trot jump?

Allyn Marie Creel: The long approach oxer. They used to be my worst thing, but I've gotten good at them so.

USHJA: If you got to live a day in the life of any rider, who would it be?

Allyn Marie Creel: oh my gosh, that's crazy. Okay, I’ve always wanted to see Skylar Wireman because she just—I don't know how she does it.

USHJA: What is the last TV show or movie you watched?

Allyn Marie Creel: Oh Drive to Survive. Yeah, I had to watch it before.

USHJA: If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Allyn Marie Creel: My mom is going to kill me, but it's pasta. She's like, how do you eat so much pasta?!

USHJA: What is the most used app on your phone?

Allyn Marie Creel: TikTok, it's terrible.

USHJA: What song can you not stop listening to?

Allyn Marie Creel: Oh my gosh. Let's see. My taste in music is so different from everybody else. My friends are like, what? I have the “Taylor Swift for 2024” flag up in my room. And then I also love Kanye West music.

So, okay, wait, so my song, let's see here. We need to figure this out. Oh, Frank Ocean!

USHJA: Describe your dream horse in three words.

Allyn Marie Creel: Oh my gosh. Let's see. Kind, obviously. Small—it's because they can just turn and burn, you know? And, oh, fast. Gotta be fast.

USHJA: Thanks for tuning in to this episode of USHJA On Course. As always, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode!