The equestrian story of four-star eventer Alexa Ehlers Thompson starts with a little hand-me-down Shetland pony named Panda, brought home in the back of her dad’s pickup truck. Panda was intended for her 10-year-old older sister, Kelsey, but Alexa was smitten and had other ideas.

Based on the steady and successful trajectory of Texas-based junior rider Mia Holstien through the lower levels of eventing, you might never guess she almost gave it up completely.

Talent, hard work and never saying no: these have been the key ingredients to West Coast eventer Amber Birtcil’s success as a competitor and trainer.

For some, riding is a casual hobby, taken up in childhood and lasting a few years before fading as the demands of “real life” take over. For others, it’s an all-consuming way of life, worth all the tremendous expense and pressure. Eventer Maddy Temkin is wholeheartedly in the second category.