Laura Messer has loved horses since she was a little girl, but took a step back from equestrian activities in 2008 when her daughter was born.
Fortunately, things have a way of coming full circle. Messer helped start the New Hampshire High School Equestrian Teams organization and jumped back into coaching because her daughter, Carol Lupien, shared that love and wanted to compete.
For them, it’s a family affair. Lupien, Messer and her husband travel around the state as the competitions grow.
When Messer first got involved with New Hampshire High School Equestrian Teams (NHHSET), the biggest appeal was that participating students didn’t have to own horses.
“It’s a great opportunity to keep growing the next generation, because if we don’t, we’re going to lose our horse sports, we’ve got to support these kids,” she said.
She saw it as an avenue for students across the state to connect with the animals she loved dearly and ease the logistical and financial challenges families faced. It has grown since its start in 2005, with 18 participating schools last year.
The growth has been helped by the fact that students from other schools without a team can join neighboring ones. Lupien, a junior from Newfound competes for Concord High. She quickly made friends and knows that others have had similar experiences.
“Being on the horse team, that’s their key to school,” Messer explained. “It gives them a little bit of knowledge, it builds some confidence, they learn some great skills, and they have a place they fit in.”
Last year, the family bought a chestnut and white horse named Spud, which Lupien rides for competition. She described Spud as pretty mellow at home, but something changes in him during competition. His show alter-ego is ‘Hot Potato.’
“He’s kind of like a firecracker, I remember hearing people whistling at me when we were showing because he was going really fast,” Lupien said.
Lupien and Hot Potato competed in English and Western riding last season, and the year before competed in show in hand because she didn’t feel ready to ride in shows yet.
Her teammates compete in everything from dressage to jumping, and NHHSET even offers competitions for ground teams.
Ground teams are usually made up of young students new to the horse world. These members help prep horses and gear for riders, from cleaning and grooming to verbal and written demonstrations of their knowledge of horse care.
The Concord competes in the NHHSET circuit of events and placed second in the Reserve Team Championship last season.
The Tide’s success would not have been possible without the help of head coach Linda Smith, the owner of Abaris Stables in Concord, the team’s home base.
Every February, the team of middle and high schoolers shows up for practice, snow, rain or shine, and Smith helps them in every way possible. She teaches the students whatever discipline they’re interested in, and encourages multi-disciplinary practice to find what’s right.
Smith boards horses in her stable and leases them to riders. She also teaches the team how to care for the horses — it’s as educational as it is fun.
Riding a horse for competition isn’t easy, Smith explained. Attuning a rider to the horse goes both ways, and that’s usually the most challenging aspect of the entire sport. The best competitors are the ones who show up consistently and don’t give up under stress.
“We always joke about, kids play football, well, our ball technically, not even technically, our ball, our horse has a brain and it doesn’t always want to do what we want,” she said.
Lots of practice goes in on the riders’ side, lots of caretaking on Smith’s side, lots of time on the parents’ side, but in the end, it makes for a rewarding experience.
Brian Sheldon, Messer’s husband, has experienced it first-hand. He’s what’s called a horse show dad, so he preps the trailer, hauls equipment, and works the gates at some events.
“I got it down to a science, now,” Sheldon said. “And that involves getting to know the competitors, knowing what classes they’re in, getting them organized to go into the ring.”
“It’s basically the pit crew for the horse show,” he added.
Spending time outside, caring for horses and the tight-knit equestrian community keep them coming back every year.
Team registrations begin in October, while rider registration is from February 1 to March 1. Other local area high schools with teams include Bow, John Stark, Kearsarge and Merrimack Valley.