Table of Contents / Eventing
By Lauren R. Giannini
Marilyn Payne is an enthusiastic competitor and breeder of horses for eventing and dressage - and she's going to the Olympics - for her first time ever - as a member of the Ground Jury for the three-day event. She is licensed by the FEI as an "I" eventing judge and by USEF as a Senior Dressage judge. Payne's also one of the founders and developers of the USEF/USEA training program for licensed eventing officials and leads the USEA program for educating judges about evaluating young horses.
Her husband Dick mostly rides the tractor at their farm in Oldwick, NJ and does vintage racing with a Corvette. Their son Doug and daughter Holly are both professional trainers and riders whose eventing goals include the Olympics.
Sidelines: How did you get started riding? Do you entertain Olympic dreams?
MP: I grew up in New Jersey and got into hunter/jumpers then eventing, then dressage. I didn't compete for a long time, because of my children. Doug and Holly are both "A" pony clubbers, did the Young Riders and competed to the Advanced level. They're both college graduates. A couple years ago I was going to competitions with them and I told them that I was sick and tired of watching you have all the fun!
I compete in both dressage and eventing. At the AEC, I finished third in the Novice division. The cross country was so much fun at AEC - I wanted to do it again.
I compete just for enjoyment. I love training horses, I love riding, and I do it for fun.
Sidelines: Do you ever experience any anxiety as a mother? As a competitor?
MP: I do consider the risk, but it's something Doug and Holly love to do. They could get hit crossing the street. They've done horses all their lives. They know to pull up when a horse is tired. They're knowledgeable and responsible, both excellent trainers.
If you're in the top going into show jumping, you do get nervous to a point, but a little adrenaline is good, and under pressure I do pretty well. Right now, if I don't win, I still have fun doing it.
Sidelines: Do you have any advice for riders starting out in eventing?
MP: The most important thing is to find a good trainer to help you get started and understand the sport. It's very complex. It's the triathlon for horses. There are still a lot of long formats out there, and they're extremely educational for horses and riders. When they do a long format [at Preliminary], they come out of it knowing so much more. They become better riders, better horsemen. They know better how to ride at speed in good balance - that's what it's all about. I think it's extremely important to do a long format before moving up to the next level.
Sidelines: Are you prepared to officiate at the Olympics?
MP: I did Burghley last fall, I'm doing Badminton this spring, I've been to Australia for two- and three-stars, last year's World Cup in Sweden. We went to the Hong Kong test event last summer - it was fabulous - and they couldn't do much more to make the facility better. The barns and the indoor are air-conditioned. It's very humid there, but the facility is fabulous.
One of my colleagues from Switzerland gave me a tape of Cantonese - so my preparation will be learning a little Cantonese. It will be fun.
Sidelines: Do you have a favorite or special horse?
MP: Safe Harbor - my "retirement" horse. I just bought her [in 2007], and I rarely buy a horse for myself. She was for sale and she had a big trot that people couldn't sit. She's a fabulous mover for dressage and a really good jumper. She's doing 2nd level and going Training this year. She loves it - just eats up the cross country.
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