A Five Year Break To A Five Star Grand Prix

  By; Remy Kelbel, Associated Press        

 Feb; 3, 2025 

Growing up In the mountains of Hidden Hills California, Ashlee Bond found her love for horses at just three years old. Growing up riding, Ashlee took every opportunity that came her way. This hard work and dedication led her to win her first grand prix at just sixteen years old. But her love for competition faded. 

“I felt burnt out from competing and I don’t think I’ll ride again. This sport is too expensive for me not to be fully committed to it.”  

She decided to take a break for five years as her passion faded for the sport. But then, randomly got back into horses again through trail riding at just twenty one years old. 

 “Being away from it for so long and then coming back to it, I found what my soul needed, that through competing got burnt out. I don't know if it happens to everyone, but I lost that joy of being one with the horse.” Ashlee’s return to the equestrian world served her well, as did her work with her trainer. Richard Spooner, helped her with growing in her horsemanship and ultimately winning a Five Star Grand Prix. 

“It’s like one of those moments where you’re floating, you don’t really realize what’s happening. But I feel like it feels bigger when someone else wins it, like if my best friend won it, when it’s happening to you, it's almost too big where you don’t feel the greatness of it. It’s always just surreal.” 

But these wins don’t come without a great horse and at just nine years old, Ashlee’s horse, Donatello, was preparing for the Five Star Grand Prix. 

"He’s like a well oiled machine, Ashlee says, "because we’ve known him so long, so we had the preparation down so well.” 

That win made all the difference in Ashlee’s career, as she found not only her joy for competition but a joy of finally being one with the horse again.