Avery Calder

About Avery

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I'm a true Wyoming native, born and raised in the magical shadow of the Teton mountains! Every day, moose wander through our backyard. Elk, deer, and grizzly bears are also regular visitors, and a wild buffalo herd grazes just a few miles away. “Traffic jams” are usually just local cowboys driving cattle to fresh pastures. We hike, ride, and bike these mountains, and our 50+ feet of snow every winter affords us otherworldly skiing conditions!

 

Horses are a way of life in Wyoming, and I gained an interest for riding at a very young age. At  4, I began taking lessons, eventually achieving my Pony Club D3 rating with a focus on 3-day eventing. As I got older, competition took me to every corner of the Intermountain West. I was the Area IX Junior Beginner Novice champion at the age of 12,  and I later won the prestigious Rebecca Farm event in the Junior Novice division on a borrowed horse. 

 

As I gained more experience, I became increasingly interested in jumpers and equitation. That’s where my equestrian focus lies now.

 

I am also driven by a passion for learning. Nearly halfway through my junior year at the Jackson Hole Community School, I maintain an unweighted cumulative grade point average of 3.96, with the majority of my classes following the AP course. Math and science excite me most, but I also love to explore the historical and cultural contexts of these topics. Ethical debates over scientific phenomena are the highlights of my school days!

 

The Jackson Hole Community School is a small, in-person, independent preparatory school. The curriculum is rigorous and challenging, yet I am strongly encouraged to pursue my athletic endeavors, as well. My teachers support me with flexibility, communication, and access. I have truly realized the advantage of this support over the past year, as my equestrian training and competition have required even more significant travel.

 

Specifically, I spend a lot of time in Ocala, Florida, where I train and compete under the guidance of Tricia O'connor at Cloverlea Farm and Micheal Kirby at Kirby’s Bridge Brook. My horse, Tzudini SFS (aka “Tucker”), stays in Florida full-time, and together, we have found our stride in the 1.0m jumpers. We have won multiple classes at the World Equestrian Center and HITS Ocala. 

 

When I am not in the show ring or getting ahead on schoolwork, I am a working student, taking care of elite-level hunter, jumper, and equitation horses in Ocala. I have gained an immense amount of experience, often riding 4 different horses per day.

 

I also train and compete in New England, with Annie Dotoli at Tibri Horses. It’s both a privilege and a challenge to show exclusively catch rides at these competitions. This past summer, I managed to qualify for the New England Equitation Championships, competing on a horse I had ridden only twice. I proudly finished in the top 15 in the Open 15-17 Equitation, and I have already qualified for the USHJA Hunt Seat medal finals for 2025.

 

Riding and competing on so many different horses is not an easy path. Neither is writing an essay in the middle seat of an airplane, taking care of horses in the summer Florida heat, or delivering an A+ presentation on the 1811 German Coast Uprising after a redeye flight from Atlanta. 

 

Experiences like these have given me a unique perspective, though: I work hard, and I don’t quit until the job is done. I am flexible and adaptable. I always prepare, but I know how to improvise. I remain composed under pressure. I’m in a good mood in the morning, even when I’m not really in a good mood. I’m comfortable on long car rides and flights. I maintain a good sense of humor. I’m not a picky eater. 

 

Most importantly, I understand that every genuine accomplishment is the result of hard work and sacrifice. Because of this, I am committed to joining a NCAA team to compete in college. I know that I can bring a lot to the team and contribute to its success.

 

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