photo credit –- Brittany Hannah at www.shannonbrinkman.net
Tiana Coudray is a newly turned 21 year old, who was riding at novice level just a few short years ago. She set the U.S. eventing community on fire in a very short time. Although Tiana began riding lessons in the third grade, her equestrian career didn’t take off until 2003 when she purchased her partner King Street, aka “Danny”. She and Danny started out at Novice level, and in two short years found themselves competing at the two-star level. But Tiana was a seasoned World competitor prior to buying Danny, just not in equestrian sports! Up until she was 15, Tiana spent 10 years as a serious Irish Dancer, training and competing around the world, including five Irish Dancing World Championships where she had a career high of finishing 8th in the world. Tiana credits her success in eventing to the benefits that ten years of serious dance training and competition brought to her riding: peak physical condition, super balance, and an increased sense of total body awareness.
In 2004 and 2008, Tiana’s Young Rider Team won gold at the North American Young Rider’s Championships, with Tiana also winning an individual silver medal in ‘04. Then she was named the USEA Young Rider of the Year an unprecedented two times, in 2005 and 2007. Tiana has gone on to compete in many upper level events, including the Fair Hill International 3-Day Event CCI*** and Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event CCI****. In December 2009 she was named USEA Young Rider of the Year for an astounding third time, thus besting her own precedent.
With the career of her young horse Ringwood Magister coming to fruition; Tiana is finding herself, once again, with top results at major international events, and the chance to represent the USA in team competition on the horizon.