Eventer Elisa Wallace was hoping to adopt her 19th mustang in early 2024 with the goal of competing at the inaugural Mustang Classic. In addition to being a five-star eventer, Wallace began training mustangs 12 years ago and has had notable success in numerous mustang-focused competitions. These events often catered to Western disciplines, but the Mustang Classic, a competition focused on highlighting mustangs as English discipline mounts, came into existence this year. With Wallace’s solid foundation in the English discipline realm, she knew she had to be part of this new event.
“I have done a lot of the makeovers because it’s good to push myself to learn from different disciplines and stuff like that,” Wallace said. “It was kind of nice to be like ‘I know how to train one for this one’ versus getting [the horses] to link what they’re looking for in Western training and how we train. But again, a well-trained horse is a well-trained horse.”
Finding Zephyr
For the Mustang Classic, Wallace was hoping to be able to bring home a nice-looking mustang following a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Internet Adoption, but she was outbid on the prospects that interested her. Her students, however, were successful in securing their hopeful mounts for the Mustang Classic. When Wallace went to pick her student’s mustangs at a BLM satellite adoption in Mississippi, she came across Zephyr.
“I picked him out,” Wallace said. “Everybody’s like, ‘What do you look for?’ But it is the same thing, right? You want a horse that’s uphill—he’s actually going through a little bit of a growing spurt right now—and built straight through the legs. He seemed to have a higher set neck.”
Five-year-old Zephyr originally came from the Twin Peaks herd management area in California before making his way home with Wallace in Reddick, Florida, back in February. Wallace had a busy competition schedule that month, so Zephyr had a leisurely start to his training.
“He’s a good-minded horse,” Wallace said. “It did take me a little bit longer to get on him. It took about three weeks. Normally I can get on [the mustangs] in three to four days, surprisingly.”
Training for the Mustang Classic
Over the past seven months, Zephyr was slowly started under saddle, but he quickly flourished into a sporthorse. Wallace explained that he has competed at the Beginner Novice level in eventing horse trials and has also done a few jumper shows. Zephyr has taken his job as a riding horse in stride.
“He’s just so well-minded and very people-oriented, so he’s a great ambassador for the mustang that way,” she noted. Despite his beginnings as a wild mustang, Zephyr has adapted to his new life.
“He’s just a big goofball,” Wallace laughed. “He loves his food; he loves his ‘condo.’ He loves his stall, called a condo. He’s very tidy in his stall, too.”
Wallace noted the mustangs can have a negative stigma associated with them, but she believes they are quality horses.
“A lot of them are suitable for dressage, jumping and low-level eventing. They’re very athletic,” Wallace said. “I have a very athletic one at home that hopefully will be going one star soon, so I always root for the underdog.”
Wallace pointed out that the training in the lead-up to a competition like the Mustang Classic is a lot of work. However, she added that it’s also very rewarding and beneficial.
“[The mustangs are] a good distraction for me in some ways with upper-level eventing because it always keeps you with two feet on the ground and the goal is to always do your best but learn to be better,” she noted. “Every horse teaches me back.”
Mustang Classic Championship Final
Following Friday and Saturday’s dressage, equitation, arena cross country and show jumping competition, the finalists advanced to Sunday’s Mustang Classic Championship Final, consisting of a freestyle performance highlighting each horse’s best qualities.
Going into the final, dressage winners’ Wallace and Zephyr led the talented group of rider-and-mustang pairs followed by Samantha Rock and Handy Dandy, Laura Wilson and Sporty Shorty, Ann Hanlin and QR Code, Chelsea Candey and Luna, Sierra Steffen and Dazzle, Lily Hughes and London Fog, Amber Hofmaier and Snoop Dogg, Jessica Flaherty and Inky, and Chris Phillips and WFR Sin City Sister.
Wallace and Zephyr Take Top Honors After Superb Freestyle
On Sunday, a whimsical stage was set in the Kentucky Horse Park’s Rolex Stadium with the theme of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Streamers, balloons, jumps set to 3-foot-3 with candy and Oompa Loompa decorations, a chocolate river tarp and a Violet Beauregarde ball were spread around the arena for Wallace’s freestyle with her mustang Zephyr. Dressed as Willy Wonka, Wallace entered the arena riding Zephyr bareback with only a rope halter. The pair delivered an impressive performance to win the Mustang Classic title and $50,000 in prize money.
Wallace and Zephyr had a solid start to the Mustang Classic by winning Friday’s dressage and placing second in arena cross country and fourth in show jumping on Saturday. When preparing her freestyle for the competition, Wallace aimed to embrace a theme and match it with Zephyr’s personality.
“He is so goofy,” Wallace laughed. “[‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’] just really fit because he loves cookies and treats. It was really fun working with my husband to mix the music and keep changing it up.”
Showcasing Zephr’s Talents
In addition to the fun theme, Wallace also wanted to showcase Zephyr’s talents. The 5-year-old mustang has proven that he’s quite the jumper, competing at the Beginner Novice level in eventing and in some jumper shows.
“Zephyr’s a very good jumper and he likes to jump,” Wallace said. “He’s had a natural ability from day one of holding a line and jumping a corner. He’s a little bit of a freak that way.”
Wallace decided to include a corner jump in her freestyle, though it was a risk with the electric atmosphere of the Rolex Stadium.
“It was a fairly difficult corner, but he nailed it,” Wallace said. “That made me feel good. I was really proud of him and probably the biggest thing was that mentally, he was so relaxed about everything and with me. So, I couldn’t have asked him to be better this weekend.”
Looking toward the future, Zephyr has a prospective new home as a low-level eventer.
“The goal has been to really get these horses out, and he’s an amazing ambassador for the breed,” Wallace noted. “[Mustangs are] fantastic. They are really fun horses with really nice qualities.”
For More:
The entire event was live streamed for free on EQUESTRIAN+ (equestrianplus.com), but you can also view coverage after the event with a subscription.
To learn more about the 2024 Mustang Classic, click here.
