USHJA On Course Episode 36

USHJA: Welcome back to USHJA On Course. We're continuing our Rider to Rider series, a multi-platform project that connects riders across experience levels through honest conversations about their lives with horses. In this installment, you'll hear from father-daughter duo Greg and Ava Crolick.

Ava is an up-and-coming Junior rider who has already made a name for herself with a successful pony career and now has her sights set on the Jumper and Equitation divisions. Greg is a seasoned professional who competes in both Hunters and Jumpers at the top levels with lifetime earnings of more than $230,000 in the USHJA International Hunter Derby program. Let's listen in as Greg and Ava share what it's like to live, learn, and grow together in the sport they love.

Ava Crolick: Hi, my name is Ava Crolick.

Greg Crolick: Hi, I am Greg Crolick.

Ava Crolick: And we're here at the USHJA Championships.

Greg Crolick: Ava, what is your favorite horse and why?

Ava Crolick: My favorite horse is my Jumper, Banjo. He's my favorite because he's such a good guy, and he wants to win, and he takes care of me, and just, I just love him a lot.

Greg Crolick: Ava, what was your most memorable horse show moment?

Ava Crolick: Um, it was Pony Finals 2023, I think. I had only one pony that year. It was a Medium Pony, Hard to Forget, and we had the most amazing Pony Finals. We came back like the middle of the group and had an amazing round, was second in the jumping and fourth overall. One of the most memorable moments.

Greg Crolick: Ava, who inspires you the most?

Ava Crolick: He probably inspires me the most and some other trainers, but there's such a drive for the sport, so that teaches me to have a drive for the sport too. To be a real a competitor.

Greg Crolick: Ava, is there a USHJA program that you would like to participate in?

Ava Crolick: Definitely the Gladstone. It's a big Equitation championship that I love to compete in.

Greg Crolick: Ava, if you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Ava Crolick: Probably to fly. That'd be my superpower. Just, I don't know. Just have a cool superpower. Go anywhere I want.

Greg Crolick: What is your favorite song and artist?

Ava Crolick: Well, favorite song is probably Viva La Vida and Coldplay then.

Greg Crolick: Ava, if you were a horse or a pony, would you be a Hunter, Jumper, or Equitation horse?

Ava Crolick: Probably a Hunter, I would say. I feel like that's the most, I'd probably be a Hunter Pony. There's a lot of like, I dunno, I just like the, if I was like a pony, maybe I'd probably like a kid riding me and I get to, and if do good, I get to win the Pony Finals to have that big ribbon on my face.

What is your favorite horse and why?

Greg Crolick: My favorite horse is Chappy. He's, uh, been a wonderful horse for me. He is gotten me into the big Derbies, and we've had incredible results. We've won a lot together as a team.

Ava Crolick: What is one of your most memorable moments at a horse show?

Greg Crolick: Probably the same horse show that you had, the Pony Finals, because as your father, it was such an incredible moment and very touching to watch you do so well. And we've had a lot of success in other horse shows, but there's always wonderful moments and wonderful wins, but that's one that's always at the top.

Ava Crolick: Who inspires you the most?

Greg Crolick: My family inspires me the most to keep working really hard and keep trying to achieve and keep supplying horses for my daughter and to keep advancing.

Ava Crolick: What advice would you give to an up-and-coming rider?

Greg Crolick: Probably, like I give you advice, is to always try to be prepared. Try to stay calm when you're at the ring. Try to always breathe and hopefully always have the right schedule leading up to the event to get you to have the best outcome you can have.

Ava Crolick: If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Greg Crolick: Probably chicken stir fry. I like chicken stir fry.

Ava Crolick: What is your prized possession?

Greg Crolick: My family.

Ava Crolick: You're supposed to say your car.

Greg Crolick: My old, old car! No, it's my family. My family of course.

USHJA: That wraps up this episode of Rider to Rider. To watch their full conversation, visit ushja.org/ridertorider and don't forget to check out the feature story in the latest issue of In Stride Magazine.