Karen O'Connor

Little Karen

A hero to me is someone who is looked up to. To me that person is Karen O'Connor, a well-known, Three-Day Eventer in the equestrian world. She's had many great years in eventing. She set goals for herself and was able to accomplish them. Her life in the equestrian field has been a great success. I can only dream of accomplishing what she has accomplished in her life. She has been through a lot of ups and down and that didn't stop her. She kept on trying and never gave up and that is why Karen O'Connor is my hero.

Karen Lende O'Connor, my hero, was born February 17, 1958. She grew up in Bolton, Massachusetts with her parents, Joanne and Phillip Lende, and her two brothers, Steven and Chip. Karen got her first horse named Midnight on her 11th birthday. She says, "I remember the first few times that I rode. It felt wonderful to have an animal under me, to feel the power, to be able to go fast. Just having a relationship with an animal was really a great thing for me." Before she started competing, young Karen would ride around her family's farm. She started having an interest in competing when she joined Pony Club. Since then, Karen has had a passion for competing. In 1993 Karen married David and moved to The Plains, Virginia. Getting married and moving didn't keep her from having horses in her life. She still had a strong passion for horses. Her husband, David, also has a passion for horses and competes internationally as well.

Karen and Berry

Karen started competing internationally in 1979 and is still competing to this very day. In 1993 Karen was ranked the number one lady rider. With Karen's superb international and national performances, she was awarded the U.S. Eventing Association's Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year, a record nine times since 1989. Her horses that made it all happen are Bally Mar, Grand Slam, Joker's Wild, Upstage, and Mandiba. Her recently retired horses are Prince Panache and Biko. Without them, none of this would have been possible.

I struggle a lot with my horse and many times I get so aggravated I want to give up. Karen never gave up whenever she struggled throughout her career. She always tried harder and now she is a successful horsewoman. Karen has taught me to never give up, and when things don't go the way you want them to go, then try harder. I have come a long way with my horse Bhaley's Comet. I am grateful that I have a person like Karen to look up to and that is why she is my hero.