BY ELIZABETH PELLEGRINO AND KARA STARK-MCGREW
The National Adaptive Virtual Horse Shows has completed its first year of showing. We welcomed multiple competitors from several states and our 2026 season is gearing up to be just as exciting. To celebrate the momentum, we wanted to go back and share the story of how we began.
Many of us in this industry have had setbacks. A horse that comes up lame right before the show. Needing five volunteers and only one shows up. Feed and hay pricing increasing. A week of such terrible weather, you are forced to cancel lessons five days in a row. We have all been there and survived and moved forward.
The Accident That Changed Everything
In 2020, I was feeding treats to a horse in its stall, and it spooked, knocked me down, and kicked me with its back legs multiple times in the chest. We all know fight and flight. When a horse is in the moment, nothing can stop a frightened horse.
That’s the exact moment my life changed. I was on the ground in respiratory failure.
I was placed in the ambulance, and they needed to intubate me as I could not breathe. When they did this on-site, they paralyzed my vocal cord. In the hospital, I was put on a ventilator, broke both shoulders, clavicle, 2 collapsed lungs, 9 broken ribs, several ribs punctured my lungs, 4 chest tubes, pneumonia, C. Diff Colitis, and concussion.
Every time I was kicked, my head hit the ground. I lost some vision in my left eye. The first hospital I was admitted to was not equipped to help me, so I was transferred to a second hospital via a specialized trauma ambulance with staff to keep me stabilized. I was in the hospital for 6 weeks and on a ventilator for over 4 weeks. The severe impact to my chest from the horse’s hoof moved my rib cage and heart over to the left. My one lung cannot fill to capacity as my ribcage on my left is compressed. I still have ribs pressing on my lungs.
Yes, my life-changing event…. However, wonderful friends and volunteers kept the lights on, took care of the horses and barn, and gave me the chance to not worry and just heal.
Losing a Business but Not the Community
But with all setbacks, new hurdles that you are not prepared for suddenly appear.
My life was flipped upside down. So now what? I can’t do a thing on my own; my fear of horses kept me from doing the everyday chores that I was once so blessed to do. I had no strength; my breathing was stressed, so I was tiring quickly.
In 2024, I had to close my business. I had to hire several workers to do the work that I used to do, and the costs of everyday operations almost tripled. It was just too financially challenging to continue to run. Yes, all my horses found wonderful homes and are safe. That was my main concern.
Asking the Hard Question: What’s Next?
So now what do I do? I needed to be involved in this Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) community, but how? I didn’t want to become anyone’s “administrative anything”.
I was on the phone with my friend Kara, who also has an EAAT program. We were talking, and she said, “We need to do something together, but what?”
I said, “How about we create a virtual showing platform for adaptive students?”
Kara has spoken to me many times about how the Western Dressage world did this during Covid, but continued to have virtual showing even after Covid that was highly successful. The National Adaptive Virtual Horse Shows would keep me involved in EAAT, something that I could not let go of. I was so excited that she was excited about the idea, and the National Adaptive Virtual Horse Shows became a reality. Born out of the love for the sport, and giving our riders/clients a chance to show at a professional level with professional judges.
Building the National Adaptive Virtual Horse Shows
I was lucky to have Kara as my partner in this endeavor. We are both PATH International Advanced Certified Instructors, CTRI’s and Mentors. We managed our own facilities and have taken our riders to shows. Our biggest strength is that Kara has been a Licensed Official for the United States Equestrian Federation since 1994 and officiates in a variety of disciplines. She also managed Health and Recreation Through Horses of NJ in-person horse shows for 13 years and organized the challenge riders divisions at the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show for 8 years. Kara’s riders also participated in the NJ Special Olympics virtual shows since 2020. We have the skills, contacts, and the knowledge to make this happen—and we did.
Just imagine, not having to trailer to a show, having your riders/clients in an environment they are familiar with, being able to compete within their ability, and with like riders.
Then came the brainstorming…and a ton of documentation. Oh my… the flooding of words on paper was overwhelming.
So, begin the start of the National Adaptive Virtual Horse Shows.
Who Can Participate
Adaptive Riders: An exhibitor must have a medically diagnosed condition that causes permanent impairment that can be measured objectively.
Academy Status: Be a family member of an Adaptive riding participant, taking lessons on a horse who is a lesson horse.
Veterans Riding: Open to active and retired military of all branches of service. Compete against others of like riding abilities from all over the country.
Hippotherapy Achievement Goal: Goal recipients must be working with a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist or a Speech Language Pathologist.
Figuring Out Classes to Offer
Once we went down the rabbit hole, we decided we needed unmounted classes, driving classes, equicizer classes, and a Hippotherapy Achievement Award. We wanted to give everyone the opportunity to show off their skills.
- Adaptive
- Academy
- Veterans
- In Hand
- English Dressage
- Western Dressage
- Carriage Driving
- Equicizer
- Hippotherapy Goal Achievement
We kept going back to our skill set as instructors and thought what a great idea it would be to create a lesson plan that would give the rider the goal and an opportunity to show it off. This could be a two month goal of just walking and steering your horse, a six month goal of learning how to post on the correct diagonal or a yearly goal of leaning how to walk, trot and canter an obstacle. Each step of the way, the student could compete and see how they are progressing.
Professional Judging with a Competitor-First Approach
Kara’s extensive connections to the show world have enabled us to get judges known nationally. Our judges provide feedback to the competitors, which we share privately with the instructors. Thoughts on what went well and what could be improved upon, to get to that next blue ribbon. This may give the competitor the push they may need to get to the next level.
We developed a judging system that is competitor-based. Our guidelines were created with consideration of other professional equestrian organizations. We understood many of our program horses have stepped down from their previous positions, or are just the most wonderful mounts who have never been a competition horse. We want to celebrate our horses, and our expectations are in the competitor—not the horse.
All classes are judged and pinned. However, the Hippotherapy Achievement Award was a way for us to recognize the achievements of those who have reached a goal in Physical, Occupational, or Speech Therapy. In creating this category, we knew we hit on a great incentive for the therapist to use in helping to achieve the therapy goal. Once a goal is sent in to us, the client picks the color of the ribbon they would like, and an award is sent to them. Making it fun and creating a win-win for both therapist and client.
Year-End Awards and Program Rewards
Kara said she didn’t want to create just another virtual horse show. She envisioned something with purpose and impact. One of her goals was to offer an opportunity for people participating in adaptive programs and the programs themselves something to strive towards. Thus, the Performance Awards were born; amazing year-end awards, much the same as in traditional equestrian competitions, where earning points reflects hard work, progress, and achievement. Just like in any sport, being able to proudly display your hard-earned accomplishments fosters pride, connection, and the drive to keep growing.
The National Adaptive Virtual Horse Shows and Performance Awards were designed not only to celebrate individual accomplishments but also to bring recognition and awareness to Equine Assisted Activity and Therapies programs across the country. We want to support them and see growth, increased visibility, and as a community work towards sustainability.
We thoughtfully developed the show’s tiered levels to encourage progression for both competitors and programs, providing structure that supports skill development and goal setting. Kara wanted participants to feel proud and motivated and to have a chance to earn exciting prizes like jackets, backpacks, and beautiful ribbons that represent their dedication and success. We know that most programs do not need another saddle pad. We know the best way to support programs is through monetary prizes. We understand that true sustainability in our equine-assisted services community depends on both community awareness and financial support.
Creating a Community Where Everyone Belongs
Most of all, we wanted every competitor and program to feel like they are a part of our amazing equestrian community. A community where everyone’s achievements are valued and celebrated.
Finally, I found my place in the Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies world again. Kara and I made the perfect team. We depend on each other for support of this endeavor, and I found a purpose and a drive to keep being active in this community that means so much to me.
Having this accident changed my life, maybe even for the better, as I know both worlds and the challenges that we have and the ability to overcome and be recognized for what we can do and not what we cannot do.
To learn more about the National Adaptive Virtual Horse Shows, eligibility, classes, and how to get involved, visit www.NationalAdaptiveVirtualHorseShows.com.
