OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Thoroughbreds, motherhood, and the sport of eventing come together in the story of upper-level eventer Chrissy Hollnagel, who competed at the Florida Thoroughbred Transformation Exposition from Dec. 13–15 at the Florida Horse Park.

Hollnagel’s love for thoroughbreds began early. Growing up on the backside of a racetrack, she was immersed in the world of racehorses, thanks to her father, who owned and raced them.

“I tended to be playing with the kittens more than the horses because I wasn’t allowed around them too much,” says Hollnagel. “They were always around me, and that’s actually what got me into horses. My dad had horses that ran at Penn National and Philadelphia Park, and in New Jersey. I was always around racing.”

At 13, after she moved to Wisconsin and began riding, her father took her to Hawthorne Race Course in Illinois to buy her first thoroughbred.

“I think my trainer at the time thought I was crazy or thought he was crazy,” Hollnagel said. “It worked out okay; it ended up being a really nice small junior hunter for me through my high school years.”

Hollnagel transitioned from show hunters to eventing and found herself drawn to thoroughbreds as upper-level eventers. Her father’s work managing The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Kentucky, allowed her access to off-the-track thoroughbreds.

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“My advanced horse never actually raced,” she said. “He trained and was slow; he ended up going to the eventing world before he even made it to the track.”

For the past several years, Hollnagel has shifted her focus to show jumping and family life, participating in most of the Florida Thoroughbred Transformation Expositions when her horses were ready.

In 2021, Hollnagel and EBs Wirthit competed in the show hunter division, earning reserve champion. This year, the pair participated in the restricted eventing division. Hollnagel purchased the gelding after falling in love with him while riding him for a neighbor.

“This was only his second time doing a full three-phase in competition,” said Hollnagel. “I kind of fell in love with this horse. When she told me he was for sale, and she wanted me to help sell him, I thought, ‘maybe I should buy this one.'”

Now competing under the name Don’t Be Cruel, with the barn name Elvis, the 15.1-hand gelding has shown versatility, transitioning from show jumping to eventing and participating in hunter paces with Misty Morning Hounds. Hollnagel believes the horse has a bright future.

“He had a really good brain, was really trainable and quiet,” she said. “I actually did have [my daughter] in mind when I bought this horse. If I work with him for a year or two, I think he’ll be just right for her as she matures in her own riding.”