After starting her eventing journey at the age of 4, Elisa Wallace moved up the ranks to become a top five-star eventer, competing on the international level at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event and the Burghley Horse Trials. She and Simply Priceless were named the alternate combination for U.S. Eventing Team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. A longtime advocate for off-track Thoroughbreds and American Mustangs, Elisa also won the 2024 Mustang Classic with her Mustang Zephyr.

Five-star eventer and Mustang advocate Elisa Wallace, shown here with Zephyr at the 2024 Mustang Classic, joins Team Prac to help you and your eventing horse on your journey in the sport. Click here to sign up for Practical Horseman+ to submit your question to our Team Prac members! ©Ronda Gregorio
  • Hometown: Warner Robins, Georgia
  • Current homebase: Elisa owns and operates Wallace Eventing on a 60-acre facility in Reddick, Florida.
  • Family: Elisa’s dad, Rick Wallace, is an eventing rider and trainer, and her mom, Laura Youngblood, bred and raised horses. She is married to Timothy Harfield, who’s gained a reputation a supportive “horse husband” and runs the popular blog and network HorseHubby.com.
  • Specialty and training facility: Eventing and advocate for American Mustangs and off-track Thoroughbreds.
  • What first drew you to horses? Elisa’s equestrian journey began at the age of 2 and was influenced by her horse-involved family. She started eventing at 4 and won her first gold medal at the Georgia State Games by age 9. Elisa later diversified into hunter, jumper and equitation competition, qualifying for the USEF Maclay Finals at 12, before returning to eventing.
  • Favorite horse/pony growing up: “I had two favorite childhood horses. Lovestory was a Quarter Horse-cross mare my parents rescued from the kill pen. I started riding her when I was 4 years old and did everything with her from swimming in our lake, playing tag and riding bareback—all the crazy things people deem dangerous, I probably did with her. And I fell off her a lot! She would just stand there and look at me. I also starting competing in eventing with her. She taught me tons and was always game for playing and having fun. Then there was Prince, a black Quarter Horse, who my dad bred. He got kicked by another horse as a 2-year-old and ended up with a broken shoulder. After having a plate and bolt put in and being on stall rest for a year, Prince defied the odds and ended up being a performance horse. After my dad competed with him, he became my horse when I was around 8. He always won in dressage and was pretty strong and fast on cross country. We won in Novice at the Georgia State Games when I was 9, and later on he was successful in jumpers. He definitely taught me how to ride a strong horse.”
  • Career highlights: Elisa and Australian Thoroughbred Simply Priceless secured an eighth-place finish at the 2016 Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5* (then CCI4) and were 14th at the 2016 Burghley Horse Trials. The pair were also named as alternates for the U.S. Eventing Team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Elisa and her first Mustang Fledge took top honors at the 2012 Extreme Mustang Makeover; she and Dorado won the 2018 Georgia Mustang TIP Challenge; and the versatile horsewoman and Zephyr won the inaugural 2024 Mustang Champion, a competition featuring Mustangs competing in English disciplines.
  • Mentors: Nick Larkin, Stephen Bradley and Karen O’Connor.
  • Most influential horse in your career: In Elisa’s experience, every horse influences her in some way, but there are a few notables. Demonstrating her keen eye for potential, she purchased her successful four-star Thoroughbred Jackson for $700. “At only 18, I saved up all my high-school graduation money and bought Jackson, who was a Thoroughbred yearling at the time, for $700 off a video tape. My mom and I drove to Kansas with a borrowed trailer and brought him home to my basement and back yard. A year later I found a place I could work off board and produced him up the levels. He won almost everything he did including his first four star. Fledge, a 13.3-hand Mustang, was also one of the most influential equine partners her in her career. “We learn from all horses, but Mustangs always seem to teach me something new. They have huge hearts and are very versatile athletes. When you work with a wild horse who learns to let go of his fears and trust you, it’s a truly special experience. I can’t even express how important this horse has been to me and my journey with mustangs.”
  • Competition superstitions: “At big competitions, I always try to find a four-leaf clover or two and put them in my number bib and in my horse’s number. I also make sure I have my evil-eye bracelet that my good friend Danny Miguel gave me. I always wear it, but I make sure I have one for competitions because it protects me.”
  • When you’re not riding, where can we find you? “It’s hard to not find me around a horse, but I’m also a big foodie fan. I love food! And I’m huge fan of watching ‘Top Chef,” so my husband and I love going to new restaurants and trying new food.” 
  • Four-legged family members (besides horses): Pocket, a 15-year-old, 4 1/2-pound Chihuahua; Fergus, a 3-year-old Jack Russell; and barn cats Pimento, Fontina, Ricotta and Feta—who all happen to be orange.
  • Favorite eats: “Good old meat and potatoes made by my husband—a filet, buttered spinach, green beans and cheesy Parmesan noodles (or a baked potato). This dish also competes heavily with my mom’s meatloaf!” 
  • Favorite book and/or movie: “I love reading Lucinda Green’s ‘Four Square’ and ‘Up, Up, and Away.’ And my favorite movie is ‘The Man From Snowy River.’”
  • Fun facts: Elisa earned her Bachelor of Arts in art from Georgia State University, where she focused on creating life-size horse sculptures from found steel. She is also an educator and influencer and shares her training philosophies through her YouTube channel and other social-media platforms.  
  • Mares or geldings? Don’t get me wrong, I love my girls but I’m 100% a goofy gelding person.” 
  • What’s kept you involved in the sport for so long? “I just love it. And when it comes to working with Mustangs, they will change your life in some way. So if you’re looking to kind of deepen your experience with horses and learning about connection and going up a level and learning about horses just in general, Mustangs are amazing teachers.”
  • Learn more: wallaceeventing.com

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