The Five-Star: Pandemic, Postponement, and Perseverance in the Horse World
Loading...
Links to Files
Permanent Link
Collections
Author/Creator
Author/Creator ORCID
Date
2021-12-30
Type of Work
Department
Program
MFA in Creative Nonfiction
Citation of Original Publication
Rights
This work is restricted for 10 years from the date listed above. No access will be permitted until the embargo has expired. Once the embargo expires the work is available only on Goucher College's campus.
Abstract
The Five-Star: Pandemic, Postponement, and Perseverance in the Horse World, a long-form work of literary journalism, ventures into the little-known sport of equestrian eventing, spotlighting a robust community of riders and organizers as they navigate the strange time of COVID-19. In the spring of 2020, the spread of the novel coronavirus impacted life throughout the United States in many ways for many people; for the equestrian community, it meant the complete suspension of the competition season and the postponement of premier events like the Tokyo Olympics and the inaugural Maryland Five-Star at Fair Hill, along with scores of other complications and interruptions. The Five-Star: Pandemic, Postponement, and Perseverance in the Horse World follows Olympians and elite riders as the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic test their resilience – not only by disrupting their competition schedules but also by threatening the small business operations through which they support themselves. This nonfiction manuscript also shines a spotlight on experienced competition organizers as they battle the uncertainty of the pandemic to deliver a new Five-Star competition at Fair Hill, Maryland, a picturesque and history-filled venue set within the horse-loving Mid-Atlantic region.