The Five-Star: Pandemic, Postponement, and Perseverance in the Horse World

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.