Kalispell's Meuchel goes back to her roots

It’s been a few years since Ashlynn Meuchel competed at The Event at Rebecca Farm, but it’ll always feel like home to her.

“It’s been great to see everyone and catch up with old friends after a few years away… It’s fun to come back and see all the changes and see everyone again after a little while,” Meuchel said. “So that’s been really, really nice.”

Plus she’s enjoying the perks of having family nearby, including the requisite hospitality.

“My whole family’s here still,” Meuchel said. “I’m staying at mom and dad’s house… It’s very convenient, actually.”

The Kalispell native began her equestrian career in the Flathead Valley, but it was at Rebecca Farm that Meuchel first discovered her love for the sport of eventing.

While finishing college at Montana State University, Meuchel continued climbing the eventing ranks and eventually relocated to Ocala, Fla., where she’s been for the past three years.

Meuchel is competing in the CCI4*-Short at Rebecca Farm, but she has ridden several events at the 5-star level (riders can choose between a long and short format divisions at the higher levels).

At the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in Lexington, Ky., in early May, Meulchel and her mount, Emporium, fell during the cross-country phase of the event. He was taken to a nearby animal hospital and thankfully was none the worse for wear after a few days of rest.

“After Kentucky, the long was just a bit much to get ready for,” Meuchel said. “I opted for the short here and then with the plan to go back to Maryland this fall for the 5* long there.”

Emporium, a gray 13-year-old gelding, has been with Meuchel since he was five (she was 18) and is one of the reasons she made the move to Florida. There were more resources available to her as a rider bringing up a young horse.

“I moved out east thinking that he could be something really special if I could figure out how to ride him and produce him,” Meuchel said. “I’ve been learning so much from him and learning how to produce a horse and all those kinds of things. But it’s exciting to kind of bring that back here a little bit this weekend.”

In Florida, Meuchel runs a barn that offers training, boarding and sales with her business partner, Jeanie Clark.

“It’s a tough place to get going, but the learning opportunity there is just so massive that there’s not a better place to be, to learn, to jump around a five star, you know?” Meuchel said. “And you’re just surrounded by the sport on such a high level all the time.”

After Saturday’s cross-country phase at Rebecca Farm, Meuchel and Emporium are in 11th place out of 16 pairs after their run, which had no jump faults but had a 21.2 time penalty added to their score.

The final phase of the event, showjumping, is today. Rides for those in Meuchel’s division start at noon.

“(The Event) has grown every year and it gets bigger and better every year and they outdo themselves every year,” Meuchel said. “It’s amazing what they’ve built and what they’ve built for the sport is just incredible. It truly is a destination event, they do such a good job and everyone feels so welcome. It’s just really fantastic.”