Gulfport, Miss.—March 7

Most hunter riders worry about making sure their horse will be relaxed and comfortable in the environment when it’s time to show, but Tim Maddrix has the opposite plan with Eloise. With her, the spookier the venue, the better she is.

Reigning USHJA International Hunter Derby Champion Liza Boyd will be sitting out the first half of the 2014 show season as she’s pregnant with her second child. She and husband Blake Boyd are expecting another girl to join their 4-year-old daughter Elle in early June.

Heading into the Tier I Handy Round of the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships, Liza Boyd knew she had some ground to make up as she trailed Scott Stewart and Garfield by 10 points. But when she was warming up for the class her father and trainer Jack Towell tried to get her to put that out of her head.

Confused about what this Tier I, Tier II business is all about? You're not alone. Editorial Staffer Mollie Bailey breaks it down.

Scott Stewart, Liza Boyd and Jen Alfano sit one, two, three heading into tomorrow's Championship.