Radnor Hunt International Three-Day Event
Cross Country Day

It Takes a Village

Lewis began riding as a child when her parents sent her to summer camp, "and pretty much that was it". Her mother, Tina Olsen drove her to riding lessons from that point on, until 1987, at the age of 15, the late Louise McCarthy took her under her wing. "She picked me up from school, and brought me to the barn every day and just kept helping me in every way." recalled Lewis.

Her previously "non-horsy but supportive parents, Tina and Jack Olsen, are now co-owners of Rampant Lion, in a syndicate put together with Betsy Minton, Ann Alexander, Elaine Neuwirth, and Fred and Patty Archer, which was organized to help her keep the horse. While she still owns Hyper Lite, she had to make the tough decision to sell him, because of the financial factor that many top competitors must face. Currently in a hunter/jumper facility, he is being presented as a hunter, because he is very fancy, and can get the most value in that discipline. "It was a tough decision to make, but it looks like after what Rampant Lion showed me today, it was the right one." Lewis laughed.

Wendy's husband Rob also plays a supportive role. An eventer himself, he was helping his sister Lisa Lewis at the 1996 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event with her horse Good Force, when they met. Rob, now an attorney, is at every event, helping his wife.

And now Lewis's "non-horsy" Mom, Tina is getting into the act. She began riding lessons using Wendy's retired event horse Maelstrom and is about to compete in her first Novice event.