10/23/2026
The French Rebellion essay contest 2026 :
🎉 Huge congratulations to Sophie Rutherford, winner of the French Rebellion Essay Contest! Her powerful piece on sorrow and success truly stood out.
Congratulations also to Lauren Anderson on taking second place with her thoughtful essay on partnership!
A big thank-you to our generous sponsors for making this contest possible, and to all the applicants who took the time to write and share their work.
The winning entry :
This year, Regionals meant so much more to me than a chance at championships, titles, or ribbons. It represented months of continuous hard work, perseverance, and the decision to keep pushing forward when walking away would have been so much easier.
Last year was undeniably one of the darkest and hardest times of my life. Losing my best friend, my heart horse, felt like losing my entire world in an instant. In the heavy stillness that followed, I was completely lost. I didn’t know what my future in the saddle looked like, or if there was even a place for me in the horse world anymore. The weight of heartbreak, grief, self-doubt, and blame was suffocating. Without him, I didn't recognize myself. Riding, the one thing that had always been my safe place, suddenly felt painful. I struggled to find joy in the barn, and opening my heart to bond with another horse felt nearly impossible because the fear of loss was still so raw.
Yet, beneath all the grief, a small spark remained. Deep down, I knew I couldn’t give up on the dreams we had built together. With the support of the people who cared about me, I found the strength to take one hesitant step forward, trusting that he would be right beside me for every step.
A month later, determined to keep trying, I decided to try qualifying for championships again and began leasing a horse. He came into my life at a time when my heart was still guarded, and he taught me how to love a horse again. But he also taught me patience, reminding me that healing isn't easy, nothing worth having is easy, and plans don't always unfold the way we imagine. After a series of difficult shows, it became clear that dressage wasn't the right path for him. Even though it was tough, I am endlessly grateful for everything he gave me. He taught me resilience and showed me how to keep showing up, even when it was painful to ride a horse that wasn't him.
Still, those challenging shows took a toll, and my confidence went down to an all-time low. Entering the show ring felt scary, but I refused to let fear have the final say. I took a step, and began riding a client's horse at a lower level, prioritizing healing over expectations. That horse turned out to be a quiet blessing. He brought back the pure, uncomplicated joy of riding, reminding me how to smile in the arena again. In just his very first show season, he showed up with a huge heart, giving me everything he had. Together, we managed to qualify for Regionals and Finals in the absolute minimum number of shows, and he made some of my dreams come true, laughing and enjoying every moment along the way. He restored my belief in myself and gave me back the confidence I thought I had lost forever.
Looking back, this year was about turning my deepest pain into something meaningful. I wanted to prove to myself, and to my heart horse, that I could carry our shared dream forward, even without him physically by my side. Winning this scholarship would mean the absolute world to me. It would not only support my future in riding, but it would also serve as a tribute to my heart horse and a way to honor the incredible community of people whose support made my recovery possible.
