Barrington Native Closes in on Olympic Dream

Many children have dreamed of representing their country on the Olympic stage in the sport they love, but few will ever know the feeling of it actually becoming a reality. For one Barrington Native and Barrington High School Alumni, a dream that began when she was a young girl, is now not only a possibility, it is so close she can nearly see London when she closes her eyes!

Allison Springer now 37-years-old, and her long time horse Arthur compete in the equestrian sport of three-day eventing. The pair have trained for years for this moment in their career together and, although there have been rough times when others may have questioned why Springer had such faith in her beautiful gelding, Springer always seemed to know he was capable of rising to the occasion when it mattered most. Not only has Arthur proved his rider to be correct, it seems as if he may be at the top of his game at just the right time with the 2012 Olympics just around the corner.

Springer is not the only one who has taken notice of Arthur’s talents. The U.S. Olympic committee recently short listed the pair for the London Olympics and with two top finishes to kick off their 2012 season, including being the top placing American’s at the prestigious Rolex Equestrian Championships in April, the two have more than proven they deserve one of the five spots to represent their country this August.

Springer got her first pony at age 5 in a bargain she made with her father to quit sucking her thumb, and learned to ride with her friends in the forest preserve of Barrington. She's now a woman who has built her career and life around the equestrian sport, Springer knows that hard work and a passion for what you do pays off. 

“I do not know what the final months leading up to the games will bring, but I feel incredibly proud to be where I am today. Arthur is a special horse, and just as special as he is are the people who support me every day and have believed in me the whole way," she said. 

Since purchasing Arthur as a youngster with the help of her parents William and Carolyn Springer, Allison Springer has known he had what it took to be a top horse.  Anyone who has ever seen the pair together knows that they share a special bond and that he trusts her with his entire being.

When the crowds roared loudly with applause at the conclusion of their brilliant dressage test at Rolex, it made Arthur uneasy. A simple pat on the shoulder from Springer calmed the horse back down. Springer undoubtedly trusts him as well. After all, she gallops up to some of the largest obstacles in the world, putting not only trust, but also her life in his hands. Donning the red, white and blue, representing her country in the Olympics would be everything Springer has ever dreamed of, but now comes arguably the toughest part: the final decision from the Olympic Committee.

Springer is a heavy contender to catch the plane to London in a few months time, but knows that sometimes skill only gets you so far, and then luck and fate become factors.

“We have done everything we can to earn ourselves a spot and represent the U.S.A. Now we wait, we continue to get ourselves in the best possible shape we can and we hope that this is our time and that things fall into place. Anything can happen, especially in this sport where injuries and so many other things come in to play, but right now we feel good about where we are. I certainly do not know what the future holds, but it has been an incredible ride to this point," she said. 

The remaining lead up events to the Olympics, the rigorous training, feed and equipment costs require a great deal of money. Although funding has grown in recent years, riders are still responsible for a large portion of necessary every day costs. If you are interested in supporting Springer in her quest for the Olympic Games, want to learn more about her, or want to be a part of Team Arthur, you can visit her website for more information at www.allisonspringer.com.

No matter what happens, Allison is proof to all the kids out there that no dream is too big if you work hard and want it bad enough. If the stars align, in just a few months time Barrington will have a hometown hero to cheer for at the London Summer Olympics.

Story courtesy of Frankie Thieriot.