Alison O’Dwyer (Wilaby) is originally from Colorado where she started taking consistent riding lessons at six years old. In Colorado, Alison started on the local hunter jumper circuit but quickly became interested in eventing. By the time she graduated high school, she had competed in two CCI** events.
Taking a gap year after graduation, Alison headed to Kentucky to work for WEG silver medalist, Dorothy (Trapp) Crowell where Alison made huge strides in her horsemanship and riding ability. Under Dorothy’s tutelage, Alison was able to compete up through the CCI***L level and since then has had multiple successful FEI horses. In Kentucky, Alison also gained an interest in dressage and furthered her talents on the flat with the help of Reese Koffler-Standfield, wherein achieving her USDF Bronze Medal.
After graduating college from the University of Kentucky, Alison went on to work for Michael Pollard where she trained on her own horse and groomed professionally for his string of international eventers. This position included a trip to France to groom at the Pau CCI***** event and manage Pollards’ horses during their time in Europe.
Soon after retiring her last-upper level horse, Alison found her current niche in retraining ex-racehorses for eventing and dressage. Alison has built strong relationships in the horseracing industry and has successfully retrained numerous thoroughbreds. Her recent success has been highlighted by the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover, wherein she has claimed victory for the last two years in the dressage competition out of hundreds of competitors and also finishing in the top two in the eventing competition. Alison has her sights set to victory for 2021, with some very exciting prospects. She also plans to compete the USEA Young Event Horse series, as well as many local competitions in her home state of Maryland where she currently resides. In her spare time, Alison also enjoys teaching riding lessons and supporting her husband’s racehorse training business.