Fresh off her victory at the Maryland CCI4-L* and second in the Plantation CCI4*-L, Back on Track sponsored athlete Lainey Ashker continues to demonstrate what it takes to compete at the highest levels of equestrian sport. As a five-star event rider, Grand Prix dressage competitor, and lifelong horsewoman, Lainey's success is built on more than talent alone. Behind every top performance is a trusted team of horses, trainers, grooms, veterinarians, sponsors, and support staff working together to keep both horse and rider performing at their best.
Lainey's journey in eventing began long before she ever galloped out of a start box. Growing up in California, horses were part of her life from day one. Her mother famously competed while seven months pregnant with Lainey, and by the age of two she was already riding. Through Sierra Gold Pony Club, she developed the horsemanship skills that continue to shape her training philosophy today.
While eventing is known for its speed, precision, and adrenaline, Lainey says it's the horses and the people that have kept her passionate throughout her career.
"The horses and the people come first," she says. "Then the sport."
Like many successful event riders, Lainey's career was transformed by one exceptional horse. A former Thoroughbred racehorse named Eight Saint James Place, affectionately known as Jamie, became the partner that launched her onto the international stage. After her previous horse was sidelined by injury, Jamie carried Lainey to her first CCI5* and her first overseas competition.
"You're only as good as your horse," Lainey explains. "You can work as hard as you want, but if they don't want to do it, you're not forcing them. Jamie put me on the map."
That partnership reinforced one of the most important lessons she's learned throughout her career: success in eventing is never achieved alone.
Today, Lainey manages a diverse training program that includes both upper-level event horses and Grand Prix dressage horses. With 25+ horses in her boarding business and a small training program, building the right team has become just as important as developing talented horses.
She credits trusted groom Melissa Wills, rider Abigail Molnar, and a dedicated staff of eight to nine employees for helping keep the operation running smoothly, whether she's at home or competing across the country.
Her professional support team also includes some of the sport's most respected coaches, including Olympic event rider Philip Dutton for eventing and Lauren Hough for show jumping.
"You have to build a program around you," Lainey says. "Your team isn't just the people who coach you. It's the people you trust to care for your horses every single day."
Recovery and equine wellness are also essential parts of that program. As a longtime Back on Track fan and now a sponsored rider, Lainey incorporates Back on Track products into her horses' daily routines to support muscle recovery before and after training. Quick Wraps, therapeutic back pads, and coolers are staples in the barn for both her event horses and dressage horses.
Lainey first discovered Back on Track after suffering a back injury before the Kentucky Three-Day Event nearly 15 years ago. She still uses the same Back on Track back brace today to help manage the physical demands of riding.
"When my back starts bothering me, I put it on," she says. "It helped me so much that using the same technology for my horses just made sense."
From winning the Maryland CCI4*-L to competing at the five-star level, Lainey's career is a reminder that lasting success is built through partnership. Great horses, experienced coaches, dedicated barn staff, thoughtful horse care, and consistent recovery all play a role in helping horse and rider reach their full potential.
