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SIDELINESMAGAZINE | June 2026
t would be an understatement to say that
spring 2026 was special for Braden Speck.
In April, he and his horse Liam stepped
up to the CCI5*-L at the 2026 Kentucky
Defender Three-Day in Lexington, where
23-year-old Braden was the youngest rider in
the field. Just weeks before, he was accepted
to the University of Pennsylvania’s veterinary
school. These milestones carried even more
weight considering Braden faced three major
setbacks early in his riding career and still
chose to stay in the sport he loves.
Horses have always been a big part of
Braden’s life. The Speck family lives in
Unionville, Pennsylvania, the epicenter for
eventers including neighbors Phillip Dutton,
EVENTING
BRADEN
SPECK
Enduring Early
Heartbreak to Reach
the Bluegrass Five-Star
By Helen Townes • Portraits by Adrienne Morella
Bruce Davidson and Boyd Martin. Braden
joined his older sister Kaelen in riding
lessons when he was 6, and rode alongside
the grandsons of venerable equestrian Jimmy
Wofford, Hudson and Walker. Braden’s
parents, Stefan and Sally, never rode but were
always avid supporters.
However, Braden’s introduction to riding
was hardly an indication of his future career
as a gutsy eventer. Kaelen and Sally both
remember that Braden was terrified to canter
on his first mount, Rosenharley Romello—
affectionately called Weasel—a Connemara
pony. “We would take Braden and Weasel to a
sloping hill and make him canter up it; the first
few times, he was petrified. Luckily, he started
loving it,” Kaelen laughed. Before long Braden
was hooked on eventing, and the Speck family
was always his devoted cheering section on
the sidelines.
“My mom is at all my events, and my dad
comes to some of the bigger ones. Mom
helps groom, and she’s learned a lot about the
sport—and even gives me advice sometimes,”
Braden chuckled.
For her part, Sally Speck is open about her
commitment to Braden’s success—as well as
her nerves. “It’s exciting when he’s done with an
event, but during the cross-country, especially,
it’s not very fun,” she admitted. “I have to put
on my poker face, but my heart is racing, and I
can’t really eat anything until it’s over!”
Braden Speck with his
horse BSF Liam.