Prost is German for “cheers,” but if you ask some, it is used as a more meaningful way to signify gratitude and friendship, and to Sadie Severson, the name Prost means exactly that.
Growing up, her love of horses stemmed from the frequent trail rides she had while spending time at her grandparents’ small farm in the “Hawkeye State” of Iowa. It took a bit of convincing to visit the local western barn near her family's home, and at the age of 11, her parents finally allowed her to take lessons. It didn't take long for Severson to outgrow the makeshift jumps she made, and so the road to the rated show circuit began.
Riding at Oceancrest Farms in Encinitas, Calif., the rising college freshman didn’t have the smoothest transition from her previous horse to her current partner, Prost, a 2015 Warmblood gelding (Chaman x Amiga LCH), owned by Hope Glynn.
“It's been a bit of a struggle trying to figure him out. He was a difficult horse for me to understand, and I felt a little bit blind on him,” Severson explained. “In the past, I rode a more point-and-shoot type of horse, but he’s a bit more complex than that. It took a lot of time figuring out how to maintain a rhythm and to learn his jumping style.”
With a lot of patience and perseverance, the pair finally found their stride and are clicking more now than ever. “I love being with him no matter what; even if I don't have a good round, it's nice to be with him at the show or at home. When I mess up, I’ll get off, and he's there to cuddle with me and love on me. I honestly can't imagine having another horse.”
While Prost was originally called “Dude” in the barn by his previous owners, Glynn misheard the pronunciation of his name and thought it was “Doodle.” A happy mistake it was, as his newfound name fit him just right. “He's a really silly horse,” said Severson. “He loves to snuggle, and he loves attention; he'll actually leave his food in the stall just to come to say hi to you, and give you kisses.”
With their partnership stronger than ever, Severson and Doodle are making their 2026 Adequan®?/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – West appearance in the Small Junior Hunter 3’3” 16-17 division. No stranger to the show ring, Severson is excited to take on the opportunity she’s dreamed of.
“This show gives you a challenge; the courses are a little more difficult, and the competition is elevated,” she said. “It’s a great way to experience being put under that type of pressure and learn what it’s like to be competing at a higher level, so I'm excited to be able to participate in that and be able to shine.”
Severson admits it was no easy journey to get here. “Last year I qualified with my old horse, Captain, at our first show in the juniors together. I was so excited and ready, but he unfortunately went lame. That’s when we started looking for horses and found Doodle.”
With a newfound hope of making it to the JNC that year, Severson put in the work to qualify, but in the end, she made the ultimate decision to save her dreams for the next year and continue building their partnership.
“I worked really, really hard to qualify on him. It was a struggle because I didn't understand him yet, but I did end up qualifying somehow,” she said. “I ended up not choosing to compete last year, because I didn't feel like I was completely ready with Doodle.”
Making hard decisions and prioritizing her horse has made Severson appreciate her time with Doodle even more, knowing that this is their last show together, as she’s heading to her freshman year at Auburn University.
“I feel so prepared now and ready to take this next step, so my only goal is to come out of this with a smile on my face and a horse that I can love on,” she exclaimed. “I’m going to enjoy my last moments with him and end our partnership with a bang by riding around the show bareback before he leaves.”
Letting go of all expectations and pressure she’s put on herself, Severson is entering the ring with a positive mindset, grateful to be spending time with her partner. The time and hours dedicated to Doodle for the past year and a half make their last hurrah bittersweet, but Severson couldn't imagine herself saying cheers to any horse other than her beloved Prost.