Hometown: Southern Pines, N.C. Birthday: 10/14/1988 Sport/Disciplines: Eventing

Ariel Grald, began her international eventing career as a part of the Area I2004 North American Youth Championships team. After graduating from the University of Vermont, Grald worked in a research laboratory before making the switch to riding professionally. In 2012, she began working for Annie Eldridge in Vass, NC, allowing her to produce the string of top-level event horses that she currently rides at FEI competitions.

With over 20 years of international competition and more than 150 FEI starts, Grald has collected a total of 11 FEI wins throughout her career. After a hiatus from FEI competition during college, she returned in 2012 with LBF Oleagh’s Image. In 2014 she was named to the USEF Under 25 Developing Riders List and had her first FEI win at the Carolina International CCI3*-S.

Grald’s career took off upon her partnership with Leamore Master Plan, owned by Eldridge, who she completed her first CCI5*-L with in 2019. Together the pair finished four CCI5*-L events at the Kentucky Three Day Event, Burghley Horse Trials (GBR), Luhmühlen Horse Trials (FRA) and Badminton Horse Trials (GBR), all of which they finished in the top 15. Grald’s accolades allowed her to be the recipient of the Jacqueline B. Mars International Grant. In 2021, Grald represented the USA at CHIO Aachen (GER) aboard Leamore Master Plan, in addition to finishing in 11th place at the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships in Pratoni, Italy.

Grald’s 2024 season consisted of numerous top three results. She rode Annie Eldridge’s Isla de Coco to a second-place finish at the Fair Hill International Horse Trials CCI3*-S. The pair had top three placings at the CCI4*-S level at the Tryon International Three Day, Bromont and Plantation Field International Horse Trials throughout 2024. With their partnership beginning in 2023, Eldridge’s Adagio’s Nobility and Grald started off the 2025 season at the Carolina International Horse Trial CCI3*-S finishing second.