Globetrotting TWOTH – Meet the teams
Amber Scriven and Adam Sutton
Amber Scriven has discovered plenty in her years on the planet and knows she is nowhere near finished learning. “Life is a journey to be experienced not a problem to be solved,” she says. She’s not yet 30 but horses have helped her find her true calling, while having overcome adversity, kicked cancer to the curb and defied all expectations.
“My journey to 2024 TWOTH involves daily self-improvement alongside my mentor Adam (Sutton),” she says. “I am always eager to expand my knowledge and experiences, and embrace any learning opportunities I can, especially from the invaluable teachings of horses.”
Of course, to win TWOTH would be the ultimate dream, but Amber says just being selected is a triumph.
Amber started riding at six, competing in the English disciplines. A severe head injury at nine left doctors doubtful of her ability to lead a normal life but her resilience and commitment to her horses saw her return to the saddle and she later showjumped to Grand Prix level.
Her switch to western riding came via Texan cowboy Cole Cameron who invited her to train at his family’s Texas ranch. “Horses became my teacher and I embraced a very holistic approach to riding,” says Amber. “This immersive experience broadened my riding capability and provided a much-needed healing journey for my physical and mental health.”
While Stateside she won the Extreme Cowboy Championships international world champion crown. She believes understanding a horse’s body language and lateral movements is critical to building a solid bond with them – whether unbroken, developing or retraining. A fierce competitor she understands first-hand the physical and emotional challenges riders and their horses face.
“It is not just about winning titles, but rather forging a deep connection with horses and being kind to oneself.”
Those are words that resonate with her mentor Adam Sutton who won TWOTH in 2010. “You need to keep your cool out there,” says Adam. “It is about being relaxed and confident. It is a timed event so you have to get certain things done but you need to use your own intuition and not be bothered by what other competitors are doing.
“The pressure is massive,” he says. “You wouldn’t usually be starting a horse under those conditions.”
He remembers his first time in the EQUITANA round pen. “I didn’t even catch my horse on the first day and ended up winning. I took it easy, slowly and didn’t compare myself to the others.”
He will be giving that same advice to Amber. “This is such a great competition. It is unscripted and that’s what really makes it,” he says. “The horses are as raw as they come. Everyone has been in that situation when you can’t catch or lea a horse . . . it is all about that early connection.”
Adam’s lifetime with horses has covered everything from trail riding to a successful rodeo career, through to campdrafting and movie sets. They continue to teach him about the world and himself in the purest way.
