Christy Higman-Clements Training, published in Arabian Horse Times

CHRISTY HIGMAN-CLEMENTS TRAINING www.chctrainingmiami.com

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Ar abian Horse Times | 147 | Youth 2019

L U C I H E R N A N D E Z & multi-national champion T I T L E I S T B F country english pleasure • english show hack • 14-18 • elite Christy Higman-Clements Training | www.chctrainingmiami.com

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L U C I H E R N A N D E Z & multi-national champion E L L E Y E S ha english side saddle • ha english show hack • ha native costume • 14-18 Christy Higman-Clements Training | www.chctrainingmiami.com

Ar abian Horse Times | 149 | Youth 2019

I S A B E L L A P E R R I C O N E & multi national champion R A A L L I Z A ha country english pleasure • ha show hack • ha saddle seat eq • upha • 14-18 • elite Christy Higman-Clements Training | www.chctrainingmiami.com

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Lynn Parks

VA L E N T I N A P E R R I C O N E & reserve national champion A F I R E S S E C R E T ha english pleasure • ha saddle seat eq • upha • 13 & under Christy Higman-Clements Training | www.chctrainingmiami.com

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R E M I E M O R E N O & national champion N O B L E O N E english show hack • english side saddle • 14-18

multi-national champion W O R L D L E E

ha english show hack • ha english side saddle • 14-18 Christy Higman-Clements Training | www.chctrainingmiami.com

Ar abian Horse Times | 152 | Youth 2019

CHRISTY HIGMAN-CLEMENTS TRAINING www.chctrainingmiami.com

design by Brandy Phillips • photo by Lynn Parks

Ar abian Horse Times | 147 | Youth 2019

Christy Higman-Clements

by MARY KIRKMAN “Have fun, baby.” Decades after she first heard those words, they still echo in Christy Higman-Clements’ memory. It’s what her mother said to her every time she rode into the ring.

They are, perhaps, the critical asset—the patina on a formidable level of skill—that makes her one of the top trainers in the country for juvenile and amateur riders.

Her talent with horses has been obvious since she was a child (but not from the beginning; the first time she was put on a pony, at Fran and Richard Lee’s Gatewood Arabians in Miami, she burst into tears). “I’m sure they thought that never in a million years would I continue to ride, much less become a horse trainer,” she chuckles wryly.

But she came back for more. Five years later, at 12, she won her first national championship in open side saddle and nailed a reserve in amateur park (in Toronto 1983, there were no juvenile classes). In her youth, she rode with a succession of well-known trainers, including Fran Lee, Jim Fisher, Sally Shaw, and equitation instructors Sid Cassell, Linda Roberts, and Janet Barber. Before she was out of her teens, people on the south Florida circuit were asking her to work their horses and help with their riding.

From there on, it’s history. While maintaining freelance clients, Christy worked for Bob Battaglia, and Dorrie Lamb of Liz Langford Arabians, then went out on her own, specializing in the English divisions, a roster that includes nearly everything except western and halter. She now leases the barn once run by the Lees next door to her childhood home, and lives with her husband and children in the house where she grew up.

She doesn’t like to specify headline horses and clients; it’s too easy to overlook a name. “The horse that will always hold a special place in my heart is DS Justa Song, owned by Maile Aguila,” she offers instead. “And there have been so many special people in my life.” Even now, 30 years after she began, she remains in touch with most of them. That’s how deep the relationships ran.

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That also explains why the titles and successful clients, not to mention her own ribbons, are not at the heart of Christy Higman-Clements’ story. It’s how she lives her life—and does her job—that matters.

“I absolutely focus on the positives, not the negatives,” she says. Long ago, she watched another instructor whose teaching technique involved constant criticism. Riding better involves having mistakes pointed out, Christy nods, but who could love a barrage of negativity? “This is about building confidence and self-esteem, not tearing people down.” Her more supportive style is appreciated by adults, but it’s especially important for kids.

“These days kids put pressure on themselves not only to get straight A’s, but to ride well, to show and to win, to be thin,” she says.

“I want them to win as much as they do and their parents do, but I don’t want it to become such an issue for them. I try to instill the feeling that this is about having fun, having the experience of going to the shows and being with your friends from all over the country that you see only a handful of times a year. It’s about having a relationship with your horse and enjoying the ride.”

In 2018, that approach netted three U.S. National Championships, a reserve and top tens in open and amateur competition (Christy herself won both purebred and Half-Arabian Ladies’ Side Saddle English, historically a rare feat). At Youth Nationals, the team brought home five national championships and three reserves—and that’s from an operation that features only 15 training horses.

It’s not all roses, however. There is a lot of work involved.

“When I go to buy a horse for a child or an adult, I really work on seeing that it’s a good match,” Christy says. “I don’t think any child can ride any horse. I like them to match each other, not just the skill level, but the whole look. Then, I try to make my horses and riders polished and super consistent at a high level; that’s one reason so many of them excel at show hack. It’s a very consistent, polished division that demands a high level of skill.”

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At home, her riders learn horses, not just riding. From age 6 on, they get their horses ready before lessons and clean them up afterward (“the bonding with the animal is probably more important than the riding part of the lesson”). And at shows, they work on mental preparation as well (“envision your class—every gait, what you plan, what you’ll do”). Then, as they trot down the chute, Christy recalls her mother: “I tell all of them to take a big, deep breath, let all those butterflies fly out of their stomach, and just have fun.”

Looking back, she sees the foundation of her practice. “My mother was my greatest influence,” she says. “The morals and values she taught me, to be good to everybody and to be honest, to treat everyone the same, to work hard, play hard, love hard, and when you do something, to give it over 100 percent—that’s who I am.”

In fact, it was her mother who confirmed her decision to become a horse trainer. “My mom always said, ‘It doesn’t matter how much money you make, you need to do something that you love, that you are passionate about,’” she recalls. “‘That’s what will make you happy, and that’s all I care about.’”

Jon McCarthy photo

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It was when she took her first student, Kathy Barrow, to the inaugural Youth Nationals in 1989 that Christy knew her future for sure.

Barrow won a fistful of ribbons, and Christy never looked back (although she spent two hectic years pursuing a degree at Miami-Dade, training, instructing, and tending bar for extra cash). She laughs about those days. “I wasn’t going to be the richest person in the world, but I was probably going to be the happiest.” Kathy remains a dear friend, like family, and 30 years on, her nieces ride at CHC Training Center.

Christy also credits professional influences over the years. Sally Shaw, then training for Wright Arabians, gave her the opportunity as a teenager to work young horses, break them to side saddle, and show them (“That was huge; she guided me through that”). Janet Barber put her up on Saddlebreds to fine-tune her equitation skills, and on occasion now does clinics for CHC riders. And at Battaglia Farms, she began a friendship with Russ Vento that still, 10 years after Vento’s death, softens her voice. “I learned so much about the horse business from him. Russ was an amazing person; he left no stone unturned—if something could be better, that’s what he wanted it to be.”

In addition to her professional guides, Christy has a second-to-none personal support network. “I couldn’t do this without my husband, John,” she says flatly. “He thinks I’m the greatest. If everyone thought of me the way he does, I’d be good to go.” A retired K9 police officer, John came with an affinity for animals, and while he doesn’t ride, he is comfortable around the horses and an integral part of the operation. While his wife continues her career, he runs a boarding kennel from the facility her parents owned when she was a child.

They married in 1998, and welcomed their son Gage in 2001. Daughter Kylie followed in 2006.

It’s fair to ask, since she enjoyed success early in her career, what has changed over the years. Her sense of balance, she indicates. “I love the trophies,” she says, “but my kids, my family, put a whole new perspective on things.” Being a mother has contributed to what she has to offer, she observes. It helps her understand the challenges her young riders face in the 21st century.

Some things, however, remain the same. She recalls when her mother bought RC Bold Bruk, her first national champion, for her. Fran Lee called from a horse show to report that she had found the perfect horse for Christy. “How do you know she’ll like him?”

Mrs. Higman inquired.

“He has four legs and a tail!” Fran responded. “She’ll love him!”

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