Horse & Style Magazine February/March 2014

S T Y L E P R O F I L E S : W H AT D O E S T H E F O X S AY ?

A Day at the Office

Kent Farrington with

Barn Envy: Bluman Equestrian Rider Spotlight: Edwina Tops-Alexander . Behind the Seams: Der Dau

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

Ph. Tiziano Scaffai

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Riding Surfaces for Equestrian Athletes

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Silva Martin, Grand Prix Dressage Rider And Trainer Photogrpahy by AK DRAGOO

“Great footing arises from great passion.”

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88 78 48 A DAY AT THE OFFICE

Kent Farrington has worked his way to the top of the sport with hard work, meticulous habits, and a hell of a lot of talent. Join him during a day at his office.

40 RIDER SPOTLIGHT:

EDWINA TOPS-ALEXANDER

One of the globe’s most glamorous and successful riders sat down with H&S to reveal the bond with her horse of a lifetime, how she made it to the top, and what she enjoys most in life.

73 A LIFE WITH HORSES REBUILT

What do you do when everything you’ve worked for is swept away? Meet three sisters who pulled up their bootstraps to put the pieces back together.

30 BEHIND THE SEAMS: DER DAU

A time-old trade is new again with Der Dau, which has turned the craft of bootmaking into a true art passed down through generations.

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· www.horseandstylemag.com

34 MOTHER NATURE STEALS THE SHOW This year’s Trump Invitational was full of surprises, but when the skies opened up, the show went on thanks to the remarkable efforts of ESI Footing and Equestrian Sports Production.

88 BIT OF BLISS:

PATRICK SEATON & MARIO SANDOVAL Surrounded by his family and closest friends from the horse industry, California trainer Patrick Seaton enjoyed his day of bliss when marrying true love Mario Sandoval last fall in San Francisco.

78 BARN ENVY:

BLUMAN EQUESTRIAN

Olympic veteran Daniel Bluman’s new Florida base stands out in a sea of incredible barns. H&S was the first to get a peek at this stunning, contemporary facility.

contents

11 | FROM THE PUBLISHER 15 | 10 THINGS

Karen Healey

PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF

Sarah Appel

16 | OUT & ABOUT

sarah@horseandstylemag.com

18 | OUT & ABOUT

Erin Gilmore

Trump Invitational JustWorld Gala

20 | PROFESSIONAL POP QUIZ 22 | OUT & ABOUT

International Polo Club

25 | BETWEEN THE LINES

february | march

© 2014 HORSE&STYLE MAGAZINE

28 | NEW PRODUCT ALERT Equuleus Designs

32 | STYLE RIDER

Jan Humphrey

44 | LIFE OF PESSOA

The Gloves Are Off

46 | STYLE PROFILES

What Does the Fox Say?

55 | TREND REPORT

Beauteous Bows 60 | RIDER SPOTLIGHT Mattias Tromp

65 | THE RISE OF KIRA KERKORIAN 68 | THE BROOKE 76 | HORSE CORNER Piccolino

EDITOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Ryan Anne Polli

ADVERTISING & SALES

Elizabeth Davoll Alesandra Leckie

advertising@horseandstylemag.com

COPYEDITOR

Laura Danowski PHOTOGRAPHERS

Elena Lusenti, Jenny Harris, Cheval Photos, Erin Gilmore, Jeroboam Media, Phelps Media Group, LILA Photo, Noelle Floyd, Cathrin Cammett, Rudolph Tromp, Parker/The Book LLC, Emily Allongo, HITS Staff/Chelsea Dwinell for HITS Horse Shows, John Kennedy and Laura Salazar CONTRIBUTORS

Erin Gilmore, Katie Shoultz, Arden Cone, Alexa Pessoa, Winter Hoffman, Terri Roberson, Esther Hahn, Dr. Carrie Wicks, Cindy Rullman INTERN

Kerry Cavanaugh

85 | OUT & ABOUT HITS Ocala

87 | ASK CARRIE 90 | VENDOR SPOTLIGHT Hadfield’s Saddlery

95 | DEAR FASHIONISTA 96 | BEHIND THE LENS Elena Lusenti

100 | CAN YOU STAND IT?

ON THE COVER: Kent Farrington wears a Samshield helmet and a Team USA pinque hunt coat as he completes a round at FTI WEF. Photo ©Elena Lusenti

Horse & Style Magazine is a Hunter Jumper publication published bi-monthly and distributed FREE by Horse & Style Magazine LLC from coast to coast at hunter jumper horse shows, large training centers and participating tack shops. The written and visual contents of this magazine are protected by copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is legally prohibited.

Copyright © 2014 Horse & Style Magazine LLC. TM

Haute Hermès

www.horseandstylemag.com ·

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CONTRIBUTORS

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Erin Gilmore

Alexa Pessoa

Carrie Wicks, Ph.D.

Erin Gilmore is a freelance writer and equestrian journalist based in Wellington, Florida. She has worked in equestrian media since 2002, and is a frequent contributor to regional and national equestrian magazines.

A lifelong horseperson, she trained hunter/ jumpers, spent time on the international show jumping circuit, and worked in a variety of disciplines, from polo to dressage.

Alexa is an American rider from Connecticut who married Olympic Gold Medalist and Three Time FEI Rolex World Cup Finals Champion Rodrigo Pessoa in 2009. Her monthly column for H&S charts her life as a mother to their daughter Sophia, as a rider, and as a wife to one of the world’s most high profile show jumpers. For more stories on Alexa’s travels, follow her blog www.mousemakesthree.wordpress.com.

Dr. Carrie Wicks divides her time between her private sport psychology consulting and family therapy practice, traveling with athletes, and writing. She recently completed her doctorate in psychology while researching the mental practices of equestrian athletes. Dr. Carrie’s passions include horses, yoga, mountain biking, skiing, and time in nature with animals.

Katie Shoultz

Terri Roberson

Winter Hoffman

Katie Shoultz is a freelance writer and photographer based in Lexington, Kentucky.

The business savvy writer is also the founder of Isidore Farm, a premier hunter/jumper facility in beautiful Kentucky. Katie is involved with several equine organizations and is active in the industry she most enjoys writing about.

A licensed clinical psychologist, Terri Roberson combines her passion for horses with her clinical work in equine-assisted psychotherapy.

She currently sits on the board of Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center. Spending over 25 years on the horse show circuit has given her an eye for equestrian style and provides constant inspiration for her frequent contributions to H&S.

With a background in filmmaking, fashion and contemporary art, Winter Hoffman brings a unique perspective to the equestrian world. A lifelong horsewoman, she helped her daughter, Zazou Hoffman, navigate her way to a successful Junior career, including the 2009 ASPCA Maclay Equitation Championship at the National Horse Show and second in the USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final with East Coast trainers Missy Clark and John Brennan.

Arden Cone

Esther Hahn

Arden Cone, a South Carolina-based artist and writer, grew up riding on the hunter/ jumper circuit for her parents’ Windbrook Farm. While pursuing her studies at Hollins University in Roanoke, VA, she rode as a member of her school’s intercollegiate team.

She graduated in 2012 with degrees in Studio Art and Spanish, as well as a strong passion for the aesthetics of written language.

Raised in Los Angeles, California, Esther Hahn trained in the hunter/jumper discipline while juggling a full-time surfing career.

After graduating from Yale University, Esther traveled the world, writing as a surf journalist.

She now resides in San Francisco, freelance writing and blogging at Le Surf SF. She continues to surf and to ride horses.

· february/march

INFO@ASMAREQUESTRIAN.COM 1 800 772 1408 NOEL ASMAR BRAND DIVISIONS: ASMAR EQUESTRIAN. UNIFORMS. BOWLS AND ACCESSORIES. RESORT. FITNESS. ASMAREQUESTRIAN.COM

FROMthepublisher

In It to Win It

...always remember what it felt like to be number one, even if it was just for the day or just in that one class, because you never know when the next win will come!

Above: Sarah Appel with her daughter Ella, after a successful first outing in the lead line.

Photo ©Jenny Harris

Let’s face it. If you had never won a class at a horse show, you probably wouldn’t continue to show. Whether it’s being the first to step forward in a line-up to collect your win, or seeing that you had the fastest time as you gallop through the timers in a jump off, the moment of victory erases every bad round, missed distance or fall.

We all have a victory dance; a simple pat on your horse’s neck, throwing your entire body around his neck, a fist pump to the crowd, or the everso-famous move of pointing to your horse as you gallop around the arena.

Nothing feels better than being on top, and no matter what age or division, we are all “in it to win it!”

familiar with the winner’s circle.

Young rider Kira Kerkorian has quite a few firsts under her belt, with many more to come (page 65.) And we ask Mattias Tromp, another talented young rider, who has helped him along the way as he works toward a professional career (page 60.)

This winter, my two-year-old daughter rode in her first lead line class at my barn’s schooling show. Of course I knew that they were going to all tie for first place, but it still made me bite my lip to keep from tearing up when she got her very first blue ribbon! Maybe it was because I knew this could be the first win of a shared passion between the two of us, or because she had an entourage of ten family members on the rail cheering her on, but it was as big of a memory as the first time I placed in a grand prix.

Back in the U.S., H&S contributor Katie Shoultz discovered the story of three sisters who re-built their barn in the heart of Louisiana after hurricane Katrina. Read about how hard work, sweat equity and love can re-build a business and a dream (page 73.)

Speaking of great accomplishments, what does it feel like to be number one in our sport? For this issue’s cover story, H&S Editor Erin Gilmore got to find out when she sat down with #1 USEF-ranked rider Kent Farrington, who was fresh off his win at the Trump Invitational and just about to launch into a busy winter season of showing (page 48.)

In a world far away from worrying about ribbons and wins, we introduce you to The Brooke, a London-based organization that works to improve the welfare of working equines in developing countries around the globe. It’s the kind of story that will make you sit back for a moment and reassess your own priorities (page 68.)

It’s not always about the win and the ribbon. But whether you hang each horse show ribbon in your room, toss them aside, or like me, leave them crumpled in your tack trunk with the best intention of ironing and framing them later, always remember what it felt like to be number one, even if it was just for the day or just in that one class, because you never know when the next win will come!

Happy Showing!

In this issue we catch up with a few up and coming riders who are well

february/march ·

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Diamante Farms • Indian Mound: Pr oper ty featur es a gated entr ance, gr and dr iveway with cir cular drive and fountain. The barn has 21 stalls, 1 covered ring and 1 exposed ring, both with mirrors and pavilions.

Multiple tack, laundry, feed rooms and wash stalls. Plenty of room for trailer and RV parking on the west side of the property. Located minutes from the horse show grounds. Offered at $6,500,000 Firm Jordan Hayman • Phone +1 561-315-3889 • Fax +1 561-791-2221 www.jordanhayman.evusa.com • Wellington, Florida • Jordan.Hayman@evusa.com

Palm Beach Polo • Bent Cypress: Unbelievable home with plenty of privacy. The recently renovated home is located on the largest lot in Bent Cypress. The property has gorgeous golf and lake views. Large sliding glass doors open the homes living space to the marble pool area and outdoor gas fireplace. Offered at $2,500,000

Palm Beach Polo • Bent Cypress: Fully fur nished courtyard home overlooks a lake and golf course. 4 bedrooms 4.5 bathrooms in main house and 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom in guest house. The home has been recently decorated and features and marvelous heated pool and spa.

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Palm Beach Polo • Kensington: Magnificent 11,000 squar e foot estate home in Palm Beach Polo. This home has every upgrade and has been completely renovated. Great master suite on ground floor, 5 guest bedrooms, 4 located on the second floor and 7 full bathrooms. The property has a gorgeous golf course view and pool area great for entertaining. Available for seasonal rent. Offered at $4,750,000

Jordan Hayman • Phone +1 561-315-3889 • Fax +1 561-791-2221 www.jordanhayman.evusa.com • Wellington, Florida • Jordan.Hayman@evusa.com

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10things 10 things you might not know about...

Karen Healey

She’s the go-to equitation trainer on the West Coast, known for her uncanny ability to mold up and coming riders into proven riders, year after year, medal final after medal final. When she’s not standing at the ring during a competition, peering out from under her ubiquitous sun visor and coaching her students at the ingate, she’s putting them through the paces at Whitethorne Ranch, the home base of Karen Healey Stables in Somas, California. In her spare time Healey serves on the USEF Developing Riders Committee, the Hunter Taskforce, USHJA Equitation Taskforce, and a slew of others. Is she an overachiever? Absolutely. Do you think you know everything about her? Read on:

1. She is a gourmet cook who overcompensates by always making too much food!

2. She thinks she’s Martha Stewart at Christmas time!

3. She enjoys Christmas shopping for little kids.

4. She thinks Rome would have been built in a day if she had been there.

5. Not only does she love theatre, she enjoys singing along (badly.)

6. One day she wants to retire to Africa.

7. She pushes her dog around in a baby carriage.

8. She reads constantly.

9. She loves the original Two and a Half Men.

10.

Don’t tell the horses, but she is the world’s worst dog trainer. Definitely the weakest member of the pack.

Photo ©Cheval Photo

february/march ·

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OUT&about $

125,000 TRUMP INVITATIONAL GRAND PRIX CSI2*, PRESENTED BY ROLEX – PALM BEACH ISLAND, FLORIDA

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1. Carrie Stanton soaks up some fleeting sunshine 2. ESP President Michael Stone and Sydney Bauman 3. Brianne Goutal looks happy and relaxed during an AM hack 4. Donald Trump congratulates the winners during the press conference 5. A picture-perfect VIP 6. Christophe De Pous, President of Gucci North America 7. The entrance to the VIP was flanked by topiary horses modeled after Laura Kraut’s Cedric 8. Paige Bellissimo

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Photos ©Erin Gilmore

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9. Hunter Hayes performs 10. Palm Beachers turned out en force 11. Katie Prudent arrives to the poolside reception 12. Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, Hunter Hayes, Donald Trump, Georgina Bloomberg, and Paige and Catherine Bellissimo listen to Mark Bellissimo speak prior to the class 13. Jimmy Torano shared commentating duties with Frank Madden 14. Rider and performer Ki-Juan Minors sung the National Anthem 15. Quentin Judge walks the course 16. H&S Most Intriguing Equestrian of 2013 Bobby Murphy (in hat) pow wows with show officials 17. Sheila Johnson

february/march 路

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OUT&about

11 TH ANNUAL JUSTWORLD INTERNATIONAL GALA – WELLINGTON, FL

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1. Red was the color of the Chinese Year of the Horse-themed night 2. Canadian rider Angela Covert with course designer Guilherme Jorge 3. The team from Horseware Ireland 4. California girls Paris Sellon and Hannah Selleck were reunited in Wellington 5. Sophia Gracida, Ben Maher, and Amy Carr 6. Melissa and Dylan MacNamara 7. The mysterious Tal Goldstein (right) with Kendall Beirer and Zain Rehman 8. JustWorld Ambassador Daniel Bluman speaks to the crowd 9. Cute couple Laura Kraut and Nick Skelton 10. JustWorld International Founder Jessica Newman 11. The erstwhile trio of Nic Roldan, Kris Kampsen, and Brandon Phillips 12. Ali Epstein and Ronit Adler sparkle and shine

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Photos ©Jeroboam Media and Phelps Media Group

· february/march

PROpopquiz THIS MONTH’S QUESTION: If you had $1 million dollars to spend on a horse, would you buy a young and unproven, but promising prospect, or an experienced horse competing at the top level?

Every issue, a new question will be answered by hunter/ jumper professionals.

Have a question you want answered? Send it to sarah@horseandstylemag.com

“I have always enjoyed the process of bringing along young horses and seeing how they evolve with careful, systematic training. I find it very rewarding. However, since I am getting beyond my prime, I think I would buy the experienced horse so I could have another chance in the grand prix ring.”

Lucie Wharton, Whileaway Farm - Petaluma, CA “I do love bringing along a promising young horse, but there is nothing like riding an experienced horse that knows his job!”

Sandra Dalman, Southview Inc. - Wellington, FL “If I had $1 million dollars I would spend it on a young talented horse to develop to turn into a top jumper.”

Callie Schott, River Mountain Farm - Lexington, KY “I would probably go with the younger horse, but it depends on the track record of the one that is proven. If the proven horse just had average results, I’d go with the younger horse in the hopes that it could develop into a World Cup Finals, Olympic type of horse.”

Scott Lico, Scott Lico Stables, Moorpark, CA

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1. Jessica Cockerill, Jessica MacFarland, Patricia Arruza, Jacqui Cairone, Lauren Vogel and Kathleen Gannon show off their Sunday whites 2. The boys club: Travis Howe, Chad Johnson, Anthony Abbatielo, Mario Nievera 3. Laura Herman and Anna Hess accessorize the look 4. Sipping in style at the new, fieldside Veuve Cliquot airstream lounge 5. Lauren Duffy of Piaget with John Wash, President of IPC 6. Randie Dalia distributes awards to Julio Arellano of the Coca-Cola team Photos ©LILA Photo

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BETWEENthelines Since the Days of Romans Geoff Tucker, DVM TAG Publishing, LLC, 220 pages

$19.95

Written by someone who should write more, Dr. Geoff Tucker’s Since the Days of Romans derails what we assume is the trodden path to becoming an equine vet.

The winding tale keeps you turning pages as the animal characters become welcomed mentors and providers of life-lessons.

Tucker’s wry wit and common sense is entwined throughout his journey. From diagnosing and resolving his learning disability, to challenging and changing equine protocol at Cornell, the story is testament to observation, attitude and doing the right thing.

A soft-toned reminder for equine practitioners and warm insight for animal enthusiasts, the story is one you don’t want to see end.

Thrown Colette Auclair

Simon & Schuster/Amazon, 320 pages

$5.45 on Kindle Romantic fiction with an equestrian theme gets a fun new twist in this novel, which follows trainer Amanda Vogel from the swampy horse country of Florida to a private barn in Aspen, Colorado. Traumatized by a recent accident, Amanda seeks escape by accepting a job of private trainer to a Hollywood movie star’s two young daughters.

You guessed it, the star is single, handsome, and has the hots for Amanda.

But both characters are carrying hefty loads of their own baggage, and as they navigate through various dramas and horse-related mishaps, the layers (both physical and psychological) start to come off.

Thrown weaves horses into the story with a practiced tone, and the accuracy of equine knowledge and horse people adds to the plot. For a fun, entertaining read, be sure to pick-up this debut novel

by Colette Auclair.

H

NEWproductalert

By Esther Hahn

Equuleus Designs Bespoke clothing and accessories befit the equestrian lifestyle.

Equine enthusiasts who make a habit of monogramming stirrup leathers and tall boots or adding nameplates to bridles and stalls can now personalize clothes, tech accessories, pillows and everything else in between with the likeness of their prized steed (or steeds).

West Coasters may already be famliar with Equuleus Designs, the sartorial brainchild of former barnmates Larissa McCalla and Jenny Harris. Equuleus uses photographs to create images on fabrics and materials that are then cut into the perfect statement pieces.

The brand’s foundation is ultimately built on an appreciation for equestrian sports and lifestyle. Equuleus, which means “little foal” in Latin, is a constellation found near Pegasus. In the theme of connecting the dots, it is the shared horse bond between McCalla and Harris that keeps the business partnership strong.

McCalla competed in three-day eventing with a Quarter Horse. After a stint away from riding while studying law at Arizona State, she felt an absence in her life. When she settled in Jackson, Wyoming, working as an attorney, McCalla purchased a Thoroughbred. She went on to show in the equitation and jumper divisions with her two horses. While ringside from Thermal to Woodside, McCalla would write her legal briefs, always searching for a creative outlet that would tie into her amateur equestrian pursuits.

Harris’ horse history also began at an early age. She worked for John Deleyer as a groom and rider, jumped in Virginia, wrangled in Wyoming, earned her British Horse Society certification at the Yorkshire Riding Academy, and showed in the jumpers in California. It was on the Northern California circuit that she discovered her natural talent and instinct for photography. Harris developed her craft under the tutelage of friends (some from her former career in advertising) and from classes at the San Francisco Photography Studio.

McCalla describes her partner as having “great insight” to capture the “esoteric, nuanced moments of riding horses.”

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THE EQUINE IMAGE

With Harris’ talent recognized, McCalla saw the unique opportunity to marry her fashion enthusiasm with Harris’ art. McCalla found inspiration from Stella McCartney’s Chloé 2001 Ready-to-Wear collection that splashed the horses from George Stubbs’ and Théodore Géricault’s paintings across drapey dresses, flowing tops and structured jackets. Converging the women’s interests and bringing the equestrian-fashion concept into the digitized era, they conceptualized Equuleus Designs in 2012, and the first products dropped in June 2013.

McCalla and Harris credit a few factors for the successful reception of their brand. They point to knowing trends and a background in showing on the circuit as the key to easily integrating into the customer base. Focus groups within equestrian and fashion circles also helped them to understand the general demand.

The streamlined process of ordering a custom piece, whether a dress or an iPhone cover, begins with a photograph. Either provided by the customer or taken by Harris, the digital photograph is then edited in accordance to the look and feel decided on by the customer and Equuleus. They then present several possibilities (referred to as “comps”) are presented, and the final product is shipped as early as 48 hours later and up to 4-6 weeks for apparel orders.

To begin the process, Harris recommends contacting the brand via email after viewing the available options on the website.

Equuleus works in creative partnership with a seamstress in Marin, CA and producers in Wyoming to oversee quality and to “keep it local” in the United States. Harris identifies working with horse show photographers as an ongoing project for the brand. The collaborative relationship benefits both parties with transparent fees for photo usage.

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The most popular items are customized pillows, messenger bags and tech covers. But the clothes are on the rise as buyers realize that the A-line cuts truly flatter the figure and are suitable for all body types. “Women are wearing the dresses out to the grand prix or the classic at shows,” says Harris. And for parties, McCalla pinpoints the style coup won when a customer walks into a party knowing no one else will be wearing the same outfit.

“Plus, it’s a conversation starter -- horse people are drawn to the clothes,” McCalla further explains.

Future plans include expansion to the Southern California and Canadian show circuits and hosting trunk shows on the East Coast. Animals will always be the featured artwork.

“There’s something very evocative about animals,” McCalla says. Eventually, McCalla and Harris aim to work with large, luxury retailers and to be present across the equestrian sport worlds (Equuleus products are already infiltrating the western, dressage, horse racing and Arabian disciplines). But as the business streamlines and expands, McCalla and Harris will always remain immersed in the process, forever tied to their creative outlets in their lifetime journeys with horses.

Opposite page: Kayleigh Mattoon, Larissa McCalla and Jenny Haris sport Equuleus ‘wear’ at the Giant Steps Gala at Sonoma Horse Park.

Photo by Drew Altizer Photography; Porter poses in front of a customer requested pillow featuring his likeness in black and white.

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BEHINDtheseams

by Arden Cone

A master shoe cobbler works quietly on a strange machine of a bygone industrial era. A secondgeneration worker hammers countless nails into a single shoe. Anyone could say that it’s an art of the past, or even, a dying art. But they are master shoe cobblers. Some stitch, some cut, and some finish. Their trade is an ancient one. And their devotion to it is uncommon, nearly sacred.

This is the outline of Der Dau, a 56-year-old boot manufacturing company. It follows a tradition of perfectionism established by Jose Der, founder of the Brooklyn, New York-based company. But it wouldn’t be a story without a twist.

What happens when a dying art comes face to face with innovation? It either shrivels away or becomes strengthened by the ideas of a new era.

With a background in fashion and the ambition required to lead the boot industry in style and performance, it was Joseph Der who asked this of his father’s company.

A S O L I D S TA R T

What Der Dau is today stems from the Cuban tradition of boot making, which Jose mastered under the guidance of his uncle. He immigrated to the United States in the 1940s with nothing more than the skill of making boots and the determination to make a life. A Cuban immigrant turned American dreamer, he began his own boot making company. “Morales,” as it was then called, was the genesis of Der Dau. Joseph, now CEO of Der Dau, has the utmost respect for his father’s ardor. He remarked of Jose, “Not only is he my best friend, father, and mentor, but he is a class act.” At 87-years-old, Jose Der still imparts his wisdom to his son.

From its humble beginnings, Der Dau has ascended to become a top name in equestrian boots. They make a custom boot that fits like a glove. Their top-of-the-line riding boots, crafted Left: The master blocker carefully shapes the boot leather to the measurements of the leg.

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from the highest grade of leather, are known for their comfort and durability. The boot is a tool for a rider, and the likes of Ian Miller, Margie Engle, and Debbie Stephens—true celebrities of show jumping sport—have put their trust in Der Dau. There is always room for improvement. Joseph had a vision to take the company, and its age-old craft, to the forefront of design and functionality. With the utmost passion, Joseph has constantly sought to perfect the riding boot. He says, “We’re always making it better and better. If anyone can make a boot to last a lifetime, I’m going to be the first to do it.”

Getting feedback from riders has been crucial to this quest. Under Joseph’s leadership, Der Dau has gained more and more awareness of the needs and desires of its market. The input from customers— from people like you and me—has changed the riding boot as we know it. It has been tweaked, tailored, and downright reinvented.

THE PARADIGM SHIFT

Der Dau’s Dream Boot was the first transformation. For countless decades, riding boots were made out of French calf leather. Boots made from this material were hardy and could last riders for up to 30 or 40years. But those were the days when breaking in boots meant blisters, band-aids, and endless inventive remedies for the biting pain of stiff leather against skin.

Fortunately, we no longer have to tolerate that. It became the industry standard to make boots out of baby calf leather, a much softer leather.

For what we gained in comfort, however, we lost in durability. Calf leather boots can only stand-up to about four years of use. Over time, the constant rubbing of the boot against the saddle and side of horse will wear out the leather on the inside of the calf.

Der Dau’s approach to customer awareness paid off. Riders voiced their problems, so Der Dau kicked into action and invented what is now their top-selling product, The Dream Boot. Joseph is especially proud of this product because, he says, “It gives the customer the best of both worlds.” It is made of baby calf leather for softness, but it has a panel of durable French calf leather on the inner part of the calf.

This was only the start. The Dream Boot has undergone more revisions throughout the years. Each new model does a little more to perfect the boot and solve riders’ problems. For example, in order to help riders gain a better grip without using harmful stick sprays, they created The Dream 2- Grip Boot, employing a radical design of rubber pellets on the inner calf. Next came a boot with smooth rubber on the outside. Then came the latest model, which is a smooth rubber reinforced with fiberglass mesh.

The horse world is a traditional one, but it has embraced Der Dau’s position on the vanguard of function and fashion. Der Dau was the first to make color, crystals, and exotic skins available to riders. Their snakeskin, and crocodile skin trimmed boots might as well have walked straight from the runway into the show ring.

Joseph’s experience accommodating celebrity and Broadway stars has caught up with the show world, and a wild mixture of fashion and sport has ensued. It only takes a little creativity to breach the two worlds. Why not use the stretch leather from leggings to make tightfitting half chaps? Why not use laser technology to emboss initials on products? Why not add a little Broadway bling to a fine pair of boots?

This is what we call a spirit of innovation.

The fashionable take on the modern boot is a trendy one, yet, if you look in the background, you’ll still find a shoe cobbler, working silently at his trade.

Top: The master cutter selects the finest parts of the skin for the initial cutout of the boot.

Above: Joseph with father and Der Dau founder, Jose Der

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31

STYLErider

Jan Humphrey She may have seen the best of Europe from the back of a horse, but 25-year-old California girl, professional rider and beauty pageant star Jan Humphrey is happiest to have landed back home on the West Coast to launch her own business and work alongside a Team USA gold medalist.

After spending the latter half of her junior years riding with her sister, World Cup Finals veteran Jill Humphrey and trainer Rudy Leone in Sacramento, CA, Jan turned professional and traveled to Europe. The

Horse & Style: Describe your riding style: Jan Humphrey: My riding style is the classic show look,

with a contemporary influence of tighter fitting styles and a little bling when I can get away with it!

H&S: What is your head-to-toe riding outfit?

JH: I wear a Samshield Matte Black helmet, Grand Prix

Jacket, ROMFH shirts to stay cool, Ariat “Olympia” breeches, Freejump Boots and half chaps, and complete it with my MDC stirrups!

H&S: Do you wear anything for good luck?

JH: I always wear a necklace when riding. But last year

in the Netherlands I was wearing a beautiful diamond necklace while riding a young horse, and it got caught in a piece of tack. It broke and fell into the footing. After searching for quite some time with many people, and having no luck finding it, I decided to be a bit wiser with my necklace selection!

H&S: What are your favorite equestrian brands?

JH: Freejump Boots and chaps are my absolute favorite

when it comes to footwear! They are functional and stylish, yet they are so comfortable you feel as though you are walking in tennis shoes all day. I love Grand Prix show jackets because the fabric is not only stretchy and light, so they fit each body type perfectly and keep you cool while showing in the sun, but they are also machine washable!

Bruno Delgrange and MDC are by far my favorites for providing quality saddles and stirrups!

H&S: How would you describe your non-horse show style?

JH: Non-horse style? The only time I’m not in riding clothes is when I’m sleeping!! However, having competed in beauty pageants for a number of years, when I’m not in riding attire, I enjoy attending events for which I can dress up for an evening of glitz and glamour.

H&S: What have been your biggest accomplishments as a rider?

JH: This last year has been an incredible accomplishment

for me not only as a rider, but as an overall horsewoman.

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University of California, Davis grad spent a year working in Germany for Katharina Offel and Jochen Scherer, and later rode for Alan Waldman in The Netherlands. It was at Stal Waldman that she got the itch to begin buying and selling horses, and in 2013 she developed her own sales business: JH Sporthorses. Now working alongside Olympian Will Simpson as the private trainers for Monarch International and the Heidegger Family, Humphrey is looking forward to life at Monarch International’s new Malibu facility, as well as importing a small number of quality horses from Europe.

I was blessed as a rider to work alongside Will Simpson, and am also thrilled with the success I’ve had in this first year of having my own horse sales company. I am so grateful that these two jobs are able to coincide with one another, allowing me to travel the world training, riding, competing, shopping and dealing.

H&S: What are your riding goals for the future?

JH: My direct goals, in this industry, are to always keep an open mind and learn something new everyday from the incredible horsemen and horsewomen by which I’m surrounded. I feel that in doing this, I will be that much closer to any riding or dealing goals I set for myself throughout my career.

H&S: If you weren’t a rider, what would your dream profession be?

JH: Having graduated from UC Davis

with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Anthropology, I intended on becoming a veterinarian before the horse show fever got the best of me. If I weren’t riding, I would either be an equine veterinarian or a forensic anthropologist.

H&S: Who has been the most influential in your riding career?

JH: It’s impossible to narrow my

influences to one person, as I have been blessed with so many incredible role models throughout my career. My sister, Jill Humphrey, has been instrumental in my riding career since day one. Rudy Leone gave me so many incredible opportunities when I was transitioning from hunters/equitation to jumpers at the end of my junior career. In 2012, I was lucky enough to spend time with Alan Waldman, trying to soak up every bit of his talents as a rider, horseman and businessman. I now have the honor of working with Will, an experience that always keeps me laughing and learning!

H&S: What is the one thing you never go in the ring without?

JH: I never go in the ring without a

positive attitude… and spurs! In my eyes, both are essential components in completing the proper riding attire.

Opposite page: Humphrey and Warrant, a new addition to the Monarch International roster.

Photo ©Cathrin Cammett

Mother Nature

Steals the Show INCLEMENT WEATHER CREATED TESTING CONDITIONS AT THE EXCLUSIVE TRUMP INVITATIONAL Story and photos by Erin Gilmore

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Clockwise from left: galloping through the rain; before the competition started; VIP-goers take shelter.

The late-morning sun shone down onto sparkling blue water that lapped softly against Florida’s Palm Beach Island, creating a soothing backdrop for the perfectly manicured green field, set with an array of beautiful show jumping obstacles. Underneath a large L-shaped tent, hundreds of golden, straight-backed chairs were perfectly aligned at tables set with fine china and fresh flowers. The setting could not have been more perfect.

show jumping; it was too soft, too loose, and by the end of the class, so torn up that it bordered on unsafe.

It didn’t last. At the 2nd Annual $125,000 Trump Invitational Grand Prix CSI2*, presented by Rolex on January 5th, one and all learned that no one can control the weather, not even Donald Trump. But despite a severe turn in conditions that could only be described as “memorable,” the competition was able to continue, due in large part to the preparation that event organizer Equestrian Sport Productions, and Trump himself committed to a full year in advance.

Trump kept his word, and in case anyone was to be in doubt of the true integrity of the footing, Mother Nature decided to pose a thorough test.

When the Trump Invitational debuted in 2013, it marked the first time an equestrian event had ever been held just off the coast of West Palm Beach, on tony Palm Beach Island. The famous Mar-A-Lago estate, built by Marjorie Merriweather Post in 1927, is a National Historic landmark and was used as a private residence until 1995, when Trump cultivated it into an exclusive club.

And last January, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect for a show jumping event on the club’s sweeping lawn, with bright sunshine and temperatures in the high 70s. But the Mar-A-Lago field was unprepared for the demands of

THE WEATHER TURNS

Immediately after the class last year, Trump assured the assembled press that not only would show jumping return to Mar-A-Lago in 2014, he would personally see that footing conditions improved.

This year, with the drive dotted by six-digit sports cars, a long red carpet welcoming guests from the Mar-A-Lago mansion to the VIP tents, and elite show jumpers grazing at the end of their halters on the lawn, the stunning oceanside grounds were once again transformed for the Invitational.

Early on, the weather played along. But as the start time for the class drew near, white and puffy clouds began to turn dark and ominous.

The rain held off as event co-chair Georgina Bloomberg made remarks and Grammy-nominated singer Hunter Hayes performed before the class. But by the time the second rider was on course, light showers had begun to fall, and only became heavier throughout the afternoon. While several riders decided to scratch, 26 of the world’s best stuck it out and an impressive seven pairs jumped clear in the first round.

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Kent Farrington, who is profiled on page XX of this issue, won the 2013 Trump Invitational and returned to pick up victory again in 2014, this time with Robin Parsky’s 12-year-old Anglo-European bred mare Blue Angel.

“Could you imagine if we had last year’s turf with this weather? Do you think we would have survived?” Trump asked Farrington after the class.

“No chance,” Farrington responded. “No chance.”

Farrington and the light-footed Blue Angel confidently galloped over the shortened jumpoff track at a speed that no other pair could match. Candice King and Kismet 50 also jumped double clear for second place, and Todd Minikus finished 3rd with Uraguay, owned by Legacy Stables LLC. “I am usually one to go double-clean and not so fast. I was going last, so I wanted to really put it all out there as best I could. I knew I could go as quick as I safely could on this footing and in the rain,” said King, whose mount is owned by Mark Bellissimo. “That is a testament to the new footing put in, and we are riders are really appreciative for our horses, and our safety.

The weather doesn’t get worse than this, but the arena and this setting are fantastic.”

H A R D W O R K P AY S O F F

Shortly after the 2013 Trump Invitational, Florida-based Equestrian Services International, LLC. was contracted to install equine-specific turf footing.

With work that began a full seven months before the 2014 Invitational, ESI reshaped the existing field, added drainage and a mixed sand base, and grew the turf into the sand arena.

This page top: Winners Kent Farrington and Blue Angel This page, bottom: This photo from July 2013 shows Equestrian Services International hard at work installing the permanent turf field.

Opposite page: McLain Ward and Rothchild leave the ring during the downpour.

Brett Raflowitz, President and CEO of ESI, was confident that the new, permanent turf field, built to accommodate the demands of show jumping, would hold-up well for the 2014 Invitational. But when the weather turned, even he started to worry.

“Lets just say that when that type of rain moved in, it made me quite nervous,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how much you do to prepare, when it rains that much you’re going to have an issue. There was so much water that it was flowing in sheets off the surface. But come the end (of the class,) I could not believe how well it held up. It exceeded my expectations.”

Impressively, the VIP tents remained full as wind and rain created monsoonlike conditions for the duration of the afternoon. At $1,750 a plate, the exclusive event served as both a kickoff party for the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, and a fundraiser to support the FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments. The FTI GCC has raised over $4.2 million since 2010 to benefit Palm Beach County nonprofits. More than 400 local charities applied for a chance to be one of the 34 participants chosen to participate in the FTI GCC; eight of those charities were randomly selected at the Trump Invitational.

ESP President Mark Bellissimo, who created the Trump Invitational in partnership with Trump, sung the praises of all involved, including several hefty new sponsors. In addition to Rolex, fashion house Gucci had a presence at the event, marking its continued support of show jumping in the United States.

Photo courtesy ESI

2014 also saw the addition of a Junior/Amateur Speed invitational (admirably won by Cloe Hymowtiz and Bon Vivant) that will return next year, giving up and coming riders the opportunity to compete in an amazing setting.

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“I am very excited about this class, and I think that it will grow in stature each year,” Bellissimo said. “I don’t think I have seen rain as significant as that in January, and to see the riders take very significant horses into the ring and ride in the conditions we had is a testament to the great footing.”

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There was so much water that it was flowing in sheets off the surface. But come the end (of the class,) I could not believe how well it held up. It exceeded my expectations.

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RIDERspotlight

By Erin Gilmore

Edwina Tops-Alexander To know Edwina Tops-Alexander is to know the very highest level of show jumping. Recognized around the world as a two-time Olympic veteran and Global Champions Tour Series Champion, she has achieved more in her 40 years than most riders can hope to accomplish in a lifetime. She is an international superstar who in 2006 became the first Australian rider in history to qualify for the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany (she in the individual top four.)

She’s a dedicated rider who’s been blessed with a long and successful partnership with the legendary Cevo Itot du Chateua, still going strong at 18 years of age.

She’s one half of a power-couple partnership, the other half being her husband, the Dutch horse dealer, trainer, show producer and driving force behind the Global Champions Tour, Jan Tops.

In recent years, she’s become one of the few riders to achieve crossover recognition, due to her sponsorship

by Gucci. With her blond hair and striking features, she is a fitting muse for the house of Gucci, which designed an exclusive equestrian wardrobe just for her. She in turn named one of her horses “Guccio” in honor of the iconic brand.

Edwina Tops-Alexander is many things, including humble, approachable and gracious. When Horse & Style asked to pick her brain on subjects ranging from her earliest mentor to where she spends her down time, she was happy to comply.

Horse & Style: Describe what motivated you to work your

way up from the bottom when you arrived in Europe for the first time in 1998.

Edwina Tops-Alexander: I saw how professional the sport was when I arrived and I was fascinated by it. I realized that I had a long way to go and that I had so much to learn. It was a big challenge, but I love challenges.

H&S: Who or what was most influential on the early part of your career in Australia?

ETA: I had a trainer who was a real horseman, who

showed me a different side of understanding the character of horses. His name was John McCraeth and he taught me so much. He always said I would get to the Olympics, and I wanted him to see me there one day. He was the first person who gave me confidence in myself.

I was about 14 when I met him and his kids rode, but were never very keen so I think he was happy to share his knowledge with me.

H&S: Do you keep close ties with your family at home in Australia?

ETA: Yes I speak to my parents a lot and they visit me at

least once a year. Luckily there is a lot of live streaming so they can follow everything.

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H&S: With yours and Jan’s business at Valkenswaard and your show schedule, how do you find any down time for yourself?

ETA: We actually live in Monaco, but travel a lot as I compete about 48 weekends a year. When we are in Monaco, it is my time to relax because there are no horses around us. I enjoy eating out and being in a city. Although Monaco is small, it reminds me a lot of Sydney with the weather so I’m very fortunate.

H&S: How would you describe the relationship between you and Jan? ETA: We are very fortunate that we understand each other very well and we share the same passion. We both love what we do and we are very lucky to have each other.

H&S: In many ways, Cevo Itot du Chateau has been the

horse that helped you become a star. How do you feel about your run with him?

ETA: I’m extremely lucky that I found a perfect match in my career. Not many riders ever have had a horse like this and without Itot and the management from Jan I wouldn’t ever have had this success. Itot has a very positive attitude and he loves competing and therefore we fit very well together. We have a very special relationship and it started from the first day I rode him. There is a lot of trust and respect on both sides.

H&S: What qualities do you look for when shopping for your next prospect?

ETA: Good attitude, sharpness at the fence and elasticity

of the body.

H&S: What would you count as your greatest achievement thus far?

ETA: Winning the Global Champions Tour Series, two years in a row.

H&S: Tell us how the sponsorship with Gucci came about.

What does their support mean to you?

ETA: I met Frida through Charlotte Cassiraghi, who I competed with in some team events, and then Gucci approached me. They were looking for a professional rider. I’m very fortunate to have a luxury brand supporting me, and to bring some glamour back into our sport is fantastic. Gucci has strong equestrian roots and I think it’s fantastic that they are becoming more involved in the sport.

H&S: How would you describe your style out of the saddle?

ETA: Sporty, classic and comfortable. I love fashion but I don’t necessarily follow the trends. I think as you get to know yourself, you find a style that you’re comfortable with, and I’ve learnt that when you feel good, you look good.

H&S: What are your goals for the next 20 years?

ETA: I wish I knew myself!! Of course I would like to

win many grands prix, and to be healthy and enjoy life.

Staying positive is the key to my success so whatever I’m doing, if I enjoy it I will always be happy.

Opposite page: Edwina Tops-Alexander and Itot, competing on the Global Champions Tour Above: Tops-Alexander shares a special bond with Itot, a 15.3 hand powerhouse Selle Francis gelding that’s carried her to two Olympic Games and won over €1,000,000 in grand prix winnings.

Photos ©Noelle Floyd

february/march ·

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LIFEofpessoa

by Alexa Pessoa

The Gloves Are Off For a sport that struggles as it is to compete with giants such as golf and tennis, it is a shame to have a conflict within show jumping hindering the increase in prize money.

both individual equestrians and also some of the most prestigious events throughout the world. Longines is newer to the game, but has swiftly snapped up major show jumping sponsorships to make their presence known. After a conflict over the FEI World Cup series last year (which Longines eventually won) as well as the title sponsorship of the Global Champions Tour, the two brands have established a hearty rivalry.

Here we are again! The Pessoas are back in Wellington, Florida for another action-packed winter season of show jumping at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. I may not have been around in the 1980s when the show grounds were being built, but I can attest to the tremendous growth that it has undergone over the past 15 years.

In that time, Wellington has become nearly unrecognizable. For better or worse, what was once just open (swamp) land is now home to some of the sport’s most competitive horses, riders and owners. Where every farm being built seems to be bigger and more elaborate than the last, Wellington has cemented its reputation as the place to be from January to March.

With the steady growth of infrastructure at FTI WEF throughout the years, the one piece of the puzzle that was becoming hard to ignore was the prize money. The powers that be had been promising to raise the purses for years, but they had yet to come up with a big splashy sponsor to fill such a tall order. Until now…

As 2013 came to a close, FTI WEF’s Mark Bellissimo managed to sign a deal with Rolex for the Winter Equestrian Festival that would finally be the answer to their prize money woes. Unfortunately, the deal was concluded after the FEI mandated, October 1st cutoff date for submitting the star level for each week of the season. The procedure to increase your star level to 5* after the October 1st cutoff date is based on the conflicting 5* events throughout the world signing-off of the change.

This is where the gloves came off. Our sport is witnessing one of the most intense sponsorship rivalries of all time. Rolex and rival watchmaker Longines are competing not only in the world of the luxury timepiece market, but also in the world of show jumping. Rolex has been a longtime supporter of all equestrian sports; they sponsor

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· february/march

And now, that sparring has landed right here in our backyard in Wellington. The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival approached three separate 5* events all taking place on the other side of the Atlantic to see if they would consider allowing the events in Florida to be raised to 5* status as well. All three said “No.” Two of the three shows are directly supported by Longines and were directed to not make any compromises to a Rolex sponsored event. The third show, which takes place in Paris, France does not have a connection with Longines but felt that the WEF prize money being raised would take riders away from Europe and thus away from their event.

For a sport that struggles as it is to compete with giants such as golf and tennis, it is a shame to have a conflict within show jumping hindering the increase in prize money. But one thing is for sure, Mark Bellissimo and the Winter Equestrian Festival aren’t giving up on their quest to raise the bar, and next year will see more 5* events in Wellington than anyone ever thought possible. And Wellington is sure to continue on its steady march towards becoming the undisputed premier winter circuit destination in the world.

Writer Alexa Pessoa, an amateur rider and business owner, is profiled on page 8.

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STYLEprofiles

by Sarah Appel & Terri Roberson

Trendy Trainer Harness Leather Hobo, Gucci, $1790 Fox Print Scarf, Sole Society, $25 Wellyprint Green Fox Wellies, Joules, $44 Lisbona Breeches, Sarm Hippique $350 Fox Marsha Intarsia Jumper, Joules, $120 Canterbury Buckle Bracelet, My Flat In London, $78

Fresh from the canvas of old hunt scene prints, owls are out and foxes are in as the new animal of this winter season. Bundle up in a foxy sweater while mingling apr茅s ski, or add a pop of fox jewelry for a flashy touch of class.

Gorgeous Gent Fox Belt, Mackenzie & George, $95 Blue Exploded Check Flannel Shirt, Burberry Brit, $327 Slim-Fit Selvedge Washed Denim Jeans, $225 1940s Gold Fox Cufflinks, Alexis Bittar, $1,800 Model 330, Sarm Hippique, $225

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Jovial Junior Vera Fox Clutch, Jonathan Adler, $198 Fox Knitted Jumper, French Connection, $98 Leena Suede Ankle Booties, Tory Burch, $529 Mini Fox Leather Bracelet, Sole Society, $25 Faux Leather Fox Bracelet, Bethany Mota, $6

Ambient Amateur Shift Dress with Fox Print, Yumi, $101 Fox Long-Strand Necklace, Bethany Mota, $9 The Tweed Manor Tote: Foxhunting, Tucker Tweed Equestrian, $219 Fox Studs, Gorjana, $35 Yorkley Leather Calf Boots, Burberry London, $850

Polished Pony Mom Fox on Sage Needlepoint Loafers, Paige, $198 Softy Saddle Top Handle, Marc by Marc Jacobs, $438 Jodhpurs, Zara, $80 Outfox The Eye Sweater, Yumi, $105 Animal Collective Fox Cuff, Tom Binns, $506

february/march 路

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Story and photos by Erin Gilmore

This page: Farrington’s day at the office includes rounds on young horses such as Charley.

Right: Farrington and Laura Kraut chat while standing at the horse world’s version of the water cooler: the warm up ring jumps.

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A Day at the Office

Kent Farrington with

He is, in a word, meticulous. From the monogrammed coolers that sit, ruler-aligned straight in his tack room, to the small chalk labels identifying every horse, stall, boot, brush, saddle, and bridle in his stable, Kent Farrington’s talent for detail equals his talent in show jumping.

Industry professionals who knew talent when they saw it started giving Farrington horses to ride, and he became a popular catch rider. At 16, Farrington rode in his first grand prix at a show in Detroit, Michigan, even though he says today that he had no business being in the class.

Which, by the way, is no short order. Ranked among the top 10 in the world, Farrington is also the number one rider in the United States. The faster the pace in a jumpoff, the more at home he seems, and his acuity for taking the right risks at top speed has honed him into a winning machine.

“I did it on a very brave horse that I had started in the children’s jumpers,” he remembers. “My trainer at the time thought it was great experience for me to get in the classes and learn how to do it. I think there’s a big part of that that’s really true. The only way you get good at playing golf is if you play a lot of golf. The only way you get good at show jumping is to get a lot of experience.”

LEARN BY EXPERIENCE

Talent like that should be hereditary, but for 33-yearold, Farrington, it’s not. He was just an average kid growing up in Chicago, Illinois when he discovered horses, and once his mother granted his wish to have riding lessons, it was up to him to decide how far he would take it.

He started with lessons in a carriage stable, moved on to Pony Club, and for a brief but influential period raced ponies. When he discovered jumping, there was no turning back, and he began to take a succession of green and retrained horses to small, local shows.

Fast forward to 2003, and Farrington was getting a whole lot of experience. After a whirlwind junior career in which he won the AHSA Medal Finals and WIHS Equitation Final on catch rides, he worked for Leslie Burr Howard for two years. By the time he was 21-years-old, he’d stepped out on his own via a partnership with the Weeks family, who owned his first big star: the Dutch Warmblood mare Madison. In 2006 when he was 26, he qualified for and competed in the FEI World Cup Final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with Madison, where he was the youngest member of Team USA.

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He’s now a four-time FEI World Cup Final veteran, a Pan American Games Gold Medalist, a two-time winner of the $250,000 FTI Consulting Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic Horse Show, two-time winner of the $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows... the list goes on. Needless to say, he is a threat to his competitors anytime he rides through the start timers.

WITHIN HIS POWER

While it’s easy to define Farrington by his very long list of victories, there is, of course, more depth to his identity. All those wins begin well before Farrington jumps his first fence. He starts every day in his (spotless) barn, and pays attention to everything from the floor that his horses walk on to the airflow of their stalls. It all counts.

“We’re in a sport where there are a lot of factors out of our control,” Farrington says.

“You can’t tell a live animal that doesn’t speak English, ‘ok, today is the most important day and yesterday doesn’t count.’

Between that and all the things that can go wrong with an injury, or the horse just doesn’t feel its best, I try to make sure we are really organized so that we can control all the things that are within our power.”

At his winter base in Wellington, Florida, that sense of control is reflected in a custom-built barn he helped design, on seven acres that he bought and paid for with his career earnings. Farrington likes to have everything at hand, thus each horse in his program has its own show, practice and hacking bridle hung neatly and grouped in alphabetical order. Give one panel of bridles a push inward, and a stunning floor to ceiling collection of bits

There’s a lot of people putting time, effort and money behind my career and I take that all very seriously. is revealed behind a hidden wall. No, Kent Farrington will never be left searching for the correct piece of equipment.

“I try to have a working system of horses and a team around me that supports consistent success,” Farrington downplays. “If you

have that, all the other things will fall into place by themselves.”

One of the keys to his consistent success is Alex Warriner, his longtime groom and manager. To watch them at a horse show is to understand why Warriner’s been a part of the team for the last decade; never farther than a step behind Farrington, she directs the horses and riders around him, sets jumps, takes his phone calls, videos the rounds, plans the schedule and in short, allows Farrington to remain in the state of focused, quiet concentration that helps him win.

“I feel really lucky that I have great people around me,” Farrington says. “My job is to make sure that they feel like they’re a part of a great team and that they all understand their value in this operation. That makes people want to stay. It makes people want to be a part of my big goals, because it’s a part of their big goals. We do it together as a team.”

At a horse show, Farrington moves like a ghost between arenas. He stands silently to study a course before mounting up for a quick round with a young horse.

Afterwards, a groom takes the horse and he passes his helmet to Warriner as they walk to the next ring over, where a student is waiting. He warms her up and assesses her round before taking his helmet back and jumping another round on a new horse. In the constant march between horses, people, jumps, arenas, he never takes a step out of place.

“I take it seriously,” he says. “There’s a lot of people putting time, effort and money behind my career and I take that all very seriously.”

That discipline didn’t come without practice, and Farrington learned to lean on the right mentors in his rise to the top.

Ask anyone who knew him at the start of his career, and they remember a persistent kid who always had a question to ask, who would pester the grooms for bits of knowledge, who was outright determined to know everything about everything.

Andre Dignelli opened doors for Farrington during his equitation days. George Morris put him on the first horses he showed at the Winter Equestrian Festival, back in 2003.

Farrington considers Canadian Olympian Ian Millar a friend, and someone whom he can always call on for help when it comes to a difficult horse.

Opposite page: All of the innovative touches of Farrington’s barn are by his design, including these hidden panels in the tackroom that reveal his collection of bits and extra equipment.

This page: Farrington competing with Willow in January at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.

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“Any top athlete, in any sport is not scared to get assistance from other people,” he says. “George and Ian are great influences, and among my peer group professionals, we all ask each other for bits of advice every day. Sometimes it’s them asking me, and sometimes it’s me asking them.”

P AY I T F O R W A R D

It’s that kind of support Farrington hopes to pay forward to others. If there’s one thing he understands intimately, it’s the need for that crucial leg up in the industry. Ask him if he thinks he could have made it in the business today if he was 21 and just starting out, and doubt shadows his face.

“I think the way the industry is formed in the United States makes it very difficult, and I only see it getting more difficult, for young, ambitious people to succeed on a professional level - that don’t have big backing - from the beginning,” he says.

He thinks often about how to increase opportunities for young, up and coming talent. He was a founding member of the North American Riders Group in 2010.

Every year NARG awards a Rider’s Grant to a young professional looking for a leg-up in the industry.

There are different kinds of goals, and it’s a given that nearly every rider shares the common ones of Olympic glory, winning the Aachen Grand Prix, the World Cup Finals, etc. But outside of those individual accomplishments, Farrington hopes to

Any top athlete, in any sport, is not scared to get assistance from other people.

ONE YEAR OF VICTORY GALLOPS Kent’s 2013 wins, including but not limited to:

BLUE ANGEL

1st - $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 6 Wellington, Florida

1st - $150,000 CSIO4 Grand Prix Wellington, Florida

1st - CSI5 ATB Financial Cup Spruce Meadows, Canada

1 - CSIO5 JLT Stakes Speed st

Royal Dublin Horse Show, Ireland

1 - CSIO5 Akita Drilling Cup st

Spruce Meadows, Canada

1 - CSIO5 Suncor Energy Cup st

Spruce Meadows, Canada

1 - 100,000 New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix CSI2 st

$

New Albany, Ohio

1 - 125,000 President’s Cup WCQ Grand Prix st

$

Washington Intl. Horse Show, Washington DC

UCEKO

1st - $75,000 FEI Nations Cup CSIO4 Wellington, Florida

1 - CN Reliability Grand Prix WCQ CSI5 st

Spruce Meadows, Canada

1 - 200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix CSI5 WCQ st

$

Spruce Meadows, CA

VOYEUR

1st - CSI4 Telefonica Grand Prix La Coruna, Spain

WILLOW

1st - $50,000 Hermes Classic CSI4 Old Salem, New York

1 - 25,000 Hagyard Equine Institute Grand Prix st

benefit the sport beyond the glory of team medals and a victory gallop.

Above: George Morris and Ian Millar (in background) have been some of Farrington’s most influential mentors.

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After all, right now someone just like him is in a barn somewhere far from Florida, looking for catch rides and asking questions. And if they’re anything like Farrington, American show jumping needs to make sure that they’re given a chance.

$

Lexington, Kentucky

1 - CSI5 Credit Suisse Grand Prix st

Geneva, Switzerland

Photo courtesy Spruce Meadows

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RIDERspotlight

by Winter Hoffman

Mattias

Tromp “Exceptionally dedicated” is the only way to describe 19-year-old Mattias Tromp. Last year he was selected to ride in both the George H. Morris Gladstone Program at the USET Headquarters at Hamilton Farms in Gladstone, New Jersey in May, and the prestigious George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session in Wellington, Florida during the first week of January, 2014. Both programs target the most talented young riders in the United States and help prepare them for international competition.

To earn those invitations, Tromp spent 2013 stringing together an impressive record: placing 3rd in the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix in May at Old Salem Farm, cleaning-up in Young Riders team competition, with a Team Gold in the Young Riders Nations Cup at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, and Team Gold at the North American Young Rider and Junior Championships, and finally, finishing second in the very competitive Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East on Zentina B, a catch ride generously loaned to him by Lillie Keenan.

After spending the entirety of 2013 shining, it’s easy to predict that this young rider from Old Salem, New York, who turned professional in 2014, will reach new heights this year. H&S had the opportunity to delve deep into Tromp’s riding background, find out who his most influential mentors have been thus far, and learn where he’s set his sights for the future.

Horse & Style: Mattias, what inspired you to get interested in riding? How is your family is involved with horses?

Mattias Tromp: When my mom was young and growing up in Holland, she always used to have a horse she rode, but never competed seriously. When my parents moved to the States she started riding again and began showing, and in turn so did my siblings. So naturally, I wanted to as well. We had horses at home and so I became interested. My brother still rides and is a professional with his own training business, David Tromp Show Stables. My sister is also a professional and she works with me at our family’s Baeyart Farm in North Salem, NY. H&S: Congratulations on such a successful 2013. What were

H&S: How did you integrate school and your riding?

MT: When I was in traditional school it was always about finding a balance

between completing my assignments and allotting my horses and riding enough time to be successful. Ultimately I finished my senior year of high school online, which gave me the freedom to pursue my equestrian goals.

H&S: You had a terrific trainer in George Morris in the Horsemastership Training Sessions- what did he have you work on?

MT: George is one of the greatest horsemen of our time. He focuses a lot on

the connection we have with our horse. In the Horsemastership Sessions, he impressed upon us the importance of having our horses “tuned-in” and “on the bit.” Often misunderstood, George taught us that being “on the bit” means much more than just working in a frame but also having a fluid and supple connection with our horses.

H&S: What is your favorite place to ride and why?

MT: My favorite place to ride is the grand prix field at The Hampton Classic.

It’s always beautifully presented and there is so much history in that ring.

the high and low points?

H&S: You’ve worked with several trainers; can you describe them and how

horse of Lillie Keenan’s named Zentina B to compete on at the

MT: Learning to ride from a number of trainers is something that most

MT: Thank you. I was lucky enough to be loaned a very nice

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USEF Finals. While each of us faced some challenges in the final round, I am overall very proud of the way that I rode. It was an honor to compete among such talented riders. Michael Hughes, who won, is a great guy and a great rider.

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their training styles differ?

people get to experience. Very few ride with one trainer their entire life and most make quite a few changes. I find that the best way to approach it is to learn from the strengths of each trainer. The four trainers I have worked closest with are Barney and McLain Ward, Andre Dignelli and my sister Emmy Tromp. Barney and McLain instilled in me the confidence to win and the basics of how to ride well. Andre has such an attentive eye for detail and this has helped me with my equitation.

H&S: Do you have any funny horsey stories from incidents at a show,

Emmy is there with me every day working with me through the process of raising young horses, training and competing. She helps to pull me out of a rut when things aren’t going well, or back down to earth when they are. My brother, sister and I have all learned to ride through the methods of DeNemethy, Steinkraus and Morris. Many of the exercises we use are the same ones passed on by these legendary horsemen.

in international competition. I have a strong sense of pride for our nation’s riding heritage. Individually, I would also like to compete in a World Cup Finals.

I am incredibly fortunate to be able to spend a great deal of time with some of the grand prix riders I most admire. McLain Ward is someone I have always looked-up to and have had an opportunity to be around.

The most important thing I learned from McLain is to always have discipline; it’s a key part of riding.

Barney taught me to be secure in myself and what I was doing. He always knew when to be tough on me to help me improve and when he needed to instill confidence in me. If Barney were around today, he would be telling me to continue working hard and to focus on my riding career.

on course or in the barn?

MT: When I was a child rider I had one of those incidents everyone

warns you about. I was walking a course and my spurs got hooked. I literally fell on my face in front of everyone during the course-walk. At least the footing was soft!

H&S: What are your long-term riding goals?

MT: I would eventually like to represent the United States on a team

H&S: What would you say to young riders who may look to you for assistance or inspiration?

MT: My advice to junior riders is to not let your mistakes in the show ring or at home consume you. Look at what happened, figure out why it happened, and then move on. Dwelling on mistakes only makes things worse. Also, value your experience in the equitation ring. The years there are very valuable. Through competing in the equitation divisions, I was able to develop my position and an eye for navigating the best track around a course.

Opposite page: Tromp with Cassius Von Nymphenburg.

Above: Tromp and Casey competing at the 2013 Lake Placid Horse Show. Photos ©Rudolph Tromp

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Looking forward to a great 2014 filled with fun and success www.StillwaterEquestrian.com

Stephanie Simmonds, Trainer/Owner cell 925-575-0632 simmonds108@gmail.com

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StillWater Equestrian proudly offers for sale

VOYAGER

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by Winter Hoffman

U N D A U N T E D B Y T H E PA S T, E X C I T E D F O R T H E F U T U R E Weekend travel between New York and Florida, owning a string of top jumpers, and rides through a private vineyard may seem like the stuff of fairy tales. But for 15-year-old Kira Kerkorian, those are the hallmarks of her everyday life. However, don’t jump to conclusions quite yet; Kerkorian has worked hard to step away from a rocky past to develop her own image as a successful rider, a smart student, and an understated, boundless optimist.

Kerkorian’s five horses are all talented high and low junior jumper mounts, some more quirky than others. The luxury of training on a full string of talented horses is not lost on her, and she describes each horse and its unique traits thoroughly, and appreciatively.

Kerkorian, who grew up in California and currently calls New York home, has been fortunate to work with some of the best trainers in the horse world; Norman and Nick Dello Joio, James Fairclough

II, Molly Flaherty and Patty Peckham, Jeffery Welles, Laura Bowery and now Nicole Simpson. Each trainer left their own mark on her, giving her the confidence and skills to keep moving up.

Norman and Nick Dello Joio were tremendously helpful with Kerkorian’s very successful jumper Malcolm, a former Dello Joio mount. James Fairclough II helped and encouraged her to compete in the high junior jumpers. Molly Flaherty and Patty Peckham helped her by improving her equitation as well as working with her in the high junior jumpers. It was Jeffery Welles who taught her how to handle “a different kind of horse.”

He also taught her how to be more competitive in the divisions that she was already showing in. Laura Bowery taught Kerkorian how to imbue her horses with confidence, which she singles out as the reason she has excelled more in the show ring.

Kerkorian and Malcolm competing at FTI WEF 2013. february/march ·

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Given all the right ingredients, she has every chance to go as far as she wants.

Simpson has been working with Kerkorian on her equitation and perfecting her distances. A former equitation star herself, Simpson has given Kerkorian even more confidence in her horses and is guiding her through the equitation and medal classes this season at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington. “She works hard, and is in touch and dedicated with her horses,” says Simpson of Kerkorian. “Given all the right ingredients, with her competitive nature and having the right horses under her, she has every chance and the ability to go as far as she wants.”

ROCKY BEGINNINGS

Kerkorian’s early life was not always a fairy tale. When she was a child growing up near Brentwood, California, the paparazzi would camp out all night near her riding ring to get a photo of her on her pony Rudolph. At the time, her parents were involved in one of the most high profile celebrity divorces in Hollywood history. Subsequently, she was the subject of an awkward, often scandalous, paternity suit between her then 84-year-old non-biological father, MGM dynamo Kirk Kerkorian, and her mother, former tennis star Lisa Kerkorian.

In 2002, the notorious legal wrangling unfortunately became grist for the tabloids when Kirk Kerkorian’s lawyer, unbeknownst to Mr. Kerkorian, hired private investigator Anthony Pellicano (who subsequently served jail time,) to illegally wiretap Lisa’s phone.

The story has somewhat of a silver lining, in that Kirk was so charmed

by Kira that he set up an endowment sufficient enough that it opened the doors to allow her to ride and own many competition horses, and compete at many international level horse shows.

Undaunted by her sensationalized past, Kerkorian has very intentionally looked up to Georgina Bloomberg not only as a riding inspiration, but as a model for dealing with the press graciously.

“Georgina seems to be fearless and always goes for it,” Kerkorian explains. “She has accomplished so much in riding and I would love to accomplish some of the things that she already has.”

I T A L L S TA R T E D W I T H P O N I E S

Kerkorian was seduced into riding after falling in love with the ponies at a birthday party when she was three. Her first horse was

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a miniature pony purchased from a pony rental company. It was trained to pull a cart around her family’s property in Bel Air. That first pony was the beginning of a charming tradition - naming the ponies and horses after Santa’s reindeer. To date, the Kerkorian stable has included Dancer, Prancer, Comet, Vixen, Donner, Blitzen and of course, Rudolph.

Kerkorian credits riding for teaching her to manage her time effectively, especially during the winter circuit, when her horses are based in Wellington, Florida. She attends school in East Hampton, New York during the week and flies to Florida on the weekends.

“School always comes first, but riding is always a very close second,” she explains. “I am in school for seven hours, riding for two, and depending on the week I could have one or two tutors after riding once a week. Once done with riding or tutors, I come home and finish my homework. During the weeks of the winter circuit my schedule changes a bit. I still attend school for seven hours a day, have tutors and homework, though I don’t ride because my horses are in Wellington.”

An understanding school is key. Kerkorian describes herself as fortunate to be part of a close-knit community at Pierson High School in the Hamptons. In this warm, supportive student body, everyone knows each other and the administration is sympathetic to weekly travel demands. Kerkorian is allowed to travel to Florida and other horse shows as long as she keeps her grades up and attends school for the rest of the year when she’s not competing. During the summer season, she rides at the gorgeous Wolffer Estate Stables in Sagaponack, NY. With acres of vineyards to ride through on the

estate’s fully functioning winery, it’s easy to understand why Wolffer is one of Kerkorian’s favorite places in the world to ride.

“The horses seem to love it there as much as the people,” she says.

Most recently Kerkorian toughed it out at the Trump Invitational, presented by Rolex, in Palm Beach, Florida. Pelted by horizontal slabs of rain and puddles of mud, she never faltered while galloping to third place in the $5,000 Junior/Amateur Jumper Speed on Rashmo Z. Like so many 15 year olds, Kerkorian has lots of dreams and goals for the future, among them a desire to compete in Europe. And speaking of dreams, if Kerkorian could ride any horse, it would have to be Katie Dinan’s Nougat du Vallet.

“He has an incredible jump and he’s brave and fearless. He is super fast and seems to try his heart out every time,” she explains. Her favorite book is The Eighty Dollar Champion: Snowman, The Horse That Inspired a Nation, because she grew up hearing about the story from her trainer Harriet de Leyer, who was the daughter of Harry de Leyer, Snowman’s rider.

Some dreams come true and some don’t, but with her easygoing personality and energetic optimism, it’s easy to see that Kerkorian will one day reach the goals that she’s riding towards.

Opposite page top: Kerkorian and Malcom competing at FTI WEF 2013.

Bottom: Kerkorian and Rashmo Z compete in the $25,000 Jr/AO Jumper Derby at the 2013 Hampton Classic Horse Show.

Photos ©Parker/The Book LLC

The

Brooke

Helping the World’s HardestWorking Equines

by Cindy Rullman

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Everyday, 18-year-old Nasheema goes to work with her mares Basanti and Raju in the BK Tayal brick kiln in Uttar Pradesh, India. She works alongside her 62-year-old father, Noor Mohammed. Her family – a mother and two brothers – live in another village, but Nasheema has migrated to this village for work. Basanti is 10 and Raju is 8, and they transport bricks in the kiln. Nasheema, her father, and her two mares work for 10 hours a day, tasked with the back-breaking labor of loading, transporting and unloading bricks. Together, they earn less than $13 a day.

Rarely, if ever, is there time to rest. Nasheema must keep working her horses, or her family won’t earn the wage they depend on to survive.

Her story is not uncommon; millions of workers in third-world countries depend on their animals for basic survival.

On average, a family of at least six people are directly dependent on each one of their loyal horses, donkeys, burros or mules, who toil in some of the world’s toughest environments over unforgiving terrain, in unrelenting heat and

bitter cold, through filth and hordes of flies, with inadequate water, food, or rest, to bring their owners a meager daily income. Consequently their health and welfare directly affect the quality of life for their owners.

S U S TA I N A B L E E Q U I N E W E L F A R E

It was for this reason that The Brooke was established. A non-profit organization based in London, England, the Brooke operates around the globe to improve the welfare of working equine animals in the world’s poorest communities through free veterinary intervention and the development of sustainable equine welfare practices that will reduce suffering in the future.

The Brooke is led by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, wife of Prince Charles, who is serving her second term as president. Her lifelong passion for horses led to her involvement, which has included visiting some of the Brooke’s programs in developing countries. Under her leadership, last year the Brooke reached 1.2 million working equine animals and approximately seven million people.

NO TIME TO REST

Both Raju and Basanti have a history of woundrelated lameness and stomach pain. When The Brooke’s mobile veterinary team visited Nasheema’s kiln in Uttar Pradesh, they found Raju limping with severe pain in her foreleg.

Nasheema knows that Raju is wounded and needs to rest, but due to unavoidable reasons (her father’s loan debt), she has no option but to keep working her animal.

“I am a girl and it is an unfortunate life for my father, because we girls in India are a burden on the shoulders of our parents because they have to arrange for money so that we can be married into good families,” Nasheema says. “My father had taken loans for my elder sister’s marriage. Now to repay the loan, I have to work as my brothers are quite young.”

During their working lives, more than half of all animals in developing countries will suffer from chronic malnourishment, exhaustion, disease and injury, often compounded by a lack of accessible and affordable health services.

However, under the umbrella of the Brooke, equine competitors, members of royal families, and others come together to support efforts to achieve a common goal: a world in which these working horses, donkeys and mules are free from suffering.

Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, retired Major General commanding Her Majesty’s Household Division, is Chairman of the Brooke.

“It’s reasonable to ask why we place so much emphasis on assisting animals in the developing world, when people are also suffering,” says Sir Evelyn. “But working equines save human lives by hauling water, food and basic necessities.

They act as ambulances, taxis and garbage trucks. Any work that is carried out by a motorized vehicle in prosperous nations is accomplished by equines in the developing world. These animals are the backbone of the economy in developing countries, supporting poor communities where most people earn less than a dollar a day.”

There are more than 100 million working equines who provide a living for the world’s poorest people. The animals labor on roads, in fields and on farms, on mountaintops, in jungles and deserts, in factories and on city streets, in brick kilns and stone quarries.

Hundreds of millions of people depend on these animals for their livelihoods.

This page: A horse working in the brick kilns of India. A donkey or horse working in a kiln will transport as much as 25-40 tons of bricks each day; a Pakistani woman with her burro Opposite page: Nasheema with her horse Raju and her father, Noor Mohammed

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“Unlike equine animals in industrialized nations, who generally enjoy reasonably high status as pets and in sport, working animals have very low status even among the people whose lives are so critically tied to theirs,” said Sir Evelyn. “And because they labor so quietly, steadily and efficiently, these working equine animals are almost invisible to the rest of the world. So are their contributions, and their suffering.”

Brick kilns are particularly brutal environments for working animals and owners so they are among the Brooke’s highest priorities.

Temperatures can level out at well over 110 degrees, dust and debris are thick in the air, there is little access to water or shade, and the labor is intense. Animal owners are paid by the number of bricks they haul, so they are driven to push their animals beyond the breaking point.

WORKING FROM WITHIN

A donkey or horse working in a kiln will transport as much as 2540 tons of bricks each day. The Brooke is currently working in more than 3,500 brick kilns to offer free emergency veterinary treatment and vaccinations, as well as advice on injury and disease prevention.

They install water troughs, teach basic first aid and animal hygiene, and create equine welfare groups among the owners.”

One of the U.S. equine competitors supporting the Brooke is dressage rider Allison Brock, a USDF Gold and Silver medalist. She stated, “One of the reasons that we embraced the Brooke is that they work with individuals, governments and international institutions to make sustainable improvements to the welfare of these animals.

Their staff of 1,000, who are primarily nationals, work inside these cultures to ensure that the positive changes are adopted by local communities so they will continue long into the future.”

The Brooke has programs in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Ethiopia, India, Egypt, Nepal, Senegal, Jordan, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Kenya.

The Brooke’s approach consists of developing practical, field-based training that is culturally relevant to local needs and resources, and sustainable, innovative methods. They strive to ensure that all of their staff and trainees are local to the country in which they are working and have the most current equine welfare knowledge and skills which they can then pass on to others.

Through Brooke community programs in kilns and on bustling city streets and remote villages, animal owners learn the necessity of providing water and rest, lightening their animals’ loads, reducing the number of trips, providing shade and shelter, balanced nutrition, farriery, vaccinations, deworming and grooming. All members of the family who have a role in caring for their equine animals, including women and children, are included.

RASHEEMA DEPENDS ON HER HORSES

For Rasheema, The Brooke’s attention to Basanti and Raju means that her family can keep paying back the loans they owe.

“I have a dream to earn sufficient money myself so that my father doesn’t have to borrow money from anyone,” she says.

“There are days when I wish I could just rest but circumstances are such that even a five-minute rest is like a luxury since the kiln hours are limited and we have to make the most during these hours. It’s a miserable life for me and my father. Our horses are the only support we have. If anything happens to them we will be ruined.”

“I am happy that the Brooke is here and now nothing will happen to my horses,” Rasheema continues. “Such is life. I am thankful to the Brooke for helping me take care of my horses so they can take care of our lives.”

Last year the Brooke opened its first North American office at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington as a base for its 501(c) (3) charity called American Friends of the Brooke, to support the Brooke’s worldwide programs. The Brooke is now working to partner with American horsemen and their infusion of resources and enthusiasm for The Brooke’s mission and its biggest goal: to measurably improve the lives of two million animals and eight million people each year by 2016.

Want to help? Visit TheBrookeUSA.org for more information.

Top: Veterinarians from The Brooke treat a donkey Bottom: A donkey and cart with children in the Talianwala tented community, Pakistan

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A Life with Horses

Rebuilt

HOW EQUEST FARM ROSE FROM THE ASHES - TWICE

By Katie Shoultz Nestled among the hubbub of the Big Easy in Louisiana, Equest Farm ran like a well-oiled machine.

After years of neglect, hundreds of thousands of dollars had been poured into its restoration as it was brought back to life. Shining like a bright new penny, it was a dream come true for Leslie Kramer, Ellen Addison and Mary Antonini (“the Sisters” as they’re affectionately known) to own a first-class hunter/jumper facility that offered showing, boarding and lessons in a family-friendly atmosphere. Having ridden there as children, like fairy godmothers they were in the business of making wishes come true.

But, stick around horses long enough and you’ll learn it’s a humbling sport that is a constant balance of risk and reward.

The Sisters could never have predicted that it would only be a few months after their final phase of rebuilding that they would be brought back to square one by Hurricane Katrina.

AN UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY

Acquiring Equest Farm was about being in the right place at the right time. An eyesore that had become a nuisance for the New Orleans City Park Board, it had been discussed to tear it down. But after calling the

stables her home away from home for over 40 years, Kramer couldn’t stand back and let that happen. “Having a nostalgic attraction to the stables and the ability to invest the time and money into the farm, we purchased Equest Farm in 2000,” Kramer explained. With a hefty dose of sweat equity and financial outlay, Kramer took her lifelong horse hobby and turned it into a career.

Back when Kramer rode as a child at the farm, which is located in the northern corner of the New Orleans City Park, she would look forward to her trail ride every Sunday morning. “The stables back then were an old cinder block barn with a mix of Western and English riders,” she told. But what she enjoyed most were her carefree days during her summers. “I would spend the whole day there riding with friends, washing horses and cleaning up, while never dreaming one day I would own the place,” Kramer said.

As the middle sister and manager of the daily operations, Kramer’s hands on-approach is reminiscent of her childhood days.

The first order of business after taking over the farm was a makeover that took five years, 1.5 million dollars and countless hours to rebuild the barns, rings, riding school and camp.

Above: Equest Farm just after Hurricane Katrina in 2005; Ellen Addison, Leslie Kramer’s daughter rider Katie Kramer, Leslie and Mary Antonini february/march ·

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WINDS OF ADVERSITY

Everything seemed to be going as planned, but on August 29, 2005, life in New Orleans changed forever. Hurricane Katrina – one of the deadliest America has ever seen – brought the city to its knees. And with a natural disaster of that magnitude, utter devastation struck the local horse industry as well.

A once thriving metropolitan riding facility, now in shambles surrounded by a city lying in ruins was suddenly the gut-wrenching reality for Equest Farm. When Katrina hit, Kramer was a state away in Mississippi attending the opening weekend of Ole Miss Volleyball. Noting the broadcast warnings of the severity of this storm, she executed the barn’s evacuation plans long-distance.

Thanks to foresight and luck on their side, all the horses made it out alive – having enough time to trailer out. But severed communication lines left in the storm’s wake caused Kramer to worry as she attempted to monitor the situation from afar. “Finding the staff, owners, and my sisters was a nightmare,” she shared. The nightmare was far from over – the town wouldn’t even have a grocery store or gas station for two years after the storm.

Equest Farm is once again a thriving, bustling equestrian center in the heart of a city that doesn’t give up.

When the Kramers were issued clearance to return several weeks later, they viewed the damage; everything they owned had been destroyed. As Kramer explained, “The barn was under seven feet of water with tornado damage to the roof. The offices, equipment, men’s living quarters, tack shop and the new camp buildings were destroyed. Over 65 trees were down and the jumps had floated all over the surrounding neighborhoods and golf course.” In her eyes, there was just no recovery from that degree of devastation.

“I had no intention of going back,” Kramer remembered. With 92 horses evacuated from the premise, lesson horses were sold, show horses were sent away and the business folded.

AN UNEXPECTED GIFT

Once the waters receded, Kramer and her husband walked through the ravaged stables area and found an assortment of rubble mired in the muck. It was her husband, though, who saw past the destruction.

“This doesn’t look too bad. I think you can rebuild.” His assessment took Kramer by surprise. But looking back, Kramer believes he realized the depth of her loss. “I think in that moment, he realized we could not go back to our house, and I needed something to do to keep me going,” she shared.

So, the process of rebuilding began. With no flood insurance, “bartering, volunteers, and the assistance of strangers were what brought back Equest Farm,” Kramer said. Her vision of a thriving barn once again took shape. But, the need spanned the spectrumpicking up trash, rebuilding structures, salvaging equipment, and planting flowers. The list was endless.

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The lessons learned from such a catastrophe will always be seared in Kramer’s heart. With a renewed faith in her fellow citizens, She walked away feeling that it’s harder to receive than to give.

“Before, I was never in a position to have to be the recipient of help; I was the helper. Katrina changed that.” Then there is that question of how does a person respond when everything is just literally swept away? Kramer’s response to such a cataclysmic event: “as I often say, Katrina got everything but my sense of humor and my work ethic.”

F R E S H S TA R T- D I F F E R E N T F O C U S

As Kramer had already learned, sometimes the best-laid plans go awry. On the day the stables were to reopen in December 2005, Kramer’s former show customers decided not to move back after all.

Undeterred, Equest opened its doors with just seven horses and nine boarders. And those doors are still open, but now with a new esprit de corps. Fast-forward to the present, and Equest Farm is once again a thriving, bustling equestrian center in the heart of a city that doesn’t give up.

“The focus of the equestrian center has changed from catering to show customers and boarders to catering to the citizens of New Orleans,” Kramer declared. “Our mission, as custodians of the land, is to provide educational experiences to the citizens of New Orleans beginning at age four up to 104.”

With trainer Rick Harris, who first came to work with some of the boarders in 2010, Equest Farm also has a show string that travels the A-circuit 20-24 weeks out of the year. “Having a barn in the middle of a great metropolitan city guarantees a large audience of new riders each day. Equestrian centers like ours are a dying breed,” said Kramer. “There are very few large riding schools in metropolitan areas left in the country.”

Kramer also continues to find ways to give back to her community.

One of the most successful ventures is the annual gala Tails but No Black Tie. The revenues generated assist in funding operations of the New Orleans City Park, which is the third largest park in the country and receives no city or state funding. The event is structured as a Calcutta style grand prix event where horse and rider are auctioned off to the audience members.

Akin to that great city’s grit and gumption, Equest was rebuilt... and then rebuilt again. It was a decision that Kramer believes was life altering. “Oftentimes I am credited with saving the barn, but in reality, it saved me,” she said.

Above: A ribbon cutting ceremony on the day the barn reopened

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by Esther Hahn

Piccolino Trainer and professional rider Kristin Hardin of New Cuyama, California has about 200 horses in her program, and many of them are young prospects. In her extensive experience in the sporthorse industry, she continues to find that warmbloods often mature late.

“Some of them, I turn out until they’re five,” she says. “You can’t make them be of a 12-year-old mind unless they’re a 12-year-old.”

Hardin’s mentality (perhaps seen as outdated in today’s horse industry) can be traced to her junior days.

“When I was a kid, my trainer Judy Martin wouldn’t even look at a horse under the age of 12. We were all well-mounted on seasoned horses,” she explains. “Our parents weren’t looking at the horses as investment projects, they were investing in us, their children, by buying safety and experience.”

Hardin was 12-years-old when she got her first junior jumper, a 19-year-old, tried and true mount. The first year she had him, they were Junior Jumper Champions at The Forum.

“When you’re on a horse like that, it gives you so much confidence,” Hardin remembers. “It was an honor to ride him. I had him for three years.

“In my point of view, for an amateur or a kid, the horse isn’t an investment. It should be your riding career or your child’s safety and enjoyment that’s the investment,” Hardin continues. “Because every time you make a mistake on an inexperienced horse, it changes them.

They’re animals, they’re not machines. And riders can feel that. So why not make a child’s junior years more enjoyable by not putting any pressure on the horse’s value.”

LET THE HORSES TEACH THEM

It’s with this background that Hardin approaches horses for her own children, 10-year-old Tyler and 8-year-old Zacko. Both children are already experienced riders in their own right, and Hardin’s pony business is flourishing thanks in large part to them. Hardin knows that as a mother to young riders, there’s nothing worse than to watch your child get scared, and she works to avoid that scenario at all costs.

“My kids have been an experiment for me,” Hardin says. “They win everything and ride anything I give them. And I let the ponies teach them.” Last year, Hardin gave both kids their own pony projects to break, train, and sell, which they accomplished successfully.

But Hardin approaches horses for her children in an entirely different manner. The step-up in hands is also a step-up in the playing field, and she will only entrust her children’s upper-level jumping to the schoolmasters. Hardin is adamant that “a person can’t teach a person to ride - it’s the horse that has to teach.”

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Enter Piccolino 27, an 18-year-old Holsteiner gelding known as Piccles around the barn. Connecticut-based trainer and rider Peter Leone imported him from Poland in 2007. He made his way to Helen McNaught-McFarlane in California, who quickly saw his potential, and leased him out to teach riders the jumper ropes.

Amateur rider Susan Azad leased Piccles in 2010 and said in an interview with the Los Angeles Hunter Jumper Association’s newsletter, “He is helping me to learn the correct feel to the jump, how to allow without dumping, how to ride to the base of the jump and correct body position.” At the time, Azad was coming back from a serious fall and working toward the 1.10m classes. She has since moved-up to the 1.30m division.

MILES MAKE THE HORSE

Piccles had cemented his reputation as a teacher, but not all of his lease conditions were ideal. After his most recent lease, Piccles returned to McNaught-McFarlane’s Outwood Farm in poor condition. On top of that, interest in the horse had slumped.

“No one wanted to lease him because he was ‘too old’,” Hardin explained. But Hardin thought otherwise. She bought Piccles and along with her husband, brought him back to health at their

Our parents weren’t looking at the horses as investment projects, they were investing in us, their children, by buying safety and experience.

“As soon as I started posting videos and photos of them, Helen’s phone was ringing off the hook for Piccles,” Hardin said.

“They said to her, ‘Oh, I didn’t know Piccles was available.’ But I believe it was actually because the mentality of the horse business has changed so much. They wanted a Piccles but they also wanted the horse to be 8-yearsold. Let me tell you, Piccles wasn’t like this at 8-years-old.”

“It’s all these years of miles and experience that have made this horse. I can’t understand how people expect young horses to have these imprints and travels to make them [steady teachers].”

When pushed to examine the flipside of the miles that older horses carry and the health responsibilities that are attached, Hardin stood her ground. “If Piccles lasts a month, six months, five years, it doesn’t matter,” she insisted. “Every day is invaluable for Tyler, and he’s already taught her so much in so little time. The experience has changed my daughter. She has empathy for him and knows he’s a big responsibility. And out of all the ponies, she dotes on Piccles. She wouldn’t be going around the 1.00m jumpers on a 10-year-old horse.”

Hardin makes the case that if aged horses are trained and cared for properly, they can really last. Piccles lives in a bigger paddock so that he can move around, and Tyler rides him everyday. Keeping him in a consistent exercise program helps keep him limber. Hardin keeps him on Platinum Performance supplements and stays up to date on his teeth. She never medicates him.

Hardin is hopeful that Tyler’s rise through the ranks on Piccles will spark a renaissance of the older horse mentality. She feels bad for those who miss the opportunity to experience horses like Piccles, simply because they hear the horse’s age and turn away.

But if the return of the older horse’s value takes root in today’s market, buyers need not call in search of Piccles. According to Hardin and her daughter, he will never leave. Instead, you will find them taking the inside turns in the jump offs, with his huge stride and his honest distances, and a smile on the face of his young rider.

Photos: Piccles and Tyler Hardin spend time bonding, and schooling, at home in California.

PILOT PICCOLINO 27 HILDA

Huntington Beach Surf Classic July 3 - 6, 2014 GGT Footing Grand Prix

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EQUINE INSURANCE

photo ©Steven Duarte

W W W. W E S T P A L M S E V E N T S . C O M

ranch. She then handed over the reins to Tyler. In early January 2014, the young rider and the seasoned horse went off to their first show as a team and won.

BARNenvy Story by Erin Gilmore Photos by Emily Allongo

The 18 stall barn combines elements of a South American estancia offset by modernist forms

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The facility was designed with a deep appreciation for open space and the patterns of everyday life.

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Colombian rider Daniel Bluman is lucky in many ways, but the thing that he’s most thankful for is simple: he can now see the stall of his 2012 London Olympic Games partner, the stunning Sancha La Silla, from his bedroom window.

The recently completed dream facility on seven acres in Wellington, Florida was designed with a deep appreciation for open space and the patterns of everyday life in a busy training barn.

Architect Luis Gutierrez studied the paths that farriers, riders, grooms and horses take in their day-to-day work, and built functional spaces that allow all to operate in harmony. The soft curve of the structure was oriented to allow maximum natural light into the aisleway and stalls, and gives horses ample room to look outward from every vantage point.

This page: Daniel Bluman rides through the breezeway that divides the barn.

Opposite page, clockwise from left: The back side of the barn faces turnouts and open riding space; a Bluman Equestrian brush box; the high ceilings and tall windows in this room of the house are designed to allow plenty of natural light in; Bluman is sponsored

by Hermès, and enjoys riding in their elegant saddles; Bluman chats with his cousin Mark Bluman (walking).

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The full size arena acts as a courtyard between the barn and the house, which face each other across the riding space. The interior of the house is a study in minimalism, from the tasteful furnishings to the way it integrates sustainable consumption of basic utilities. Natural light pours in through floor to ceiling windows, and the open design allows air to circulate, decreasing the need for artificial cooling.

For Bluman, it’s the perfect blend of equestrian life. He is based in Wellington for much of the year, as are his cousins Ilan and Mark Bluman, who also call Bluman Equestrian home. In a city awash with jaw dropping equestrian facilities, Bluman Equestrian stands out in the best of ways.

Clockwise from top: Equipment waits at the ready next to aisleway crossties; the barn’s full set of jumps were built in Colombia and shipped to Florida; this horse was enjoying the open air barn as he stood for the farrier.

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A DIFFERENT TAKE ON EQUESTRIAN DESIGN AND ADVERTISING

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1. The Zuccolotto sisters, Ariana and Chiara 2. Chuck Waters decided to get decked out in Western gear and visit the ingate 3. Katie Eppinger, Rebecca Clawson, Raven Weinlein and Rhian Murphy 4. Natashy Werpy and Liberty on their way to winning the Child/Adult High Jumper Classic 5. Give your horse a hug! 6. Trainer Emil Spadone chills out ringside with Hudson 7. David Jennings and Holly Bachor of Full Circle Farm 8. Sarah Scarnechia soaks up the Florida sun Photos ©HITS Staff/Chelsea Dwinell for HITS Horse Shows

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volunteering

IS ALWAYS IN STYLE! Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center, located in Petaluma, offers life-changing experiences to people of all ages with a wide range of disabilities. Each week our students come from throughout the Bay Area to interact with their 1,000 pound “therapist� (and best friend) in a safe and secure environment and achieve goals never before dreamed possible. Our programs offer them the opportunity to focus not on their limitations, but on what they can do, and the results are extraordinary.

Our services are open to any person with a

disability who can benefit from this special form of therapy. Volunteers at Giant Steps do more than give of their time and energy. They change lives and help special individuals achieve dreams never before dreamed possible. They make lifelong friends and join a larger community of funloving, energetic individuals intent on making a difference. Volunteers assist riders during their weekly lessons, groom horses, help maintain the facility, assist with administrative tasks, and much, much more. If you’re interested in contributing your talents to a great cause, we welcome you to join us!

Volunteer orientations are scheduled for

February 1, March 8, April 12, May 3, June 7, July 12, September 6, October 4, and November 1 Sessions are held at the Giant Steps barn at 7600 Lakeville Highway from 1 to 3:30.

If you would like to join an orientation or if you need to meet at a different time, please contact volunteer@giantstepsriding.org. For directions, additional information, or orientation dates later in the year, visit www.giantstepsriding.org

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ASKdr.carrie

Q: A:

What do I do when I start doubting myself? Some days I wake up and wonder if I have what it takes to ride well. I want to start the season with a new approach.

Q: A:

Try not to take all of your thoughts seriously. You don’t have to respond to your thoughts as though they dictate your behavior choices. The mindful athlete accepts internal experience, emotions, or thoughts, and continues to focus on behaviors that support navigating the task at hand. Take a nonjudgmental approach to your doubt. This means to be aware of your doubt without attachment or trying to make sense of it. Be careful not to name yourself “doubtful” so as not to become full of doubt. Observe your minute changes of mood. Return your focus to performancerelevant behaviors such as eating to fuel your body, pre-ride practices, and slowing your mind to heighten focus. This combination of actions is referred to as

mindfulness, acceptance and commitment (MAC). I invite you to start your season with the intention of developing mindful awareness, mindful attention, and acceptance of your internal processes. Follow these steps with behaviors that support your body’s athletic prowess. Trust your body to do what you have trained it to do over the years, and allow your emotions to flow through you like a gentle stream, knowing that you have what it takes to get out there and ride.

Trust your body to do what you have trained it to do over the years...

When I see my child is tired and in a slump while trying to get her horse show endurance back, what is the best way to offer support?

The first step to conscious parenting of an athlete is to be careful not to project your feelings or desires onto your athlete-child. If you are too hot or cold, hungry, bored, irritable or just wishing to be elsewhere, resist the urge to project your feelings onto anyone else. Once you are clear what your child is actually experiencing, then the question is how to help her dig a bit past her capacity. Most horse trainers have incredible amounts of energy resources so it can be difficult for them to assess when an athlete has run out of gas. Also bringing this kind of question to them in the midst of a show can be considered disrespectful. Therefore this is a great conversation to have with your athlete-child as well as her trainer before the season begins. Help your daughter and her

Carrie Wicks,Ph.D. (707) 529-8371 carrie@carriewicks.com www.carriewicks.com Contact Carrie for individual and phone sessions.

trainer understand what you know about her energy and personality. Ask your trainer about their protocol for assessing this on show day to have a plan in place.

Personally, I encourage athletes to aim to end a show day with some fuel in their tank, especially when at a multiple week circuit. Remember that the success of a circuit is the sum of the days. Help your athletechild to find a goal accomplished in each day and all levels of endurance will develop.

The first step to conscious parenting of an athlete is to be careful not to project your feelings or desires onto your athlete-child.

As a sport psychology consultant, I assist equestrian athletes to optimize their performance at all levels of competition. My varied background as an A-circuit Junior and Amateur competitor as well as mother of two daughters - a jumper rider and elite gymnast - has deepened my understanding of what a rider needs to grow and thrive. From medal finals to the grand prix ring, I support athletes to attain their goals while developing a mental practice that is useful both on and off the field.

If you would like to meet with me to develop questions and comments for this column, please call or email. I am interested in learning about how riders of all levels prepare themselves for competition as well as how they connect with their horses.

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BITof bliss n October 19th, 2013, trainer Patrick Seaton married his longtime boyfriend Mario Sandoval in San Francisco, CA. The couple was married in an intimate ceremony in Fay Park, in the Russian Hill neighborhood of the city. Afterward, 103 guests gathered for the wedding reception at nearby Destino Lounge.

British-born Seaton has owned and operated Patrick Seaton Stables in Northern California since 2002. The well-known trainer was surrounded by his family, who traveled from the UK for the big event, as well as his best friends from the horse world, with riders Leslie Steele, Kristin Hardin and Jessica Allen as members of the wedding party. Ashley Herman (otherwise known as the manager of the Sonoma Horse Park) served as wedding coordinator, and Laura Salazar and John Kennedy stepped-in as photographers. Sandoval, who is a clinical psychologist, PhD, met Seaton at a downtown bistro several years ago. His wedding party included his best friend Hector Melendez, his two sisters Leslie and Perla, brother Evan and godson Devon.

“It was a beautiful day in a beautiful park, surrounded by beautiful people,” said Seaton. “We were blessed to have so many close friends and family celebrating together. The icing on the cake was our friend Bitsa Freeman marrying us. Bringing her own special charm and wit to the ceremony made it unforgettable.”

&

Patrick Seaton Mario Sandoval

Clockwise from top: Mario Sandoval (left) and Patrick Seaton wore Vera Wang tuxes and matching Converse sneakers (bottom, right).

The reception at Destino Lounge, with the wedding cake by Krumbs. Photos ©John Kennedy & Laura Salazar

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Grand Prix Village

Fourteen acres of equestrian paradise in Grand Prix Village adjacent to the Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds complete with every amenity for the well being of horse and rider. This equestrian masterpiece houses twenty 14’ x 14’ stalls, eight grass paddocks, a grass Grand Prix arena, an expansive 215’ x 105’ covered arena and a 216’ x 88’ outdoor arena, both with mirrors and excellent footing. The luxurious owner’s apartment has 3 bedrooms, two and a half baths, spacious living areas and a beautifully appointed kitchen.

The farm also has an 1 bedroom manager’s apartment and a two bedroom groom’s apartment. This exclusive equestrian estate with its premier location is truly one of the world’s most desirable equestrian properties.

Carol A. Sollak, P.A. • Phone +1 561-818-9476 • Fax +1 561-791-2221 www.carolsollak.evusa.com • Wellington, Florida • Carol.Sollak@evusa.com

VENDORspotlight

Hadfield’s Saddlery Many trainers accompany their clients on trips to the tack shop or horse show vendor to ensure that they have the proper equipment and apparel. For Cynthia Munro Hadfield, it was from that routine chore that she discovered a passion for outfitting others, and for the last 40 years, she’s developed Hadfield’s Saddlery into a mainstay on the East Coast show circuit.

From humble beginnings with a folding table outside a traveling fan, to its current shining, custom detailed, 1,000 square foot mobile trailer that travels to major show circuits from Florida to Vermont, Hadfield’s Saddlery has grown to meet the needs of its customers. The business has expanded to include the Hadfield Bridleworks, and the Cynthia Munro apparel line, manufacturing its own bridles and riding apparel for customers who run the gamut from pony kids to grand prix riders. Innovation is key for Hadfield, who can still be found most days behind the cash register at one of the Hadfield’s locations. Four decades later, there’s still little else she enjoys more than helping riders find what they need.

Horse & Style: When and where did Hadfield’s Saddlery start?

Cynthia Hadfield: In 1978, in Syracuse, New York, C. M.

Hadfield’s Saddlery began with two thousand dollars borrowed from a girlfriend. The intent was to sell the best products available to consumers with the same passion: wanting the best products that money can buy.

H&S: What inspired you to go into business, and how have you grown? How do you measure success?

CMH: My progression in the horse industry went from riding, to training green horses, showing, fox hunting, and outfitting my new clients with the proper equipment and clothing to be ready for the show ring. This naturally evolved into starting my own business to assist clients in purchasing the correct merchandise for the show ring. I first started out going to the Syracuse PHA shows in a minivan and over the years, have expanded into my present 1,000 square foot mobile store, which travels to major hunter/jumper venues in New York, Vermont, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Florida. We also have a year-round presence in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, the location of our 5,000 square foot retail showroom and warehouse.

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I think the biggest measure of Hadfield’s success is the loyal patronage of our wonderful customers - many have been coming to me since the early days and to see our merchandise discovered and embraced by new customers. The quality and value of our products and a devoted staff committed to providing superb customer service are the basis for this success.

H&S: What makes Hadfield’s a standout in the horse industry?

CMH: My goal has always been to offer distinctive, high-end merchandise.

It is easy to carry the same brands as every other tack shop. The challenge is to create your own brand, unique from any other, that people love. This is what makes us stand out from other shops. Over the years, we have been the innovators – first to bring colored breeches for everyday wear into the industry; first to manufacture bridles in the darker Sedgwick Australian Nut color (as opposed to the ever-popular tans and chestnuts); first to introduce Luc Childeric saddles from France; first to introduce Tucci boots from Italy; first to add colors to collars on hunt coats, starting with coats for the legendary Tim Grubb, and first to add contrasting colors on collars and cuff linings of riding shirts. There’s a whole list of people that I have sponsored, including McLain Ward, Leslie Howard, Norman Dello Joio and a host of others.

H&S: What is your favorite part of outfitting riders and horses?

CMH: Creating new products, whether it be tack, a bridle from our

manufacturing operation in England, or a new shirt or breech concept that ends up being popular and wanted by all! Hadfield Bridleworks, our sister company in Walsall, England, was established in 1995. There, every step of our bridle and tack production is performed in-house to ensure consistent

quality. My HBW staff demonstrate an enthusiasm and passion for crafting our products to the highest standard, focusing on topnotch materials and attention to even the smallest detail.

We designed Cynthia Munro apparel to our own specific measurements in both classic and fashionforward styles. The fit is superb, and the quality is meticulous, whether the item is ready-to-wear or made-to-measure. CM shirts are tailored in Hong Kong from a vast selection of the finest cottons, silks and blends. Our exclusive CM coats are manufactured in England, using the most luxurious lightweight wools, washable blends, and technical fabrics. We are excited to have several new shirt and coat styles in production now, which we will be introducing soon.

Land Rover World Cup Grand Prix of Sacramento

W W W. W E S T P A L M S E V E N T S . C O M

SEPTEMBER 23 THRU OCTOBER 5, 2014

H&S: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to create their own equestrian business?

CMH: Find your own passion, establish a niche and go for it!

Opposite page: Cynthia Hadfield Above: The interior of the 1,000 square foot mobile store, which spends the winter season at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL EQUINE INSURANCE

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photo 漏Jennifer Muncy

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amazing beginnings for your broodmares and foals

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photo ŠNurture Nature Photography | Documentary Portraiture

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N A I R T S E U Q E R E T N I W L A V I FEST

Travel in style !

Travel in style with Horse & Style this winter! Get an insider’s tour of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida.

Tour the barn of an Olympic rider, shop vendor row and experience the globe’s largest winter circuit first hand. Winner will be featured in a 2014 issue of Horse & Style Magazine.

Tickets are $100, only 200 tickets will be sold, with proceeds to benefit the AWHPC. Visit www.horseandstylemag.com/travelinstyle to purchase your ticket.

DETAILS

• Round trip travel from anywhere in North America for you and a friend • 4 nights/ 5 days accommodation in Wellington, FL • Attend the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival as a VIP

• Get fitted for a custom pair of tall boots • Receive H&S swag baskets • Enjoy a Spa Day for 2 • Have a private shopping experience on vendor row • Watch high-goal polo from the VIP at the International Polo Club • Meet an Olympic rider and tour their Wellington farm

Created by Horse & Style to benefit the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign. www.stoptheroundups.com Raffle ticket purchase is necessary to enter or win. The Raffle is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. A winner will be selected by Sponsor in a random drawing from all eligible entries received. By entering Raffle, participants agree: a) To be bound by these rules; b) that winning is contingent upon fulfilling all the requirements of these rules; c) that the decisions of the Sponsor shall be final and binding in all respects. Odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received. Subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited or restricted.

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Have you ever wondered what lies beyond the horizon?

www.riding-iceland.com

Riding Iceland tours are designed to follow the ancient riding trails that have served people to travel across the country ever since the first settlement of Iceland. We will come across perfect riding tracks that allow you to enjoy your horse tölting at full speed – a cheering and overwhelming feeling on its own.

After a day of utter solitude in the wilderness we will find our way to one of the remote mountain huts in the Icelandic highlands. Every one of these cottages has it’s own story, being built or even inhabited by the hidden people or the ghosts of old heroes.

At some places there are natural hot water pools, where you can warm up again, relax stiff muscles and listen to the stories about the local ghosts, elves and outlaws.

On the dinner table, you will find fresh local food that has been prepared with a passion for natural ingredients. You will eat delicious seafood from Iceland’s lonely fjords that you have explored on horseback, salmon from the rivers you crossed and lamb that has been roaming free in the heath land areas we have been riding through. With all dishes, we serve fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms.

A Riding Iceland tour into the Icelandic mountains is a spirit cleaning natural experience, which aims to take you out of your daily routine and put you into intimate touch with nature. You will find yourself having left all daily routines and duties far behind and leave this country with memories that will last a lifetime.

DEARfashionista I’m a starving artist, otherwise known as an assistant trainer in a big A circuit barn. I eat, sleep and breathe horses. I spend a lot of time on the road at horse shows, and like most assistants I LOVE equestrian clothes, Italian custom boots, the latest European trend… you name it, I want it. I spend most of my minimal paycheck on riding clothes and while I always look fabulous at the horse shows, my bank account is reflecting a less fabulous balance. How can I still look great without going broke? ~ Will Ride for Fashion

©Katie Sroka

Dear Horse & Style Fashionista,

SPLURGE Olympia Zip, Parlanti Custom Boots $912 Ayrbrush Helmet, Charles Owen $1,130 Azalea Show Coat, Sarm Hippique $820

SAVE Ice Fil Mesh Lonsleeve, Kerrits $54 Monaco Hunt Coat, Ariat $399.95 Symphony No. 3 Rosa Front Zip Knee Patch Breeches, Tredstep $158

Ahh yes, the classic assistant trainer conundrum. Count your blessings to be doing what you love, but remember that playing pony doesn’t always last forever.

One day we all grow up and have to spend money on boring grown up things. You don’t have to completely give up your lavish taste, but try simplifying your basics to breeches and show shirts. Save up for those longterm purchases like custom tall boots or an insanely expensive helmet, but please, be sure to put your health before the bling!

Don’t skip a necessary dentist appointment in the name of Italian leather (you know you’ve been thinking about it.) Make smarter choices in fashion, and in business, and while you are working hard to move on up in the world, take our advice and stick to these affordable and stylish brands that we love.

The following are Fashionista’s Splurge vs. Save favorites.

And remember, as much as Fashionista covets the latest trends, she would never advise you to suffer for fashion! Save often and spend smartly!

DEL MAR

I NTERNATIONAL H ORSE SHOW October 15 - 26, 2014 Rancho Valencia World Cup Grand Prix of Del Mar

Love, Fashionista

Do you have an equestrian fashion question for the H&S Fashionista?

Send your questions to Fashionista@horseandstylemag.com

EQUINE INSURANCE

photo ©Captured Moments Photo

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Dear Will Ride for Fashion,

BEHINDthelens

Elena Lusenti By applying her own experiences as a rider, Elena Lusenti’s images evoke the mood and emotion of her subjects and demonstrate her ability to capture the moment perfectly.

The native of Milan, Italy serves as the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival’s documentary and media photographer, bringing her to Wellington, Florida each winter. She travels the world during the spring and summer months, capturing horses, animals and people from her own, unique perspective.

Lusenti’s former career in finance helped support her successful career in the High Amateur/Owner division aboard her 15’2” stallion Larone, but when she retired from riding, Lusenti decided to dedicate herself completely to her creative pursuits. She picked-up a camera and has never looked back. She’s an alumni of the prestigious Eddie Adams Barnstorm Workshop, where she was awarded the PhotoPlus Award.

“I like to use a wide angle lens, it makes me feel like I am right there with the subject,” Lusenti says. “The fact that I’d been part of the sport for so many years gave me a different angle to focus on. It’s what I decide to click the shutter for, and I try to capture feelings and emotions, rather than just a pretty scene. I’m glad that people have really responded to a different approach.”

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· february/march

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BUSINESSlistings web design & development for horsemen by horsemen w w w . g r a y - p a r k e r. c o m

35 Years Dedicated to Insurance

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A Lifetime Devoted to Horses

Insurance coverage and care for your Horses, Farm, Home and Business Tom Rattigan

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www.g2insurance.com

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trattigan@g2insurance.com

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415-806-2464

CANyoustandit?

Haute Hermès The Chinese Year of the Horse has created quite the worldwide equestrian frenzy. Hermès offers their own nod to Year of the Horse with the luxurious Galop Collection, which includes (but is far from limited to) this necklace in silver.

Galop Collection, Necklace in Silver, Hermès, $1,325

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· february/march

LI VE LIFE TO THE HA PPIEST

A Bay Club membership is the perfect complement to your active lifestyle.

See for yourself with a complimentary three-day guest pass, now through April 30!

www.bayclubs.com MARIN | SAN FRANCISCO | LOS GATOS | REDWOOD SHORES | SANTA CLARA | CUPERTINO | SAN DIEGO

CAN YOUR SADDLE DO THIS?  Quick equipment information and identification by anyone at anytime.  Instant alerts via social networking if tack goes missing.  A proactive solution to theft!

Chris Fellers

photo ©Cheval Photos

IDENTIFY. PROTECT. PREVENT. ARCHIVE.