THE PLAYGROUND OF LIFE
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NIKE JUST DID IT. featuring
AYDEN UHLIR by GEOFF YOUNG pg. 78
An HC Exclusive.
WHO SAYS THE BARN AISLE ISN’T A RUNWAY! by ANNA JENSEN
HOPE GLYNN, CHARLOTTE JACOBS and ANNIE FINCH Share Their Beauty Secrets for the Summer
CLOSE CONTACT
JILL APFELBAUM of MALVERN SADDLERY Secrets On Success! PLUS
soulbox
EQUESTRIAN YOGA LINDSAY SMITH Shares her secrets for a stonger body and a calmer mind.
JUNE 2014
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Who Says The Barn Isle Isn’t A Runway? 56 Just Do It (on a horse) NIKE and Ayden Uhlir 62 Close Contact - Jill Apfelbaum 72 soulbox - equestrian yoga 74 horseconnection.com 303.663.1300 RUNWAY COVER LOOKBACK featuring Haute Hippie Garden of Eden Falling Pleats Gown Georgette Retail $995 Credit Nordstrom.com Ghostly Plaid Long Trench in Military Multi Georgette Retail $395 Credit Haute Hippie retail stores & BergdorfGoodman.com Crewneck “The Wise Avoid the Wicked” Sweater in Light Heather Grey Cotton/Cashmere Retail $425 Credit Haute Hippie retail stores & HauteHippie.com Silver Crystal Collar Necklace Retail $595 Credit Shopbop.com Photograhy by: Michael Ortiz michaelortizphotography.com Modeled by: Alicia Rountree with One Management in New York. onemanagement.com
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WHO SAYS
THE
BARN
AISLE
ISN’T A RUNWAY! By Anna Jensen
ANNIE FINCH
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We’re all looking forward to a summer full of thrilling competition, reconnecting with old friends, and blue ribbons, but you’re not alone if you feel the summer marathon leaves you exhausted and bedraggled. Then there are those elusive creatures- those women who seem to float around the show, looking chic and refreshed. They take off their helmets after a grueling course looking cool and collected while the rest of us feel sweaty, frazzled and decidedly un-sexy. We tracked down some of these enviable women to share their secrets: the must-haves, style-standbys, helmet-hair tricks and other beauty weapons. We found out how they keep fit and energetic through the sweatiest of days, and we get a peek into how they stay on their game competitively while making it an unforgettable season. Hope Glynn is tall and blonde with model looks. She and her husband Ned, run the highly successful Sonoma Valley Stables out of Petaluma, California. A star on the hunter circuit, she just won the $30,000 WCHR West Coast Spectacular for the second year in a row and tends to clean up in the derbies. Hope seems to have super-human energy, competing in triathlons “for fun.” Sickening, we know! After retiring as an executive with Estee Lauder, Californian Annie Finch dedicated herself to riding. She swept the Capital Challenge in 2012 winning the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Finals and the Ariat National Adult Medal. Her effortless chic makes you think she must have a stylist in tow at all times. She recently launched Katherine Cosmetics, her line made with equestriennes and sporting women in mind. And one big reason to love her is that she’s the mastermind behind the first-ever lip gloss with SPF!
Charlotte Jacobs could be called the “Serena van der Woodsen” of the A-Circuit. A lithe blonde beauty, she has gracefully guided her horses to win the second leg of the 2013 European Young Riders‘ Championships and most recently was champion in the high JR/AO division at the Washington International Horse Show. Charlotte has spent the past year commuting from SMU in Dallas, where she is a freshman, to her riding base in Wellington. Charlotte has wisdom beyond her years on dealing with nerves and remembering what is important. We hope you enjoy, and we hope this helps you make the next few months the very best summer yet! HC: What are your must-haves when packing for the show this summer?
Hope: Spanx! They are very comfortable under riding pants, they have a slimming effect and don’t leave you with any panty lines, but the biggest thing for me is that the amount I ride can lead to discomfort! I don’t know how to gracefully put that. At the end of the day if you’ve ridden 40 rounds it’s just more comfortable if you have an extra layer against the saddle! Annie: My biggest scenario is sunglasses! That’s the must-have, sunglasses. Which ones do you ride in so you don’t look ridiculous? Which ones do you wear before you go to dinner? It’s a whole sunglass scenario! Charlotte: I already shipped all of my riding stuff to Brussels. Seriously, I am the world’s worst packer - I think I can’t live without everything!
HOPE GLYNN
HC: What is a typical morning of the show like for you?
Hope: On days that I compete I usually don’t work out, but on days when I’m coaching I’ll hit the gym before or after depending on who needs to be hacked in the morning. The thing I like to do best if it’s available is swim. You can’t be distracted when you’re in the pool, so it’s as close to meditation as I get. Annie: I’m never late for a show. Actually, it’s the thing I’m always early for. They say to be there an hour before but I’m usually there an hour and fifteen minutes before and I always have coffee and I always go look at the course first and then I come back and get dressed. Charlotte: I’m not a morning person. I’m really disorganized in the morning and am always in a rush. The night before, I help myself out a little bit and lay everything out in order of what I need to do.
Then I wake up and get dressed as fast as I can because I’m always late. HC: What is your breakfast of champions?
Hope: I can’t get to work without a cup of coffee but I make sure breakfast is an important meal with at least 20 grams of protein, and I’m a stickler about that as a coach. Annie: I definitely do lattes and coffee before anything and I eat Perfect Bar protein bars for breakfast. Charlotte: I gave up coffee but I will drink a hot chai latte that will definitely get my energy up in the morning along with protein shakes or smoothies. HC: What are your beauty musthaves for the show circuit?
barn. Thank god there’s always a bobby pin in my purse or in my car. I keep a goody bag of Katherine Cosmetics in my tack vanity and during the day, as I’m sweating and needing to reapply sunscreen, I use a powder from Colorscience. Charlotte: I use Shiseido sunscreen for face and neck - it’s made for sensitive skin, and I’m kind of lost without my makeup. I also put on Chanel cover up and drugstore mascara but that’s about it. Annie: I use the Katherine Cosmetics Wowstick with SPF 20 and the Katherine Cosmetics lip-glosses with sunscreen that I named after my horses. I go back and forth between Swing and Cloudy, but if I’m riding Cloudy I like to wear Cloudy!
Hope: My friends call me “hair McGyver” because I can literally whip up an up-doo in like two seconds flat at the
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HC: It’s early morning at the showgrounds. What would we catch you wearing?
Hope: I usually come to the barn in my Ariat breeches, that I love. I usually wear a pair of cute boots to the barn, either my Dubarry rain boots or Ariat brown boots. I usually have an Equifit jacket or another jacket on. I start the day off with a hat as well with my current favorite being a white WCHR hat. Annie: I always wear a white monogrammed show-shirt. I’m obsessed with monograms - I have the sleeve monogrammed and the snap-collar monogrammed. I have a series of navy blue V-neck cashmere sweaters so you’ll usually see me in one of those along with a traditional Hermes belt, and then I’ve switched over to Ariat breeches because they’re lower. If I don’t have my show boots on I always wear casual tall boots from Italy. I wear Ariat boots because I’m so sick of custom boots that never come in right. I just buy Ariat off the shelf and I love them! Charlotte: I always wear a sweater, every single day. Even if it’s 90 degrees out in Florida, in the morning, I always wear a sweater. I like the sweaters from Alessandro Albanese. Recently my friend turned me on to Equiline breeches and I love them-they’re so comfortable. For shoes I usually wear Converse or Toms. I’m kind of known for never brushing my hair, so in the morning it will be a mess! HC: Time to talk sunnies- what pair are you wearing?
Hope: I wear Bex sunglasses. They make fashionable glasses but they also make glasses that slip under your helmet and they don’t fog up. I’m addicted to them - I don’t go in the ring or walk around without them.
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Annie: For wearing around the horse show they’re brown leather-wrapped Gucci ray-ban style. They’re very cool. Charlotte: I have these big brown Gucci aviators. They’re plastic which is really nice because when you put them in your backpack they won’t bend like the metal ones will. They’re bulletproof. HC: Now on to the all-important bag- what are you carrying?
Hope: For Easter I got a new Louis Vuitton purse, but at horseshows I always have a HackSack backpack. Annie: I’m obsessed with the old fashioned Goyard totes- the super lightweight ones you can fold up and roll into a ball. I hate to say it but I have this cool cross-body Chanel bag that is so perfect for horseshows it’s not even funny. Charlotte: I put my helmet and all my riding stuff in my riding backpack. I have one of the Louis Vuitton Neverfull bagsthe white and beige one that I’m obsessed with. I got it for Christmas and it’s perfect for horse shows because it’s so big. HC: How do you deal with the dreaded “Helmet Hair”?
Hope: What I usually do is a low pony and then either flip it up into a bun or take parts of it and twist it into a bun, but I can also throw in a braid in five seconds flat! Annie: You know, I think I’m the only person that showers and blow-dries my hair before I go ride! I shower in the morning and do my hair. So when I take my helmet off, it’s not so bad! If you put a baseball cap on, you’re done. You can’t change your mind at dinner and take it off, but if I never put a baseball hat on, I’ll be fine! At least I think I am - maybe I’m not and nobody’s told me! Charlotte: I don’t get bad helmet hair. I’ll brush my hair and put it in a bun
which kind of hides it, but if it’s really bad and I’m sweaty and looking really gross I’ll braid it or put it in a ponytail and put a baseball cap on. HC: The show is over, and it’s time to go out to dinner. What are you wearing?
Hope: I love things that can dress up an outfit. I’m never afraid to spend money on a jacket or a blazer or a purse. When I go out I’m more of a funky dresser. I really like bright colors and fun shoes. I’m a little edgy but I’m not afraid to wear big hoops and high-heeled tennis shoes. Annie: My boot heel gets higher and my jean color maybe goes to dark denim or white and that’s about it - maybe a few more bracelets. My style is definitely more west coast, more casual. My favorite designer ever is Celine. I just bought a Celine dress the other day that, to me, is art. I don’t even know if I’ll ever even wear it.
ANNIE FINCH
CHARLOTTE JACOBS PHOTO BY SPORTFOT
CHARLOTTE JACOBS PHOTO BY JAMES PARKER
Charlotte: Comfort is key for me so I’m never wearing super-tight shorts or tops. I love skinny jeans and a big sweater or a comfortable tank top or blouse. I have everything in my closet, I could be totally classic one day and bohemian or a little edgy the next. I have a crazy shoe collection and I’m always buying shoes and always buying dresses. I just got this dress last week from this brand called For Love and Lemons, that’s my favorite dress right now and probably my favorite designer. HC: Do you have any good luck charms or rituals?
Hope: There’s a company called Spicy Tails and they make horse tail extensions and kids bows, and they make really cute subtle bows in your barn colors. I always have those in my derby horse’s tails kind of as a lucky charm. Annie: I get really stressed out if I do a round and I get off and I don’t have a mint to give my horse! Whether the round was good or bad, whether you won or you didn’t, that whole getting off and giving them a mint is just a happy moment. Charlotte: I have a couple of lucky bracelets, but before every show I have to do these breathing exercises because
sometimes I get really nervous. When I’m at the show I’m always hanging out with my mom. It’s not really a ritual, just sort of a thing I do all the time. When we’re at the shows we’re cemented at the hip. She calms me down a lot. I can’t really sit with friends because I’ll start talking too much, and it just kind of all goes downhill from there. I actually talked with a sports psychologist for a while when I was 15 or 16, who turned me on to the breathing exercises. If I’m getting ready for a big class I’ll imagine myself doing the course in my head. Once you go in the ring it’s like you already did it. That helps big time! I’ve definitely learned how to calm my nerves over the years. A lot of other athletes use sports psychologists so I think it should be acceptable for riders to use them too. HC: What is your advice to others on how to have the best summer yet?
Hope: Being fit and healthy will help you be a better rider, guaranteed. It’s the biggest thing I can tell people to do add cardio and strength training. Adding in the extra exercise and strength training has brought my level of focus to where I think I’m riding as well as I have my whole life. Annie: It’s really fun to plan who’s going to the show in your barn, planning the social activities along with what you’re showing in and what your goals are and then you can really get the most out of it. People don’t like you any more or less if you win or lose. Your friends are your friends and the experience is about that- then no matter what happens, it’s always fun! Charlotte: I would say it’s just good to stay positive, even in the worst situations. Thinking positive has gotten me very far, I always think of the best-case scenario.
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JUST DO IT. (on a horse) By Geoff Young
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erena Williams, LeBron James, Tiger Woods and Ayden Uhlir all have one thing in common. Three of the names listed are known to anyone who has been on planet earth the last several years. They are superstar athletes who have won multiple championships, Olympic Gold Medals, and a fan base in the millions. So who is Ayden Uhlir and what does she have in common with Serena, LeBron and Tiger? Nineteen-year-old Ayden Uhlir has been signed to a sponsorship deal with Nike, making her the first US equestrian athlete to join the giant sportswear conglomerate and take her place along side the other illustrious athletes who wear the swoosh logo. And the Nike slogan, “Just Do It,” certainly applies to Ayden, because against all odds she went and did it! Ayden, while unknown to the general public, is an equestrian superstar in her own right winning back-toback Individual Gold Medals at the 2012 and 2013 North American Junior and Young Riders Championships (NAJYRC), becoming the first young rider to achieve such an accomplishment. Of course Ayden couldn’t have done all of this without her
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partner and horse, Sjapoer (by Contango), a 14-year-old KWPN gelding. Horse Connection caught up with Ayden while she and Sjapoer were competing in Dressage Week at the Del Mar National horse show. She had just
completed her first I-1 competition and had scored a 72.7%. Needless to say she was very excited. HC: How do the classes at the Del Mar show compare to the NAJYR Championships, where you won two gold medals? AU: It felt a little more intense than NAJYRC, but I was able to keep my nerves in check so it didn’t bother me that much. HC: How long have you been competing? AU: I’ve competed since I was about eight-years-old, but only for the last three and a half years at FEI level. HC: Did you ride in any other disciplines before getting into dressage?
Sjapoer has shoes and now, thanks to Nike, so does Ayden. Photo courtesy of Lisa Uhlir
AU: When I was seven, my mom let me do some jumping, but only for a little bit. It was uncomfortable for me because my mom made me wear this protective safety vest that was so large and restrictive, and I’m all about feel in the saddle and this vest was getting in the way. If I’m not comfortable I don’t like to do it so I got out of jumping really quickly and then got hooked on dressage, and have been ever since.
“… we are so affectionate towards one another and I know all his likes and dislikes.” photo by Elma Garcia 2014
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HC: Are you someone who likes to be in control?
HC: Getting that connection with a horse is important isn’t it?
AU: Well, some people think that being a control freak is a bad thing but in the dressage world I think it’s a good thing, especially when executing the movements.
AU: It really is. Why would a horse want to work hard for a rider he isn’t connected with or cares about?
HC: Tell us about your horse Sjapoer? AU: Sjapoer is a Dutch Warmblood I bought in Holland in the winter of 2011, and he just turned 15 in February. HC: Did you develop a quick connection with Sjapoer? AU: Oh yes, within three months of getting him we did the Juniors but we didn’t do too well that year; we were just working the kinks out in our relationship and we didn’t know each other very well. We were brand new so it took some time to develop a bond, but the next year we really jelled and that’s when we won the gold medal in Individual.
HC: You are the first young rider to win back-to-back gold medals at the NAJYR Championships. Following that amazing accomplishment, you started reaching out to find sponsors to help further your riding career. Can you take us through your process for finding a sponsor? AU: Basically, my parents can’t continue to pay for my riding forever and I’m 19 and like most normal 19-year-olds, I should
HC: To get to the top of the podium, it usually takes years to develop that partnership with a horse. You did it in one year. AU: Yeah, I love to spend time with Sjapoer, just sitting in his stall with him, and I don’t even have to spend time petting him. I just have to be in his area and he in mine, and we are so affectionate towards one another and I know all his likes and dislikes. It has definitely been a journey.
“I love to spend time with Sjapoer, just sitting in his stall with him, and I don’t even have to spend time petting him. I just have to be in his area and he in mine…” Photo by Elma Garcia 2014
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have a job and be going to school but that’s just not what my life was meant to be like, and I really needed to find a way to fund my riding myself. So, I decided to send sponsor books out to every company I knew of, and not just companies but families and breeders and individuals. Because what’s the worst that could happen? They say no. HC: What was the sponsor book all about? What was in it? AU: The book was all about me - my life and my story, the bond between Sjapoer and myself and what I want to achieve in my career. And what I really wanted the book to portray to potential sponsors is that Sjapoer and I are worth taking a risk on. There are not many people who want to invest money and products on a young person because there isn’t a lot of show experience, results or consistency. I really want people to believe in us like I believe in us. I’m really proud of the book and I feel like it showed who we are as a team. The book has lots of photos of me growing up, my first ponies, going up the levels, and of course, Sjapoer. HC: I find it interesting that none of the equestrian companies you sent sponsor books to agree to sign you, but then here comes Nike, and suddenly you become the first US equestrian to be sponsored by this huge sportswear giant. That had to be incredibly exciting. AU: Yes, some executives at Nike were interested in my story and they were in southern California for an ironman competition and contacted me and wanted to meet Sjapoer and me and see my barn.
Ayden Uhlir is the only young rider to have won back-to-back Individual Gold Medals at the NAJYRC. She accomplished the double gold in 2012 and 2013. Photo by Susan Stickle/ USDF.org T H E P L AY G R O U N D O F L I F E ™ | H C R U N W AY | J U N E 2 0 1 4 | 6 5
We hit it off and they wanted to know my plans and goals. A week later they emailed me and said they were interested in helping me out. Then around the first of April they flew me out to the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon and I met with the team and took a tour of the campus and it was amazing. If I had to work at an indoor job I would work at the Nike campus. It is a wonderful place. HC: What is it that Nike wants to do for you? AU: As a rider you have to be in great physical shape and Nike really wants to help me with that by providing products and different workout techniques using the Nike Training Club App that features videos of workouts that take you step by step, showing you how to properly condition yourself. It is a great app and I can take it with me everywhere and still get the workouts that I need.
HC: What Nike clothing do you enjoy wearing? AU: I really love the Nike Tech Fleece jacket that is a lightweight shell that is so soft with really great material that I wear to the barn and over my workout clothes. They also sent me some great shoes with my favorite being the Nike Free 3.0. I wear them all day at the barn when I ‘m not in my riding boots. HC: So will we see the Nike swoosh logo on your saddle pads or on you? AU: I have to see if the dressage rules allow it, but I think it would be a great idea. This is a funny story; after I was signed by
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HC: Have you met any of the other Nike athletes, and if not, whom would you like to meet? AU: I haven’t had a chance yet because I was only on the Nike campus for a day, but I’m sure I will next time I visit. Nike would like to see me become part of the Nike team going to different events with the other athletes. I would really like to meet Gabby Douglas and Shawn Johnson, the Olympic Gymnastic medalists. HC: Speaking of the Olympics, is that a goal of yours? AU: Oh absolutely, that is my main goal. Since riders have a very long career, I can potentially qualify for seven or eight Olympics, and Nike is excited with that possibility. At the last Olympics, there was a 70+ year-old Dressage rider competing.
HC: So Nike is putting together a training program for you? AU: Yes, they’re really excited about dipping their toe into the equestrian world and they thought that this would be a good time to test the waters with me. The dressage world is fairly big and Nike is really intrigued with the sport, especially with how hard you have to work when you’re on the horse, while making it appear that you aren’t doing anything. Nike has developed a lot of resistance training and core strength techniques and they think they can make me a betterconditioned athlete in those areas.
Nike, I got some colored hair chalk and drew a Nike swoosh on Sjapoer’s flank. It was really adorable and I can do it in different colors but I don’t think the show regulations will allow that.
HC: That’s a good point because potentially, Nike has an athlete that can be on the world stage for 40 years, something that can only be done in equestrian sport.
“Why would a horse want to work hard for a rider he isn’t connected with or cares about?”
AU: Yes, that is one thing that Nike is excited about – that the public can kind of grow up with me, that young girls can go through life with me. That excites me that I could be a potential role model and help young girls. The sport is amazing and I am so excited to be able to expose it to everybody and give it the appreciation that it deserves.
Sjapoer stands patiently as Ayden puts their sponsor’s iconic logo on his flank, using colored hair chalk. Signed as a team, Sjapoer, at 1800 pounds, has to be the largest athlete ever signed by Nike. Photo courtesy of Lisa Uhlir
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HC: I think you are in the perfect position to be a great role model, not just because of winning the double gold medals in young riders, but the initiative that you took to find a sponsor, and to present yourself in such a way that a huge company like Nike would take an interest in you. Has the discipline of Dressage given you some tools that have helped you achieve all of this at such a young age? AU: I think Dressage has helped me become more independent – not in a way where I can do whatever I want, but in a way where what I do is done correctly. Especially with horses - you have to be in charge of taking care of this big animal. It’s not like a soccer ball where when you’re done with it you put it in the closet. You have to exercise and feed and groom a horse and it is a really big job that teaches you responsibility for yourself and the horse.
for me is learning how to keep my hands steady and not disrupt the horse’s natural movement. I need to be able to go with the gaits of the horse and follow him with my hands and be steady. That’s the finesse end of it, to be able to follow the horse with a calm steadiness. HC: I heard that you have a funny nickname for Christine. What is it? AU: The “magical unicorn.” I think it is so funny that this has become a thing. All of us who ride with Christine have a really fun relationship with her and we were talking one day about how awesome she was and I said,“she is like a magical unicorn, because she can make things happen and we
AU: Right now Sjapoer and I will be doing I-1 classes while he is preparing me for my future horse. I am looking for a younger horse that could do the Brentina cup classes. Sjapoer is not able to take me to the grand prix level - it’s a huge jump from young riders to the under 25 grand prix, and it’s hard to make that jump to reach that next level, so I’m working on creating a solid base for myself for that next horse.
AU: He has taught me unconditional love. He is always there for me no matter what and that is something that I want to be for my friends and family - someone that they can count on. I also need to learn that you can’t always control things and horses can definitely teach you that!
AU: She has been teaching me finesse with effectiveness and she is a wonderful teacher and I admire her and what she has done throughout her career.
HC: Since you and Sjapoer have been signed as a team by Nike, does that make Sjapoer the largest athlete Nike has ever sponsored?
HC: What is finesse with effectiveness?
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HC: What are your plans for the rest of 2014?
HC: What lessons has Sjapoer taught you in your life?
HC: You are now training in California with Olympic Bronze medalist Christine Traurig. What are you learning under her guidance?
AU: It is being able to sit on the horse and look like you’re not doing anything. Achieving effectiveness is about getting the horse connected without pulling him around and forcing him into the contest - being able to get him to be willing to go there without force by using technique and leg aids. The finesse part
don’t know how.” And everybody started laughing and we all just started calling her that.
Ayden trains with Olympic Bronze medalist Christine Traurig. Photo courtesy of Lisa Uhlir
AU: Definitely the largest. I don’t think there is anybody larger than him. He is 1,800 pounds of raw energy and I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.
Ayden - photo by Elma Garcia 2014
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A
yden will certainly be a fantastic ambassador for the sport of dressage and equestrians everywhere should be excited with the news that Nike has entered the world of sporthorses. However, it remains to be seen where all of this will lead. Dressage as a sport is far from mainstream, but this is a step that could be very positive in moving horse sport into public awareness. We can only hope that one day we might see Air Uhlir Dressage Boots or Air Sjapoer saddle pads and bell boots under the Nike brand. After all, there wasn’t any Nike golf equipment until Tiger Woods came along. One can only hope and wait. To keep up with Ayden, visit her blog at http://dressagespot.blogspot.com/
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Jill Apfelbaum of
ltd
M alvern Saddlery Name of business. Malvern Saddlery Ltd First business? Buyer for European Fashion Boutique and Executive Director Personal Shopping Service for Bloomingdales King of Prussia location Other businesses? Corinthian Farm Sport Horse Breeding Tell us about YOU I have always seen the world in terms of color and texture - everything I have ever been drawn to has been a reflection of that instinct. Combining a fine arts and fashion background with deep roots in the equestrian world has allowed me to merge and share those passions with others and hopefully provide an inspirational resource for the barn, the home and of course, the horse and rider. Besides you business, what is your involvement or connection with horses? I trained, coached and rode hunters and jumpers coming out of college, transitioned to dressage in the late 70’s and started a careful breeding program at the onset of the importation trend. After scribing for big breeding shows for three years and researching extensively, I felt prepared to begin crossing top European blood lines with very proven Thoroughbred lines and was fortunate to put some exceptional young horses on the ground.
What encouraged you to create an equestrian business? As a longtime horseman, I found a void locally in quality tack stores with knowledgeable staff. After canvasing other professionals I discovered that I was not alone so I saw the opportunity to combine my equestrian background with 24 years of retail fashion into a business whose tag line remains today - “The Difference is Quality.” What is the most fulfilling part of your business? It is developing long-term relationships with our clients for sure, and procuring and developing products to suit their specific needs. The store is focused not just on the technical needs of the horse and rider but the lifestyle of that individual. It is exciting for us to be their ‘go to’ for their everyday fashion, gifts and home décor. What is the least fulfilling? Paperwork Is there anything that horses have taught you that translates into your business model? PATIENCE! Who inspires you? I am inspired by creative people. The energy that comes from creativity filters down to excellence in products and becomes the fuel for me to continue to have
excitement and energy within the store. I seek leaders, not followers to drive my business and that’s what inspires me. What do you consider your toughest challenge? In a world filled with instant gratification and people looking for a ‘deal,’ what sets stores like ours and many other dedicated equestrian stores apart is the ability to not only seek out the very best assortment of products for our clientele, but service all of their needs through a high level of knowledgeable professional and personal service. It is the difference philosophically from having a ‘customer ‘who responds to the latest coupon in the mail and the ability to develop a loyal ‘client.‘ We are very grateful to our many loyal and appreciative clients. What is your favorite charity? It’s very difficult to say because my heart goes out in many directions. Through my business we make sure to support a few of the dedicated organizations working to do horse rescues. We also help where we can the Ryers Horse Retirement Farm and several Therapeutic Riding Organizations who do phenomenal work.
What is your favorite country that you have visited? Italy. Favorite shoes? I’m on my feet all day seven days a week, so I resort to my Tucci paddock boots for my favorite shoes. No fancy high heels for this lady! Who is your favorite stud? I’m old school and am a big fan of the Furioso II bloodlines. Favorite saddle? Equipe. What is your guilty pleasure? Crème Brulee. Were you a wild or mild child growing up? Mild. Where do you live in your dreams? At the farm. You’re partner “must love horses.” What else must they love besides you? Passion.
Dogs or children? Dogs. Greatest regret? Not enough hours in the day. Number one on your bucket list? Choreographing and riding Grand Prix freestyle. What is your motto? “In order to achieve excellence, you must surround yourself by excellence.” What’s on the horizon? Continuing to work with our vendors here and abroad to develop exclusive products that we can offer through our storefront and website. We will be set up at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, May22-June 1st followed by the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. In September we will back on the Devon Show grounds for the Devon Fall Classic Jumper show and two weeks later for Dressage at Devon. Contact Information: Jill Apfelbaum c/o Malvern Saddlery Ltd #1 E. King St, Malvern, PA 19355 p.610-695-9980 malvern01@comcast.net MalvernSaddlery.com
soulbox the place that inspires or calms the soul of the equestrian
Stay Calm and Yoga On By Anna Jensen
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etter body awareness, flexibility, balance, presence of mind, focus, and relaxation- those all seem like extremely beneficial abilities for a rider to possess. Lindsay Smith, a beautiful redheaded yogini and equestrienne who has been riding since she was nine, is hoping to bring all of those elusive skills to riders everywhere. Lindsay started in hunter and jumpers, but has also dabbled in eventing and dressage, and currently shows Arabians and Saddlebreds nationally with her husband. Based out of Los Angeles, Smith teaches sport-oriented yoga at a variety of different area studios. She is currently the yoga coach for the LA professional soccer team, Chivas USA, and is the exclusive yoga instructor for the athlete’s village at the upcoming X-Games in Austin as well as the World Series of Beach Volleyball. She has amassed a client list that includes players from NFL, NBA, and MLB teams, as well as numerous college athletes.
through horse and rider.” Smith insists that adding yoga to your riding, not just experiencing a blissed-out ride as “good enough” to get your Zen-fix, can bring about profound changes in your physical and mental state and consequently your horse’s physical and mental state. “What I see in riders that I’ve been helping is that yoga is great for correcting any imbalances that could be translating to your horse. By that, I mean the little things we do in our daily lives. We always drive with our right foot, so that hip may be a little bit tighter and a little bit stronger so cueing with our right leg might be a little bit different. On a really sensitive horse that makes all the difference.” Smith explains.
Smith started doing yoga about 15 years ago when she was a fashion industry executive and, as she describes herself, was “well dressed and high stressed” Her hours on the yoga mat immediately made her feel better mentally and physically, especially with aches and pains caused by falls from horses. “Taking those few minutes before I get on helps me to have a really clear mindset and be a little bit more present. I’m not thinking about what happened in the last ride, and then freaking out about that. I’m thinking, okay, this is a new ride, this is a new day and I’m able to take each little thing as it comes and be more confident.” Many riders say that riding is their yoga and Smith agrees that the benefits can feel similar. “I think so many people find meditation, or that calmness of mind, through movement and being really present. Many riders are able to find that moment of stillness through the movement created, that trust created,
“From doing yoga you will remember to take a deep breath and relax your muscles, which affects your horse.”
How many times have you been asked to move your leg a certain way, to bring your shoulders back more, to tuck in your tush- and that same instruction seems to be repeated from your instructor with every single lesson you take? Smith says that’s another plus from time spent on a yoga mat. “I grew up doing ballet and riding, and I think body awareness and position is a really hard thing to grasp if you haven’t been taught that from a very young age. I think that is something yoga really emphasizes- knowing where your body is in space- without actually having to look.”
Lindsay Smith, when not riding, teaches sportoriented yoga to equestrians and athletes and is currently the yoga coach for Chivas USA, the Los Angles professional soccer team.
Smith also has an interesting way of helping riders prepare and practice for those times when mid-course, or midride, you lose your cool and everything seems to shut down. “I will put you into really uncomfortable situations. I’ll put you in a deep stretch and make you hold it for a really long time. It takes a little time for the body to get over that period of freaking out because it’s a really hard stretch and you wondering how you are going to make it. That allows you to let go and then the mind clears and you realize it’s going to be okay. I think that directly translates to riding because if something happens unexpectedly you might have that moment where all of your muscles tense and your breath stops. From doing yoga you will remember to take a deep breath and relax your muscles, which affects your horse.” Smith says that learning to stay mentally present through yoga and then on your horse also affects your horse’s trust in you and what you ask them to do. She says that when we get nervous it is easy to go into a kind of anxiety-fueled tunnel vision. By staying present and calm, she says we take in the entire field of vision around us and our mounts can detect that. Smith says that when your mount senses that you are on the same wavelength as to what your surroundings and possible dangers are, they will feel more in-sync and more trusting of you as leader. Smith believes equestrian-oriented yoga is in its infant-stages, but it’s growing. She works with many equestrians privately and in her yoga classes throughout the LA- area. She is currently developing a workshop series to bring to interested showstables, equestrian centers and groups, and is available for private instruction worldwide though various media platforms. For more information visit www. facebook.com/YogaForEquestrians or www.rawsportsyoga.com
soulbox “What I see in riders that I’ve been helping is that yoga is great for correcting any imbalances that could be translating to your horse.”
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