World Equestrian Center Magazine Volume I 2022 by World Equestrian Center

Quality. Class. Class. Distinction. Distinction. Quality.

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VOL VOL II 2022 2022

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Contents 19

Welcome to WEC

Stable Spotlight

24 Hours in the Life of Doug Payne

featuring MTM Farm by Brianna Miller

as told to Jump Media

Junior Rider Focus

Dogs at WEC

Scene at WEC

Inspiration

Winter Wonderland: A Magical Experience

Chef's Corner

Parents Perspective

featuring Carlee McCutcheon as told to Brianna Miller

by Brianna Miller

Photo: Pam Jensen Photography

Age Is But A Number for Jean Brinkman and Faithkeeper by Jump Media

It’s All About The Journey by Ben Baugh

Behind the Plate with Executive Sous Chef Vincent Cani by Brianna Miller

World Equestrian Center: Words Alone Are Not Enough by Jim Frankowiak

The Tech Equestrian

Equestrian Style

Hot Properties

Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography

Horse Match: A Modern Way to Shop for Horses and Essentials by Juliana Chapman

Top 10 Ways to Prepare for your Portrait Session with Andrew Ryback by Andrew Ryback

Real estate available now at Golden Ocala

Cover Photo: Shannon Brinkman Photography

Photo: Maven Photo + Film

Welcome to WEC

Photo: Maven Photo + Film

orses can inspire us and instill in us a passion that spans entire lifetimes. Often one pony ride at a birthday party can spark a lifelong love of horses. We see it in this issue from junior rider Carlee McCutcheon to Century Club rider Jean Brinkman. Although they are half a century apart in age, they share the same driving passion for horses.

Lifelong horseman Doug Payne, who finished 6th as part of Team USA and 16th individually in eventing at the Tokyo Olympics, is the subject of our 24 Hours feature. We spend Cross Country day with Doug and hear what it was like from his perspective, from countless course walks to the thrilling ride over the amazing Olympic course. To Chef Vincent Cani, meals are about more than just the food on the plate. In our Chef ’s Corner, Chef Cani shares his thoughts on how he came to love preparing meals and the family-oriented values that shape his whole philosophy. Carlee McCutcheon hails from a family legacy rich in breeding and competing top reining horses. In our Jr. Rider Focus, we learn about Carlee’s decision to take her passion in a different direction, focusing her passion on the hunter/ jumper world. With the support of her family, she’s making

For Editorial: Quality. Class. Distinction.®

the most of her skills, already climbing the ranks of the sport to win at the Grand Prix level. Instagram is awash in elegant stylized photos of horses and their riders. Have you always wanted to invest in a portrait session or maybe it’s your senior photo time? In our Equestrian Style column, Andrew Ryback of Andrew Ryback Photography shares expert tips on how to make the most of your equestrian portrait session. Our Tech Equestrian column introduces you to Horse Match, a Tinder-like app to help equestrians purchase their next horse and all of the essential products and services that go along with horse ownership. The innovative solution launched in January 2021 and has had equestrians swiping right ever since. We hope that wherever you are in your journey, the stories in this issue inspire you to pursue your passion for horses. God bless,

The Roberts Family

Candace FitzGerald | candace.fitzgerald@wec.net

Bottom photos: Andrew Ryback Photography

For Advertising:

Karla Campbell | karla.campbell@wec.net VOL I 2022

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Quality. Class. Distinction.®

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We take a moment to shine the spotlight on a featured Barn or Stable to learn a bit about their business, their philosophy, and just hear their story ...

MTM FARM MTM Farm has earned a stellar reputation as a stable that imports and produces top-ranking, quality hunters and jumpers who can be found competing all over the world. by Brianna Miller |

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photos by Andrew Ryback Photography

he MTM Farm was founded in 2004, after Mike McCormick and Tracy Fenney wed. “I met Mike a long time ago. I tried a horse that he was selling and fell in love with it. Unfortunately, my parents said no because the horse was too expensive. Shortly after, Mike called saying he had other horses for me to try, and when I went to his farm, my parents surprised me with the horse. A couple of years later, we started dating.” The newlywed couple started MTM Farm in Flower Mound, Texas, but now, the facility has recently relocated to Ocala, Florida. The Texas farm started with 9 stalls and eventually grew to a 34-stall stable that housed many of the MTM Farm sale horses currently competing around the world. The McCormick’s traveled to Ocala for 15 to 20 years where they happened to meet Dorrie Douglas.

Stable Spotlight: MTM Farm

We were walking the course just in awe, I kept thinking to myself, I can’t believe this place is actually possible.

Douglas had taken a few years off from showing to backpack across Southeast Asia and teach in South Korea. When Douglas returned, she wanted a job with horses again. Douglas met the McCormick’s 10 years ago, “We were at a show in Ocala when Dorrie approached us, asking for a job. Mike had her ride horses and do some difficult barn chores, but Dorrie was strong and did every single thing Mike asked. We brought her onto the team and she has really helped us develop our business. She rides horses all day and helps with the books. It is so rare to find someone that is so independent and such a go-getter like Dorrie. She has truly become a part of the family.”

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Stable Spotlight: MTM Farm

Together, they rented barns during the horse shows in Ocala, but when they discovered WEC was being built, they decided to put down more permanent roots. The Ocala property boasts 20 acres and is filled with beautiful live oak trees covered in Spanish moss. The only structure that was on the property when MTM Farm purchased the land was a small five-stall barn with a roof leak. Mike McCormick wanted to preserve the trees, so they built the property around the them. Over

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time, the McCormick’s and Douglas fixed up the property little by little whenever they were in town. MTM Farm had a vision for the Ocala farm, “We have been to so many barns in Europe, and in Wellington, we were able to establish our own ideas from what we found would work for us. We wanted to add some uniqueness,

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Apple is amazing. She is always in it to win it with me. She looks like she’s a big, slow girl but once she kicks into gear, she is game,” said Fenney.

which is why we went with the clear doors and the tiered entry,” shared Fenney. The stunning property boasts 38 stalls, six outside wash stalls and three inside grooming stalls. The farm has two separate air-conditioned tack rooms,

one for Fenney and one for Douglas. The gorgeous stable also has an office and kitchen space. Fun outdoor games like shuﬄeboard and cornhole are spread throughout the stable area, “We are always working so hard, so it’s fun to play a game every once in a while.” laughed Douglas.

Known as “Fantastic Fenney,” Tracy has earned a solid reputation for her success in both the jumpers and in the hunter ring. In 2017, Fenney won the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at HITS (Ocala) with MTM Outbid. After that remarkable win, Fenney continued her success,

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earning multiple top finishes in the Green Hunter divisions, posting wins at multiple top shows. By 2020, Fenney’s accomplishments helped earn her USEF’s National Equestrian of The Year title. Fenney is currently ranked fourth in the Lifetime National Rider Standings for the Green Hunter Incentive Program. During the 2021 World Equestrian Center – Ocala Winter Spectacular, Fenney won two 3’ hunter derbies aboard MTM Animated and earned multiple top three placings during the Ocala Summer Series horse show. On the jumper side, Fenney is a name that is often seen in the headlines. She has won numerous grands prix across the country, including two grands prix aboard MTM Apple during the WEC Ocala Summer Series in 2021. During week VI of the World Equestrian Center – Ocala Summer Series, Fenney brought home first and second place out of 40 entries. During the final week of the Ocala Summer Series, Fenney captured the blue ribbon once again on MTM Apple, besting a field of 54 entries. “Apple is amazing. She is always in it to win it with me. She looks like she’s a big, slow girl but once she kicks into gear, she is game,” said Fenney.

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

Fenney had a first memorable experience at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, “I won the second Welcome class during the winter circuit, which was super special,” smiled Fenney. “There is no better feeling then walking down that ramp into the Grand Arena. The feeling is like no other. It all just feels so grand.” “The night that I got first and second place in the Grand Prix was so much fun. The crowd was amazing and to be under the lights with the beautiful jumps and atmosphere is just incredible.” Douglas is right next to Fenney in the rankings, often battling each other for first, “We are very competitive with each other. Of course, we are happy when the other wins, but we never shy from some fun competition,” voiced Douglas. Douglas also recalled her first time in the WEC Grand Arena, “It was the first day of the 2021 Winter Spectacular and I was walking a 1.30m course with Mike. We were walking the course just in awe, I kept thinking to myself, I can’t believe this place is actually possible.”

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Stable Spotlight: MTM Farm

We are very competitive with each other. Of course, we are happy when the other wins, but we never shy from some fun competition.

Douglas received great placings during the Ocala Winter Spectacular as well, winning the first Welcome Prix aboard MTM Chelsea 98. During the Ocala Summer Series, Douglas won numerous feature classes, including multiple wins in the competitive $15,000 WEC Ocala 1.40m Jumper Classic.

Mike McCormick is MTM’s man on the ground. You’ll always find him ringside at horse shows, training Fenney and Douglas. The three will strategize together to create the best plan for the horses, which contributes to their overall success. “Mike is an amazing trainer; he makes me think about the next step. He is always saying it’s not

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Stable Spotlight: MTM Farm

just about where you take off, it’s about where you land,” said Douglas. MTM Farm has produced a long list of top horses that are now competing across the world, proudly wearing the now iconic “MTM” prefix. Brian Moggre a well-known young rider, has owned a string of MTM horses that brought him up through the ranks, from success in the equitation and junior jumpers to his very first FEI grand prix win.

“It is a great feeling to see MTM across the rankings from all over. We have sold some amazing horses and we hope to continue to produce quality horses that makes the riders really enjoy the sport.” From top hunters that won some of the largest hunter derbies to top jumpers that have won fivestar FEI grands prix, “MTM” is usually atop the leaderboard in any class. With Fenney and Douglas racking up the feature class wins, MTM Farm has a bright future on the horizon.

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EXCEPTIONAL EQUESTRIAN - OCALA, FLORIDA CUSTOM FOX - WILMINGTON, OHIO Quality. Class. Distinction.®

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IN THE

HOURS LIFE of

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In this 24 Hours in the Life of Doug Payne, we look back with him on one of the most exciting days of his life, when he competed in the crosscountry phase with his partner Vandiver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. He and his horse, known as “Quinn” in the barn, would go on to be the highest-placing American combination at their first Olympics. Follow along to see how his day went! as told to Jump Media

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

Photo: Shannon Brinkman Photography

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Top and bottom photos: Pam Jensen Photography 24 Hours in the Life of NAME

4:45 am I wake up at the hotel and get food delivered. Due to strict COVID-19 regulations, we were restricted to our hotel, the shuttle and the venue. That was pretty much it. Before I eat or drink anything, I have to spit into a little vial for our daily COVID test. I leave the hotel by 5:45 a.m. and head to the cross-country venue, called Sea Forest, which is a temporary site just for the day of cross-country. 6:15 am I arrive at the Sea Forest Cross-Country Course venue. The Olympic Organizing Committee created a really great environment for the horses with air-conditioned, tented

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24 Hours in the Life of Doug Payne

I probably walked this course more than I walked anything else in my life! "

stabling. The night before, The Jockey Club and Japanese racing association provided all of the air-conditioned transportation for the horses to travel from permanent stabling at the Baji Koen venue. It was a pretty amazing set up with two waves of horses and a line of vans that looked like a conga line! While some riders arrived early and got on their horses for a short ride first thing in the morning, I didn’t feel that was necessary since I was scheduled to go early as third in the order. 6:30–7:30 am I head out and walk the cross-country course one last time. It’s always nice early; it’s always super quiet and you’ve got the whole thing to yourself and there’s not much noise or distraction. You can refine your lines and you can also get a better idea of what the lighting is going to be like. I probably walked this course more than I walked anything else in my life! I then go back to the barn, get changed and hop on Quinn. 7:45 am Quinn and I are warming up for our cross-country run. I’ve had Quinn for six years and know him really well. Going first out for the team in some ways is probably not an advantage, but he is super genuine and predictable, yet not conventional. He definitely does his own thing. So in this way, I have a plan walking the course and am ready to execute. 7:51 am I start my cross-country ride. Going out onto the course, I think it’s the best prepared I’ve ever been, but with that said, clearly I’ve probably never had so much focus on myself and my horse at one time in my career or lifetime. It’s such a huge honor that we were selected and I want to make the most of

Photos: Pam Jensen Photography

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the opportunity. My personal mindset is that I tend to function best if I make it like any other day. I try to minimize as much as possible and think of it like any other event, because if I think of the magnitude of what it is, I would probably get more wrapped up in that than I would in riding well. My thought process walking up to the start box is actively going through the plan on the entire course and just trying to focus on that. I’m trying to make it as much of a common cross-country course that I’ve been on 8,000 times before. But not until I cross the finish line does it hit me that I was able to just do what I did. 8:00 am Quinn and I are back in the cooling out area following our run. I do a quick debrief with our coach, Erik Duvander, who relays down to my teammates Phillip

It’s such a huge honor that we were selected and I want to make the most of the opportunity. "

Photos: Pam Jensen Photography

ELEGANCE PERFORMANCE LIFESTYLE For Horses USA 3420 Fairlane Farms Rd - Wellington FL www.forhorsesusa.com FH can be found at select WEC Ocala boutiques

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Photo: Shannon Brinkman Photography

Favorite Things Doug Payne’s

My Grumman Tiger airplane That’s the top of the list, but I’d love to fly an A-10 one day.

Maui Jim sunglasses Garmin D2 Air Aviator watch My flying watch at the moment.

Charles Owen helmet My Charles Owen helmet keeps me safe when I put my feet in the stirrups.

True Religion jeans Outside of boots and breeches, I wear True Religion jeans and 5.11 clothing.

Bourbon I’m a huge bourbon fan and love Blanton’s, Rowan’s Creek, and Angel’s Envy.

Trucks We drive a Freightliner truck, but if I had anything smaller, it would be a Chevy.

Skiing Besides riding, I also love skiing. I raced when I was in college at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. My degree is in mechanical engineering.

Biking I also love biking, either mountain or road cycling. I always travel with my Montague Paratrooper Pro mountain bike with upgraded components to shows. It’s a foldable frame so you can stick it anywhere. Quality. Class. Distinction.®

Dutton and Boyd Martin any information about the course, how it rode, what they expected versus what happened. I try to give them as much insight as possible. My groom, Courtney Carson, has Quinn, and although he is a bit tired, he recovers really, really well. 8:10 am I get pulled away to go talk to the media and give interviews on my ride. In the meantime, Courtney and our team vet, Dr. Susan Johns, and our whole crew cool out Quinn. The tents have misting fans and ice water, so they are able to instantly put the horses in an environment to help them cool down quickly. After the interviews, I head back to the barn, change into some shorts, and go back out to the course to watch Phillip go on course at 9 a.m. and talk to Quinn’s co-owners, Debi and Kevin Crowley, who also bred him.

10:09 am Our last U.S. team rider, Boyd Martin on Tsetserleg, heads out on course. I watch the rest of the competition, which wraps up before noon, and then we catch a shuttle back to our hotel. 1 pm Back at the hotel, I’m able to take a shower, get changed, get some lunch and relax. The grooms are busy getting the horses shipped back to Baji Koen at the main show venue. 4 pm I am at Baji Koen to see Quinn and talk to Courtney about plans for the next day’s final phase of showjumping. We have the trot up first thing in the morning to check for soundness, so it’s important to make sure that Quinn feels good and is healthy heading into the last day.

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24 Hours in the Life of Doug Payne Photo: Pam Jensen Photography

The sponsors that help keep Doug at the top of the sport include: Purina Horseware Ireland Bemer Charles Ancona Charles Owen CWD Ecogold Sergio Grasso Hit Air Arenus Spectravet 6 pm

My personal mindset is that I tend to function best if I make it like any other day. "

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It’s back to the hotel and time to get dinner. After that, I’m able to FaceTime with my wife Jessica and our kids. Abby is 3-and-a-half years old, and Hudson is a year-and-a-half. My trip to pre-quarantine in Aachen, Germany, and then on to Tokyo is the longest I’ve ever been away from them. I’ve never been away more than a day or two in their lives and this has been more than three weeks. We try to FaceTime a couple times a day if possible. Not being with Jess and the kids is probably the hardest part about being there. 8 pm The 13-hour time change still is affecting me, so honestly, I call it a night and head to bed! I’m really looking forward to the final day of competition for our U.S. eventing team. I’m thankful for the incredible support from abroad, from my family and crew at home, Courtney here in Tokyo, and most importantly today, for Quinn.

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McCut ®

Junior Rider Focus: Carlee McCutcheon

WEC

WEC CM WEC CM

WEC CM

What disciplines do you currently compete in?

The disciplines are so different; they could not be more opposite. In hunters/jumpers, I am always told to stay up and stay in front of the saddle, where in reining, I have to sit back, not kick, or hold my reins too much, but the foundation of reining is similar to hunters/jumpers as far as getting the horses broke.

I compete in hunters, jumpers and equitation. My parents compete reining horses, so I also do a little bit of that as well. How often do you compete in reining classes? I do several reining shows a year. I will travel to reining shows between my regular horse show schedule. During the Ocala Summer Series, I went to Oklahoma City to compete, then came back to show for an additional two weeks. When did you start riding? I have been riding my entire life. My entire family rides. My dad and my brother are reining horse trainers and my mom is a non-pro, so horses have always been a part of my life.

Do you find any overlap in your riding style because of riding multiple disciplines?

WEC CM

What do you find most difficult between all four disciplines? Every horse you get on is different. You are never going to find two horses that are the same. For as little as I ride the reiners, it is difficult for me to go to the reining shows because that is all that my family competes in. They ride reining horses all day, every day. So, when I get there, I feel a little clueless because it is so different from what I am used to.

tcheon

as told to

Brianna Miller

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

Photos by Andrew Ryback Photography

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Junior Rider Focus: Carlee McCutcheon

WEC CM

Do you have current goals for each discipline? This year, I would like to be able to do well in an equitation final. My plan right now is to go to Prix des States. To be successful in that would be very important to me and really cool. I also want to keep moving up and stay consistent.

was only one rider to go after me, and when he had a jump down, I was in disbelief knowing I won the class.

WEC

What is your biggest accomplishment that you have had in your riding career? At the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show in Houston, I won my first grand prix. It was so much fun and such a great experience. It happened to be my first night class too, which was amazing. I won on MTM Unexpected from Michael McCormick and Tracy Fenney of MTM Farm. He has been nothing but amazing. I did all of my first classes on him. I did my first low, medium and high junior jumper classes, my first grand prix, my first everything on that horse. Tell us about the first grand prix win. I think there were about 30 horses in the class and only five made it clean. I never really expected that I would win a grand prix. There

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Tell us about the horses that you rode in a few of the Grands Prix during the Ocala NSBA Summer Series. The two horses that I competed were MTM Unexpected and MTM Fortunate that I purchased from MTM Farm. The two horses couldn't be any more different. The only similarity is that they [have the] same [kind of mind] and both couldn’t be sweeter. I bought MTM Unexpected as a 7-year-old turning 8 and he has taught me so much. It has been a great experience to grow together and learn new things. MTM Unexpected brought me from the Children’s Jumpers to my first grand prix win. He is the sweetest horse and always tries to do the right thing.

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Junior Rider Focus: NAME

MTM Fortunate was imported when he was 13 years old from Europe. I rode him the day he came home from quarantine and he was perfect. He is now 15 and really helps build my confidence.

WEC CM

Tell us about your hunter/equitation horse KT Hedwich. KT Hedwich is amazing. I did the Medal Maclay and Washington [classes] on him in California during the winter. I also compete him in the bigger derbies and USEF Talent Search. What do you do in your free time? School. I don’t take any time off; I just keep going. It is easy to get behind but every chance I get, I do schoolwork. I love the horses so much, I am either with them, doing school, or with my family. I am just so happy to be with horses all the time.

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

WEC CM

How often do you travel? I am always traveling, I am never home. Beginning of the year we are in California, then I go to Houston. I stay in Houston for a reining show, then come to WEC for the Summer Series. Then, we go straight to Kentucky, Michigan, then indoors. When I am not showing my hunters or jumpers, I am showing the reiners. Who is your biggest inspiration? I have two inspirations. My grandmother, Colleen McQuay, has taught me so much and she motivates me to be a better rider each and every day. I also admire Tracy Fenney from MTM Farm. She is amazing and so much fun to watch. She makes it look so easy and is such a great rider.

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Junior Rider Focus: Carlee McCutcheon

WEC CM

WEC

What is your horse show philosophy? If I get in my head about showing, I do bad. So, I always try and pretend that it’s just another horse show. Of course, I want to win because I am very competitive, but the more that I do the details, it goes much better for me rather than focusing on being perfect. What advice would you give to a younger rider who is interested in competing in multiple disciplines?

My first ponies and my first junior hunter were ones that could win but tell on you if you were wrong. I think those types of horses teach you how to show and how to create the winning round rather than having one that just does it for you or scare you. So, finding that happy medium really helped me a lot when I was younger.

WEC

What would you like to do in the future?

WEC CM

WEC

What are some of your favorite equestrian brands?

I would love to go ride in Europe. The horses over there are incredible and I would love to keep learning. I also hope to become a professional once I age out.

De Niro: My boots are De Niro. They are so comfortable and beautiful!

Who are your biggest supporters?

Voltaire: I ride in a Voltaire. It is my favorite saddle for every discipline.

My parents [Tom and Mandy McCutcheon] and my grandparents, Tim and Colleen McQuay are my biggest supporters. They believe that I can accomplish anything. Mike McCormick and Tracy Fenney have also done so much for me and support me. They have helped me find the perfect horses that have made me the rider I am today.

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Ariat: I love Ariat. All of my breeches, shirts

and show coats are Ariat.

Samshield: I ride and show in a Samshield helmet and love how they look. They fit me perfectly!

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Dogs at World Equestrian Center

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Dogs at World Equestrian Center

W We love having horse shows at our World Equestrian Center facilities in Ohio and Florida! When our exhibitors come into town, we know that they don’t just bring their horses, they bring their small furry friends as well. This year we welcomed a diverse group of adorable pups from different ages, colors, shapes and sizes. Here are a few furry friends that stole our hearts, and we hope that they steal yours. by Brianna Miller

CENTER Photos by Andrew Ryback Photography

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scene at wec

AGE IS BUT A NUMBER for

Jean Brinkman and Faithkeeper By

Jump Media

Photos by Erica Hills Photography

any people might balk at the idea of getting on a horse at the age of 81 years old. Many less would turn that ride into competing at a USDF-rated horse show and completing a Prix St. Georges test. But for Jean Brinkman of Wellborn, Florida, it was just another day of bringing horses and joy into her life that has already had an abundance of both.

Two years ago, Jean was considering joining The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club, in which membership comes from a combined age of at least 100 years old for horse and rider. The Century Club was established by The Dressage Foundation in 1996, at the suggestion of the late Dr. Max Gahwyler, noted dressage judge and clinician. The purpose of The Century Club is to honor senior dressage riders and horses that are still actively riding and competing. The Century Club has had 513 members since its inception. “I just love riding and training, more than showing,” said Jean. “I like goals, [and] when The Century Club idea came up, I thought, ‘That’s another goal.’ At the time, we were a year away from the century. Now we’re 102! We’re well over!” She was planning to complete that goal in 2020, but due to COVID, it was postponed. On her birthday

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extensions. You just release and off she goes. That was her father too. She’s got a lot of his traits.” Jean still owns and runs Valhalla Farm with her husband Roy, who is 89 years old and manages their cattle herd. Erin is a trainer at the farm, her daughter Shannon is an award-winning equestrian photographer, and they also have a son Jason. Since 1972, the Brinkmans have been breeding and training warmbloods for more than four decades and produce their own hay at their working farm of 450 acres.

“I just love riding and training, more than showing,” said Jean. “I like goals, [and] when The Century Club idea came up, I thought, ‘That’s another goal.’ At the time, we were a year away from the century. Now we’re 102! We’re well over!” this year, her daughter Erin, also a dressage rider and trainer, urged her to complete the ride to join The Century Club with Faithkeeper, Jean’s 21-year-old homebred Trakehner mare. Jean remarked, “I did the Prix St. Georges at home in the ring. I could have sent [a video] in, but it didn’t seem fair to do it at home. I thought I should come out somewhere. Life is supposed to be fun, and I thought it sounded like fun.” Jean and Erin decided to attend their first competition at World Equestrian Center – Ocala at the WEC Dressage XIV Show August 27, 2021. Jean entered the USEF Test of Choice class and performed the Prix St. Georges test. They received a score of 62.059% for second place. It was Jean’s first time back in the show ring in 15 years.

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While the accomplishment of joining The Century Club is impressive, the fact that Jean rode Faithkeeper, a horse so dear to her heart, added yet another layer of meaning. Jean bred Faithkeeper from a mare, Feodammee von Krotenbach that she imported from Germany, with her flagship stallion Martini. Jean imported Martini’s dam while in foal in 1978. “I was a horse-crazy kid,” said Jean, who has run her family’s Valhalla Farm for more than 40 years. “I always wanted to breed and ride and train horses. I imported a mare who gave me Martini, who became the leading dressage sire in the country for dressage for a few years. In 2001, he passed away, but in 2000, Faith was born. I took Martini to grand prix. He was my heart horse. He gave me Faith, and I raised her.” Erin mentioned, “Her name came from a Native American word that translated to Faithkeeper. I knew she would be the horse to keep my mom riding. It was like, ‘Ok God, I think she’s going to be the one that keeps her riding.’” Faithkeeper has been Jean’s horse her entire life and while she started out as “a real hot thing,” she mellowed with age. “She really tries hard, like her father,” described Jean. “She loves to do her

Jean and Faithkeeper competed up to Third Level, and then Jean made the decision to have Faithkeeper be a schoolmaster for the many working students that came through her teaching program. “She’s a great teaching horse because if you don’t do it right, she doesn’t do it,” said Jean. The pair have overcome many obstacles, including colic surgery and Jean’s hip replacement five years ago. “I gave up on the idea of riding,” admitted Jean. “I thought, ‘My riding is done. I’m in my 70s.’ But then I had a hip replacement and I was like, ‘Hmm…I think I can ride again!’ So, I took Faith back!” Jean was cheered on for her Century ride by family, friends and past students who came to World Equestrian Center – Ocala to see her historic ride, including her half-brother, whom she met just two years ago – he at the spry age of 93 – after a “23 and Me” DNA test gave Jean unexpected results of unknown relatives that live in Ocala. Jean thought her Century ride couldn’t have happened at a better venue than World Equestrian Center. “It’s the best facility I’ve ever seen anywhere,” she said. “The attention to detail as a horseperson is just beyond anything I’ve ever seen. My horse’s stall is so lovely. You don’t see many barns that are so correct for horses; they thought of everything. It’s just masterfully done. I’m very thrilled to be here and have my Century ride here.”

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Journey IT’S ALL ABOUT THE

LIFE’S CHALLENGES AND ADVERSITY ARE OFTEN N O M AT C H F O R PA S S I O N A N D C O M M I T M E N T. BY BEN BAUGH

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Inspiration: It's TitleAllofAbout ArticleThe Journey

Their spirit and enthusiasm

FO R T H E I R S P O R T A N D COMPETITIVENESS

is contagious. facility getting hay for the horses, a 100-pound bale fell 10 feet, landing on her back, breaking two vertebrae and severing her spine.

in last summer’s Tokyo Paralympics at Baji Koen Equestrian Park, representing Canada and South Africa, respectively. The two horsewomen are para dressage riders. However, the two riders are at different stages of their career. It was Barwick’s fifth Paralympics and the highly decorated rider won both gold and silver at the 2008 games in Beijing, while it was Van Der Welt’s initial appearance in the vaunted international competition. For Paralympians Lauren Barwick and Cayla Van Der Walt, their steadfast determination and will to succeed enabled them to excel at the highest level. The two Marion County residents competed

Both horsewomen have different disabilities and compete in different divisions. Barwick is paralyzed from the waist down. She had been working at a ranch, learning how to perform stunts for the movies during her early 20s. While she was at the

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“For me, it’s not just about doing the Paralympics, it’s actually about being the best rider I can be, in any division that I choose to compete in,” said Barwick. “This year’s Paralympics mirrored the Olympic Games in that there were no spectators present for the competitions, but there was a similar environment at the 2004 games in Athens and because of the Zika Virus, and the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro had limited spectator capacity,” said Barwick.

being the best rider I can be

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Van Der Walt was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in 2016. A tumor was found in her left forearm that had wrapped itself around the main nerve that leads to her hand, leaving her with permanent nerve damage. Despite these difficulties, both women persevered, never letting their disabilities limit them in any way. Their spirit and enthusiasm for their sport and competitiveness is contagious.

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I K N E W T H AT I WA N T E D TO C O N T I N U E O N C O M P E T I N G , B U T I WA N T E D T O D O I T A L I T T L E B I T D I F F E R E N T, A N D T H AT ’ S H O W I F O U N D PA R E L L I . I WA N T E D T O B E M O R E “And with para equestrian, it’s taken time to build momentum for people to appreciate and understand what we’re doing, as well as a lack of televising,” said Barwick. “This is the first time ever that it had been fully televised. It was incredible, so people could watch. It would’ve been nice to have the audience there. I didn’t notice much of a difference. I’ve competed all over the world, and quite often, there aren’t people in the stands. Being that it was my fifth games, I wasn’t just going for the experience. I believe every day that I have to get up and earn my right to be my country’s first choice. My country’s choice, you’re earning your way, you’re earning the right. It’s been an incredible journey.” The lack of spectators wasn’t a variable for either, as their concentration and emphasis was on the competition, allowing their attentiveness to be fully enveloped by the task at hand. “I think it was an advantage to some riders (the lack of spectators), because for their horses, it was a lot easier,” said Van Der Walt. “We still had a bit of an audience riding because of all the other horse riders and their team and everyone that was there was able to watch. So, we had some people watching. But for me, it didn’t bother me or my horse too much because we were so focused on one thing.” For Van Der Walt, when she found out she could potentially qualify for the Paralympics, it became her sole focus. When she was selected to represent her nation, the honor took on far greater meaning,

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part of the journey

having earned the opportunity after dedicating the past five years working toward the objective. “I thought it was crazy,” said Van Der Walt. “I’m only 20. It was a big thing for me, being one of the youngest people there.” Barwick, a veteran of the past five Paralympics, would’ve loved to have earned another medal, but the experience itself was extremely satisfying for the Parelli 4-Star rider. She was invited to compete in her first national event for Team Canada in 2002, in New York. At her first games in Athens, Barwick finished fourth in the freestyle division, and it was then that she decided to change her approach, and the modification to her training would produce optimal results. “I knew that I wanted to continue on competing, but I wanted to do it a little bit different, and that’s how I found Parelli. I wanted to be more part of the journey,” said Barwick. “The first four years of competing as a paralyzed rider, I had a trainer that would get on the horse to warm it up, tune it up and keep it put together, and then I would get on and ride it,” said Barwick. “And that’s not what I really wanted to do because I was training horses before I broke my back. Parelli sponsored me to learn about horse psychology, and how to train the horses on the ground from my wheelchair, and

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I B E L I E V E E V E R Y D AY T H AT I H AV E T O G E T U P A N D E A R N M Y R I G H T TO B E M Y C O U N T RY ’S F I R ST C H O I C E . , Y O U ’ R E E A R N I N G Y O U R WAY, Y O U ’ R E E A R N I N G T H E R I G H T. I T ’ S B E E N A N I N C R E D I B L E J O U R N E Y.

my country’s choice

Sandrino in the Grade III individual, team and freestyle divisions, placing ninth, eighth and sixth, respectively. “They (Parelli) helped me create a partnership that my horse is in the arena with me, not because of me, and that’s always been the premise that I want to ride off of, with my horse, and if we end up on the podium it was because we did it together,” said Barwick. “So, that was sort of the missing link to my training.” Van Der Walt and her horse Daturo II, have developed a special relationship over the past four years. The 15-year-old P.R.E. is known around the barn as Turo. They competed in the Grade V Individual division, placing 11th.

train them on a line, liberty and teach the horse by voice aids and using aids all from the ground, and then get on and create a calmer, braver, safer, more athletic horse.” It was those modifications that helped propel Barwick to multiple medals in Beijing, as she captured not only the all-elusive Paralympic gold medal but also a silver medal after making the necessary adjustments, using the tenets of Parelli horsemanship, while riding the Parelli horse Maile. At the 2020 games, although held in 2021, she rode Lee Garrod’s 9-year-old Westphalian gelding

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“I am very close with my horse,” said Van Der Walt. “I like to think that the bond we have is unbreakable. In the beginning, it took a minute for us to click. But once we did we’ve been in sync ever since.”

Paralympics because you can get used to the big arenas and stadium look. It was good because I noticed the stuff was purple and everything was purple in Tokyo.” Barwick loves the environment that World Equestrian Center provides exhibitors. “It’s fantastic,” said Barwick. “The air-conditioned competition grounds. Wow. For Florida, who wouldn’t want to be there? Not necessarily the best set up for setting them up to train in Tokyo, where it’s 90 degrees and humid, and where we’re competing. I kept on thinking, I would love to compete at the World Equestrian Center this weekend, but we should be training outside in the heat…I could see the World Equestrian Games being hosted there (WEC). I think that would be incredible. I think it’s the type of venue that could absolutely do it.”

According to Van Der Walt, the opportunity to have a facility like World Equestrian Center – Ocala in their backyard proved beneficial and advantageous. “That was a really cool experience (competing at WEC),” said Van Der Walt. “It was one of the first dressage shows that they pulled off here. I think this also being in a big atmosphere for showing, it was a good place to come and show for the

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Winter WONDERLAND A Magical Experience!

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Photos by Maven Photo + Film ®

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n late November the World Equestrian Center – Ocala was transformed into an enchanted Winter Wonderland in celebration of the holiday season. The month-long event kicked off on November 26 at 5pm, with a festive lighting ceremony.

Families enjoy roving nightly entertainment including carolers, face painters, balloon artists, caricaturists, skipping elves and magical dancing horses. Children took commemorative photos with Santa while Santa’s reindeer made a real-life appearance.

Decorated with more than a million twinkling lights, Winter Wonderland brought merriment, wonder and good cheer to all who visited the World Equestrian Center – Ocala.

Guests enjoyed gliding around the expansive skating rink and watching holiday movies on the giant Jumbotron screens while cozying up with a cup of hot cocoa or popcorn from one of the festive pop-up food stations scattered around the plaza.

The halls of the Grand Plaza were decked with all the traditional regalia of the season featuring mesmerizing larger-than-life ornaments, a glittering 40-foot tall Christmas tree and a giant polar bear.

There was even a giant gingerbread World Equestrian Center – Ocala replica, courtesy of our talented pastry chef. We hope you enjoyed Winter Wonderland as much as we enjoyed bringing it to life.

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Aug 24-28 Oct 20-23 Dec 8-11

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BEHIND the

Plate with

Executive Sous Chef

VINCENT CANI

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By Brianna Miller

Photos by Maven Photo + Film

Executive Sous Chef Vincent Cani infuses every dish he makes with a warm sense of togetherness and family.

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Chef's Corner: Behind the Plate with Executive Sous Chef Vincent Cani

World Equestrian Center – Ocala boasts nine onsite restaurants from General Store sandwiches to five-star dining. World Equestrian Center – Ocala’s Executive Sous Chef Vincent Cani brings harmony to all of his dishes and an uplifting positivity to all of his staff. Executive Sous Chef Vincent Cani realized his love for cooking at an early age, “My dad’s side of the family is from Sicily and my mom’s side is from the Ukraine. In my house, the dinner table wasn’t just for nourishment, it was where the entire family would come together and enjoy each other. The dinners would bring us together, but the food was the staple. There was no way to get around food in our house but the influence from Eastern European to Mediterranean really shaped what I wanted to do.” Chef Cani did not start his career in kitchen, “I was a perpetual student. I went to school for medicine.

Then somewhere along the way I had this bright idea to go the philosophical route and wanted to teach. I wanted to teach on the university level, so I dabbled in getting a PHD. All of the education that I had, brought me to a crossroads in my life where I needed to decide what I really wanted to do as a career.” While Chef Cani was deciding what he wanted as a career, he spent time working under the guidance of his Sicilian father, who was a natural born businessman with an innate ability to sell. At the height of his business career Cani decided that he wanted to do a complete career change and go to the Culinary Academy of Long Island where, he would eventually graduate at the top of his class.

Island. I went up to the restaurant and knocked on the door. I spoke to the General Manager and asked if I could speak to the Executive Chef. I told him I was a culinary student and that I wanted to work here.” “The Chef came out with this presence and demeanor not like an ordinary chef. He agreed to meet with me, so we sat down, and he gave me the whole spiel about how he only takes the Crem de La Crem of from The Culinary Institute of America. I told him that I was accepted to that school, but the tuition was too high. The sales side of me was coming out and I was selling myself. Little did I know that I was in the presence of a

Once he finished culinary school, Cani knew he needed an externship and exactly where he would like to go, “I had my eyes set on this one place. It was bold because I was a novice student that just got out of culinary school. It was the Tellers Steak & Chop House on the South Shore of Long

"In my house, the dinner table wasn’t just for nourishment, it was where the entire family would come together and enjoy each other."

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Master Chef Then he finally says, “I am going to give you a shot” and he took me under his wing and eventually gave me my first executive Chef title.” After working as an Executive Chef in New York, Chef Cani then went on to work at a big box resort in Orlando where he worked his way up the ladder. But then COVID-19 hit hospitality hard and Cani was furloughed. After a few months furlough, Chef Cani saw an Executive Sous Chef job posting on LinkedIn from World Equestrian Center – Ocala’s Executive Chef, Ryker Brown. Chef Cani was very interested in the position and interviewed with Chef Ryker. He came to the facility and fell in love with it. “We always look for an engagement piece in our careers and it is very rare that you see something so different, like WEC.

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After getting to know ownership and their vision, I knew that WEC was a place filled with endless opportunities. It is constantly going to evolve and for me as a chef, it not only gave me the ability to have a career path where I can grow but also all of the people that are going to work with me will be able to grow as well.” Chef Cani has a daily routine at World Equestrian Center, “I like to be the first one to arrive at WEC. Once I come in and map the day, we have a culinary huddle each morning at 9:00 a.m. It is a get together with leadership to share information and communicate.” “To be a Sous Chef in a place this size you have to be flexible and let your employees know that you are here to help. So, I go around to the outlets, and I ask those questions. Those questions aren’t just forward questions, I go in there and work next to people and I listen as they tell me what they need. I like to be a culinary

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Chef's Corner: Behind the Plate with Executive Sous Chef Vincent Cani

cheerleader at times, and make sure that the positivity is infectious.” Chef Cani’s management style comes from his educational background, “I am not a micro manager, but I like to work next to people that are hungry for success and work hard to develop them. Sometimes when you do something shoulder-toshoulder with someone it is a learning experience for everyone. There are no words, but you are learning from each other. When I am teaching in the kitchen, I am learning at the same time.

I have people that are just starting out and I watch something and think, wow, I have never seen anything like that before and I tell them I am taking that with me. That is my every day.” Chef Cani credits his love of food to his childhood dinners, “As a child I remember going to my grandparent’s house on the weekends

"We always look for an engagement piece in our careers and it is very rare that you see something so different, like WEC."

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Chef's Corner: Behind the Plate with Executive Sous Chef Vincent Cani

"I am not a micro manager, but I like to work next to people that are hungry for success and work hard to develop them. Sometimes when you do something shoulder-to-shoulder with someone it is a learning experience for everyone."

where everyone would come together on Sundays for a huge dinner. There was an outside deck where we would all sit, and I can say that at the start of dinner there were at least 25-30 people. That didn’t include the other people that would come over with pastries, coffee and cake. That was just a glimpse of my childhood. I received so much love and security at those dinners which I think really made me appreciate food the way that I do today.”

PUTTING

HARMONY into a Dish “On my mom’s side, my grandmother was a professor of music in Manhattan. So, I have always had an ear for music, but I can’t read a stick of a music note, but if you hand me an instrument, I can play it. That was a part of how I learned to plate food and run a kitchen. For me, to run a kitchen and to plate a dish is harmonious. Music has the same tempo, the same pitch, the same rhythm and so does the kitchen. That is how I look at food whether it is the simplest of dishes like a burger or the most

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complicated fine dining dish you could make. It’s harmony that gets it to come together and it’s harmony that gets it to work together.” At the end of the day, Chef Cani loves to sit down with his guitar and strum a few cords. He also enjoys spending time with his family and when he has time he enjoys drawing and reading. The Sunday dinner table with his family, is still his favorite place to be.

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Parents Perspective: Words Alone Are Not Enough

No single venue effectively addressed the needs of horses, competitors, families and friends. That is,until now at WEC–Ocala.

by Jim Frankowiak

ou may have already heard about World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. The new venue opened in January. Fancy name, but well-deserved, and its impact is growing dramatically with each passing day, as more and more become aware of what it is and what it has to offer. As a member of a family that has been involved in the equestrian world for more than 42 years, I bring a broad perspective to the reaction to this new asset in Ocala. Frankly, words alone don’t do it justice. Personally, experiencing WEC – Ocala would be my advice. A bit about our journey that began shortly after we moved to Florida in 1979, a move recommended by Chicago healthcare experts and the respiratory needs of our two daughters. The move provided help in just a few months, proving the doctors were correct.

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Parents Perspective: Words Alone Are Not Enough

My youngest daughter then discovered horses, hunter jumpers and a deep interest in competing, initially locally, then around Florida, and ultimately, up and down the East Coast from West Palm as far north as Saugerties, New York, and lots of venues in between. This continues even though my daughter no longer competes, but does train riders at various shows and buys and sell horses for her clients. The venues for these shows have been good, bad and ugly. Ditto on weather. To me, what was annoying was having to pay top dollar for not-sonice show places, crummy weather and long walks from stalls to show rings in bad weather. No single venue effectively addressed the needs of horses, competitors, families and friends. That is, until now at WEC – Ocala. First off, WEC – Ocala offers showing, stabling and movement from stall to ring in climate-controlled conditions, 24/7 year-round. That alone is a major deal. Typically, Florida horse showing in summer drops to near nothing, because of the heat and humidity, but no more. While winter shows in Florida are popular, WEC – Ocala solidifies that and eliminates any concern over rain, wind, mud or long walks from stall to ring and vice versa. In a nutshell, Florida now has a year-round horse show venue that is attractive to all. Equestrians are actually relocating, some temporarily and some permanently as a result, and that’s a big deal.

folks who just want to see what a horse show is like. I don’t speak horse, but when they are sleeping in their stalls midday, as is often the case at WEC, that tells me they like their digs. Why shouldn’t they? Ceiling fans, large stalls, plus outstanding footing throughout the venue in all rings and paths, both covered and not. By the way, the grounds at the venue are well-maintained continuously, as well as all of the structures, each of which is new. No trash piles, no flies, just a well-maintained facility inside and out. Riders don’t have to worry about the well-being of their rides or gear. Security cameras monitor every nook and cranny of the venue. Cleanliness is paramount and staff are helpful, courteous and just a group of nice people there to help. Families have options for lodging, dining, viewing the

and outside of Florida. After being involved with horses for over 40 years, we have many friends and acquaintances in this pursuit and they are moving to shows at WEC – Ocala. Not one has had anything negative to say about this new venue. That too says a lot, since most horse people have strong opinions they are rarely reluctant to share. WEC – Ocala sits on nearly 400 acres with 300+ additional acreage available for expansion. That’s great. You can visit the website to learn about the venue, what it has to offer and a whole lot more. Again, my advice is to visit WEC – Ocala for the best introduction. My daughter made her first visit earlier this year and urged me to see this new center for equestrian events. Glad I did and hope you will do the same. Horses and Ocala have just been given new meaning that benefits not just horse and rider, but the whole family, friends and those interested in the sport.

The attributes of WEC – Ocala have resulted in a quick shift of equestrian interest from both within and outside of Florida.

By the way, showing in Florida in the winter is not perfect. Sure, it’s warmer than the north, but marching from stall to ring in rain, mud and wind is no fun. We had that “opportunity” more times than we wanted, but you do what you have to do. WEC – Ocala has made weather a nonissue throughout the year. Next, WEC – Ocala addresses the needs and wants of the horses, riders, their families, friends and

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competition and enjoyment, such as shopping, snacking and more. There’s even a chapel for those who want to visit with the Lord. Let me stress that the family orientation and appeal is very high. Those present to view the competition have welldone options, some protected from the weather, each without any need to sacrifice comfort or perspective. If you’re new to horse showing, there is no better place for that initial introduction.

My only regret is that we didn’t have WEC – Ocala as an option when we began our equestrian journey. That’s OK, as it is now available and I hope all will appreciate what it has to offer. Enough said. I encourage you to visit WEC – Ocala. I honestly believe you will share my feelings about this unique equestrian center and the ways it meets and exceeds the expectations and needs of all who visit, and does so at a more than fair price.

And the cost for any and all of this is less than you would expect. I think the value offered is significant and truly appreciate that. In this case, you are getting more, much more, than you are paying for compared to other equestrian venues. The attributes of WEC – Ocala have resulted in a quick shift of equestrian interest from both within

Construction on the newest 9 golf holes, which include new tribute holes, are underway. We’re excited to announce the expansion of this legendary championship golf course. Be the first to find out as new home site opportunities become available near and around the newest addition to the Golden Ocala golf experience. Sign up today for our VIP list. Whether you’re thinking of selling or buying your home, we can help. We are the leaders in sales across multiple markets in Florida and North Carolina because of our carefully selected team of top performing Realtors. Explore all of your options with us. 4090 NW 84th Court • Ocala, Florida 34482 Quality. Class. Distinction.®

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HORSE MATCH: A MODERN WAY

TO SHOP FOR HORSES AND ESSENTIALS

BY JULIANA CHAPMAN

Online shopping is here to stay, giving customers ease and convenience which make it an everyday part of life. So why not transfer that to the horse world? Which is exactly what CEO and co-founder, Summer Gentry, along with Michael Upchurch, COO and co-founder, set out to do when they met three years ago to offer an app to help equestrians purchase their next horse and the services and products that go along with horse ownership. “Searching for my horse was a painful experience,” Summer recalled, “The websites were antiquated with little to no filter options and social media had direct messaging but those got lost.” Summer realized there had to be a better way, especially with so many innovative and easy solutions in the consumer world for all types of purchases. “I wanted to create a Tinder® (online dating app) for horse shopping,” she said. After meeting Mike, who is a serial entrepreneur, they discussed the idea and came up with the name Horse Match. They launched in January 2021 and brought to fruition a simple, easy solution for buying a horse. “I wanted to make it more fun and much easier for all parties involved with buying and selling,” said Summer.

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Tech Equestrian: Horse Match: A Modern Way to Shop for Horses and Essentials

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

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The Tech Equestrian: Horse Match: A Modern Way to Shop for Horses and Essentials

EARLY EQUINE DAYS Summer, who is currently based in Virginia, grew up always wanting to be with a horse. “I was five years old when I took my first lesson and started competing in the local circuit with ponies when I was seven,” She rode up until college when she sold her horse, and then 10 years later, got back in the saddle. “One of my best friends who lived near me bought a horse and she invited me to ride which got me back into what I loved most.” Summer’s current horse is a Percheron/Thoroughbred cross named Winterfell, aka Jon Snow, and she competes in eventing.

I wa n t e d t o m a ke i t m o r e f u n a n d m u c h e a s i e r fo r a l l p a r t i e s i nvo l ve d with buying and selling,

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT Horse Match is an app that you can download for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Swipe left for horses you aren’t interested in, swipe right for ones that look like a good prospect and connect with the owner. Everyone sets a profile and that helps drive the type of horses you are looking for and owners get more qualified buyers. You’ll also receive notifications when new horses get added. “We are always working on adding more horses to the site and we incorporated a ‘featured horse of the week’ to help drive engagement,” said Summer. Currently, the app is free, but the future model includes sellers buying ad space through a subscription and they also offer bulk pricing, if you are looking to sell more than one horse. “We want this to be affordable and easy, so the pricing is very reasonable.”

Horse Match app features include (from left to right): messaging, rate the buyer/seller and profiles

TRANSPARENCY AND MUCH-NEEDED FEATURES “The horse world has relied on word of mouth for selling horses for a long time and there is a stigma with horse sellers – where some can be trying to sell you more than what the horse is worth, or lame, or ill-suited to the job. With that said, we decided to set up a rating system – buyers can rate sellers and vice versa,” stated Summer and added, “It’s time we added more transparency to the process.” To offer buyers more services, they are adding equine insurance partner – Markel Insurance. “We are also looking to partner with more service providers to help make the horse buying experience a one-stop shop,” said

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Summer. Those providers will include farriers and veterinarians, along with companies like SmartPak. “Horse Match will also include ratings for service providers to continue to build trust and transparency.” We have also partnered with Buddy Insurance, an innovative short-term insurance you can choose to take out for a minimum of 24 hours, which amounts to six dollars a day. The benefits help cover up to $50,000 in out-of-pocket costs, like deductibles and co-pays after an accident. Because the benefits are paid directly to you, they can also be used for things like repairing damaged gear, missed work, or even childcare. We could see this being useful to our users as extra protection for show or travel days.

The Tech Equestrian

PLATFORM AND PRIVACY FOCUSED “We built Horse Match using the latest technology and invest in cloud service providers for our applications and website,” said Michael. Their technology goals are focused on scalability and the ability to add features and functionality quickly, plus, provide a fantastic user experience. Michael also stressed the importance of making sure they have industry-leading security in place. “Cloud providers have spent billions of dollars on data protection and privacy – the capabilities far exceed what an individual company could develop, so we decided very early on to leverage their

We a r e a l ways wo r k i n g o n a d d i n g more horses to t h e s i t e a n d we incorporated a ‘ fe a t u r e d horse of the we e k’ t o h e l p d r i ve e n g a g e m e n t ,

Our vision is fo r e q u e s t r i a n s t o u s e t h e Ho r s e Match app in a modern way – a d i g i t a l t o o l t h a t i s i n t u i t i ve , s a fe , f u n a n d f i t s t h e i r l i fe s t y l e , stated Michael.

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Tech Equestrian: Horse Match: A Modern Way to Shop for Horses and Essentials

investment to protect our customers,” shared Michael. Choosing highly scalable and secure providers translates into a platform that can provide solutions to other markets in the future.

GAINING EXPOSURE As any startup knows, it is hard to gain exposure and mindshare with a limited marketing budget or social media presence. “Looking to build our audience and subscriber base, we are now using an equestrian marketing agency to help with media buying and overall brand recognition,” said Michael. This will include more ads in key equestrian publications. The exposure will help expand their subscriber base and keep equestrians up to date on available horses, along with new features, “Our vision is for equestrians to use the Horse Match app in a modern way – a digital tool that is intuitive, safe, fun and fits their lifestyle,” stated Michael.

The app makes it easy for amateur and professional sellers to create a profile for one horse or create multiple horse ads at discounted rates.

CONNECT @horsematchapp horse.match horsematch.com

Ju l i a n a C h a p m a n

PALM CITY, FL • THETECHEQUESTRIAN.COM Juliana is a technology marketing professional and lifelong equestrian who grew up in Rhode Island and showed in the pony and children’s hunter divisions and later rode adult hunter in the Bahamas. She is the founder of The Tech Equestrian, a technology and lifestyle blog that is designed to provide insights on the latest technology solutions in the horse world. Juliana has written articles for Horse & Style and The Plaid Horse and recently was a speaker on the STRIDER 101 Webinar series.

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OFFICIAL SUPPLEMENT OF THE

Tech Equestrian: Horse Match: A Modern Way to Shop for Horses and Essentials

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PREMIUM EQUINE SUPPLEMENTS Quality. Class. Distinction.

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Learn more at www.lifeforcehorse.com

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TOP

10 Ways Prepare to

for your

Portrait Session with

ANDREW

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

RYBACK

by Andrew Ryback Photos by Andrew Ryback Photography

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Equestrian Style

1 Prepare your horse! Make sure your horse has been worked earlier in the day. We don’t want an exhausted equine, but we do want your experience to be enjoyable, so a fresh horse is something we like to prevent as much as possible.

2 Plan your outfit! Avoid patterns or stripes – solid colors always work best. Whether you’re in show clothes or casual or even formal wear, remember, you’re working with an animal that does tend to both shed and drool.

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Equestrian Style

3 Choose your location! Determine what kind of portraits you want – at a facility like WEC – Ocala, you’ve got so many options – from contemporary architecture to beautiful, mossy, live oaks.

4 Don’t be afraid to think outside the box! If you have a crazy idea, we’d love to hear it and try to make your portrait vision come to life. We’ve done some really creative shoots before and we love a challenge.

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

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Equestrian Style

5 Be prepared to walk a lot! When on a shoot with Andrew, we cover a lot of ground and work in as many backgrounds and looks as we can – sometimes that means hoofing it from place to place to make sure we hit the spots at the right time.

6 Be ready to chase the sun! Photography is light and manipulation of that light – it’s our job to work with that light and give you the best portraits.

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Equestrian Style

7 Bring your sense of humor! Andrew was a Jungle Cruise Skipper in a previous life and he’s filled with jokes. This isn’t a stand-up comedy show – it’s a way to get you to relax and smile naturally.

8 Be patient! Because we want the best possible experience for your session, there may be times when we must postpone or reschedule. As much as we try, we cannot control Mother Nature. Cloudy is fine, sunny is fine. Raining…well…let’s just say rain and cameras do not mix well.

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Equestrian Style

9 Print your portraits! While many times we know you’re just “doing it for the ‘gram…” nothing looks better than printed on a large canvas, acrylic or metal.

10 Relax and have fun! You’re going to get great photographs no matter what, so let us worry about everything!

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ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE

Numerous top brands advertise their products and services to our audience in the World Equestrian Center Magazine. Add your business to our growing list of sponsors! Contact Karla Campbell at 412.326.7325 or karla.campbell@wec.net to inquire for rates *Released quarterly each year

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Lugano Diamonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside front cover SCAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 02 Equine Medical Center of Ocala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 03 Shoofly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 04 Horse Farms Forever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 05 Agricon Kubota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 06 EZGO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 08 Mars Equestrian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 09 FarmVet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 11 Kentucky Performance Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 12 C. Jarvis Insurance Agency Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 13 Equine Chronicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 14 Communications Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 15 Tribute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 16 14 Hands Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 18 CaptiveOne Advisors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 20 Stella Artois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 21 Ocala Magna Wave & Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 25 Vortex Equine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 26 Recharge Clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 28 The Kenyan Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 31 For Horses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 36 Ride the Wave: MMA Auction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 39 Gainesville Regional Airport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 42 Zesterra by Pro Earth Animal Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 45 Pyranha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 51 Purina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 55 Team Cone: Modelo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 56 Aerie Architectural Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 56 Adequan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 59 Ariat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 75 Coca Cola Beverages Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 77 Golden Ocala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 81 Lifeforce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 87 The Park on Main Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 95 Hampton Green Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 100 Antares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 101 ®

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Ultimate Luxury

The

Destination

Photography by: Ethan Tweedie

At the heart of World Equestrian Center – Ocala, The Equestrian Hotel assures guests an unforgettable stay in the “Horse Capital of the World.” This Central Florida retreat was named a 2021 Gold Key Awards ﬁnalist as a testament to its excellence in hospitality design. Considered an epicenter of luxury, class and grandeur, the ﬁvestoried hotel offers visitors the pinnacle of luxury accommodations.

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