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THE LUXURY OF HOSPITALITY
Show jumper and trainer Mavis Spencer is considered the consummate horseperson for her unwavering focus and steadfast work ethic. She’s earned peer respect for her successes in the show ring and her ability to gracefully manage the fluctuations of victories and defeats synonymous with the sport. Openly sharing her riding observations and coping strategies on social media has unexpectedly catapulted her into the limelight.
In this year’s fashion feature, we assemble a mélange of brands, some long-standing and highly recognized and others recently launched yet already enjoying success. For the fashion-adventurous, vivid colors are on display in solids and bold-patterned graphics, and soft rose and celadon palettes offer a quiet elegance to exquisitely tailored show apparel in high-performance fabrics.
Enjoy an early peek at Reid Creek Guest Lodge situated on a 300,000-acre working ranch in Wyoming. Surrounded by the West’s notorious big-sky vistas and majestic sunsets, a stay at the lodge offers a laid-back style and the chance to immerse yourself in an array of activities. Whether trail riding across vast acreage, hiking leisurely, or trying your luck at fishing, it’s an idyllic opportunity to reconnect with the land.
The renowned photographer Anouk Krantz honors the American ranchers who embrace the traditions of the American West. In Ranchland: Wagonhound, her stunning large-format art book, her dramatic images focus on the private world of one of the largest working ranches in America, Wagonhound in Wyoming.
Hair
For full feature, see page 46.
MAY | JUNE 2023
Charlotte Jacobs shares her favorites, from hotels, restaurants, and music to sources for fashion and disciplines she’d like to try.
16
Photographer Erin Gilmore shares an image from a day at Aachen that stands out as a picture that has led her to where she is today.
38
Shop for Dad with confidence with this selection of delightful Father’s Day gifts.
18
38 28
EDITOR’S NOTE 8
Welcome to Equestrian Living RESOURCES 94
Look for CONTACT INFO | PAGE 94 to find the products and services in this issue.
BARN DOGS 98
6 | EQUESTRIAN LIVING | MAY/JUNE | 2023 EQ INSIDE EQ INSIDE
40
The Gay Polo League enjoyed its most spectacular event yet.
42
Eight Olympic gold medalists were honored in a ceremony at Wellington’s Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington International.
FASHION
Add personal style with functional and fashionable belt options.
ESSENTIALS
A selection of blankets from luxury fashion to technical performance wear, to keep your horse warm, dry, and stylish.
BOOK 24
Read an excerpt from Winning with Horses, a book of inspiring ideas for sensible changes in equestrian sports by polo player Adam Snow and sport horse veterinarian Shelley Onderdonk.
ARTS
Cirque Ma’Ceo, an equestrian-themed circus show, transports viewers back in time, harkening to its rich Gypsy heritage.
PEOPLE
30
Two Savannah College of Art and Design students competed and excelled in a Maclay Final jump-design competition.
34
Dressage rider and founder of EquiBody Fitness, Jack LaTorre, has widened the reach of his fitness training program through a Horse & Country Masterclass series.
STYLE 36
Discover a playful and practical mix of items to greet spring and summer showers stylishly.
EQUESTRIAN PROPERTIES
87
Show jumper Mavis Spencer was photographed on location in Wellington, Florida, by Equestrian Living photography director George Kamper. and makeup by Leslie Munsell.
Dallas is home to the American Equestrian Trade Association International Trade Show.
The premier global event showcasing equestrian industry products from leading manufacturers across a variety of categories including:
I’m not averse to social media; in fact, it’s quite the contrary. It’s been an effective way to stay connected with friends and colleagues I might not have managed to keep in touch with otherwise. A variety of media have also led me to exceptionally talented writers, artists, designers, photographers, and, of course, equestrians who’ve made their way onto the pages of Equestrian Living.
In a stroke of good fortune, EQLiving’s digital and client services representative and frequent contributing writer, Sarah Lessler, came clean about spending a significant amount of time on social media. Primarily, she follows some of her favorite equestrians—gleaning inspiration, practical riding tips, and insight into the nuances of competing at the highest levels. Show jumper Mavis Spencer was high atop her favorites. Through tenacity, enthusiasm, and a slew of mad-dash texts to reach Mavis in Europe, Sarah scheduled a date for
the EQLiving team to meet Mavis in Wellington, Florida, where we quickly discovered why her peers and the equestrian community so revere her.
Mavis is paradoxical in all the right ways. She’s poised yet animated. She’s introspective but shares openly. As a side note, she can also work a hat like nobody’s business. I know you’ll find her as open and down-toearth as we did.
We combine an unexpected mix of brands in this year’s annual fashion feature, We give a sneak peek at a vibrant collection from a Dominican Republic brand about to launch in the U.S. and introduce you to a California-based brand in the early stages of development and already enjoying significant success. In our highlighted, more established and recognized brands that consistently get things right, you’ll discover high-performance show wear pushing the style envelope in elegant, muted tones and daring colors that dazzle, all finished with exceptional details and flattering cuts. We also add a fun mix of crossover apparel and accessory options from equestrian-inspired brands that transition easily from the barn to a day on the town.
In a more earthy setting, we travel to big-sky country where sweeping vistas and vast acreage are de rigueur. In a personal travel diary, our senior editor, Jill Novotny, travels to Wyoming to experience all that comes with a stay at Reid Creek Guest Lodge. In her descriptive and
sometimes wistful accounts of her time on the 300,000-acre Wagonhound Ranch, she takes us on hiking, fishing, and trailriding excursions amid the quiet splendor of the surrounding landscape and gives us a preview tour of the soon-to-open lodge.
To complement Jill’s article, we showcase the dynamic ranching-culture images of a renowned French photographer, Anouk Krantz, from her large-format book, Ranchland: Wagonhound.
Adding to the visually rich tone of this issue, we share dramatic images from Cirque Ma’ceo, the theatrical equestrianthemed circus show with acrobatics, dance, and equestrian arts, and present Maclay jump designs by two Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) students who participated in a jump-design competition. And we’ve peppered the pages with imaginative Father’s Day gift ideas, spring shower survival items, and other lively department content.
In reviewing the issue and this letter, a surprising realization came to mind: social media was at the core of Equestrian Living’s inception, launch, and my role as editor in 2012, but that’s a story for another day.
VOLUME 12 NUMBER 3
EDITOR AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR Stephanie B. Peters
SENIOR EDITOR Jill B. Novotny
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR George Kamper
EDITORS AT LARGE Rebecca Baldridge, Carol Cohen-Hodess, Judy Richter (2015-2022)
DESIGN MANAGER Mary A. Stroup
SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEB CONTENT Maggie Carty
DIGITAL & CLIENT SERVICES Sarah Lessler
EDITORIAL MANAGER Theresa Cardamone
BEAUTY Leslie Munsell, CEO Beauty For Real
EQ SPECIAL EVENTS Jennifer Pearman Lammer
UK & LONDON EDITOR Bridget Arsenault
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Rebecca Baldridge, Amanda Picciotto Feitosa/Jump Media, Erin Gilmore, Sarah Lessler
PUBLISHER C.W. Medinger
PUBLISHING CONSULTANT George Fuller
PRINT John Spittle
PUBLIC RELATIONS Carrie Wirth, EQmedia.agency
NEWSSTAND DISTRIBUTION Boyd Mulholland
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A riding discipline you’d like to try: Reining, barrel racing, cutting, basically all things Western.
Favorite TV show: I love Yellowstone, The Crown is my all-time favorite.
FAVORITES
What books are on your bedside table: My most recent favorite is Rise, by Lindsey Vonn.
Favorite food to cook at home: Steak and sweet potatoes.
Favorite getaway escape: Anywhere with some peace and quiet and good food—that’s important. Most recently for me, it’s Anguilla.
Favorite music on your playlist: Taylor Swift.
Favorite exercise to complement riding: Pilates!
Favorite way to relax: Watching TV at home or going for walks with Clover.
Favorite hotel: I love the Adare Manor Hotel in County Limerick, Ireland.
Must-haves when traveling: Headphones, adaptors, Chapstick and moisturizer.
Favorite charity: Danny & Ron’s Rescue (of course). I was very lucky to rescue my dog Clover 11 years ago.
Favorite horses you’ve ridden: I’m very lucky that I have a few favorites: Kachina, Rincoola Milsean, Promised Land, Edocenta. There’s a lot!
favorite event is the Dublin Horse Show.
Favorite source for fashion: I do a lot of online shopping. At WEF, I like Turner and Hunt Ltd. For riding clothes, Dada is my current favorite.
If you weren’t an equestrian you might have been: event planner. I’m overly organized
Favorite restaurants: Renato’s in Palm Beach, Florida, and Mei Wah in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
The most spectacular ranch and land holding in Southern California! Located 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean, this 1,400 acre property includes a huge amount of scenic land and abundant well water.
Presently used as a top thoroughbred breeding operation, the farm has sported two Kentucky Derby winners. Incredible opportunity for any equestrain passion or sport, including creating a West Coast Wellington.
Asking a photographer to choose a favorite photo is a seemingly impossible task, but when I think about the images I’ve taken that stand out to me the most, the ones that come to mind are the pictures that led me to where I am today. A large part of my business is photographing thousands of three-day eventing riders from the intro level all the way up to five star. But just seven years ago, when I was covering the international show-jumping circuit in Europe, I rarely saw an eventing round.
I was lucky enough to attend CHIO Aachen, Germany, several times, and this image, taken in 2015, was when I began to fall in love with the sport of eventing. For the riders, doing this sport is truly a heart-in-your-throat task to take on a toplevel cross-country track, and for photographers it is our task to capture that feeling. It is the grandness of this image that has stayed with me: the spectacular windmill certainly helps the moment, but so does the horse that is flying through the air with the rider softly in balance.
Today, as I photograph three-day eventing, this shot and a few others stick in my mind as I try to illustrate the grandness of the moment for each rider that passes in front of my camera—no matter if they are racing past a windmill in Aachen, or completing an Intro course for the first time. They both share equally in that grand accomplishment of successfully completing a cross-country round.
CONTACT INFO | PAGE 94
Prior to establishing Erin Gilmore Photography, a successful business covering sport-horse events in the Northeast and beyond, Erin Gilmore covered international equestrian sport around the world, with career highlights that range from covering multiple Olympic Games, to working with international equestrian brands and clients.
Ariat’s One Rail Woven Belt (in navy) is a standout in its stretch-fit comfort and handsome leather tab and
J.Crew reimagines their timeless belt from the archives, putting an updated spin on the Plaited Italian Leather Belt with a zinc buckle, adding a decidedly luxe look. Shown in raw cashew. $79.50.
The Regal Reversible Belt by Ariat in black/brown combination is idyllic for the equestrian life. Soft and supple, it features sleek cut-outs and a rotating horseshoe buckle. $94.95.
loop accents. $64.95.
The Woven Beaded Leather Wrap Belt by Etro flaunts a bohemianchic style accented with shiny studs. At Nordstrom. $1,350.
Ralph Lauren’s Tri-strap O-ring Leather Belt takes cues from the brand’s iconic equestrian-inspired aesthetic. The tri-strap design features engraved buckles and polished O-ring hardware. $115.
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An excerpt from WINNING WITH HORSES by Shelley
Onderdonk, DVM, and Adam Snow.
On our polo farm in Aiken, between the ages of five and seven we add an important layer to a horse’s early foundation—exposing horses to the demands of competition. This involves introducing a young pony to the feeling of immersing in the flow of the game, reacting play-by-play. This part comes naturally for me, so I can let my body lead. Since I fully trust my own feel on the horse (especially with a mallet in my hand), I try to stop thinking about ways to improve everything and let the game be the teacher. My horses can ask questions: Do you really want me to try to squeeze through that traffic? Don’t you think this is fast enough? Didja’ see that freaky looking mower over there? Sometimes the horse is actually teaching ME, and often, these are lessons in humility.
The homebreds that I play today have all, in their own way, contributed to the lore of the New Haven Farm training program. And it is always the hiccups, rather than smooth sailings, which lend themselves to the most frequent retelling.
One cool morning during winter green horse chukkers at Owen Rinehart’s facility Isinya HDC, Tequila’s daughter, Rum Runner, demonstrated her cat-like quickness by disappearing out from under me while banking to the right. One moment I was
out over her neck reaching for the ball on the offside (vaguely aware of some traffic ahead on the right) and the next...the cold, hard ground was approaching fast. Some of my peers in that practice still refer to Rum Runner as “PBR” for the case of Pabst Blue Ribbon I purchased and distributed later as penance for leaving the tack. (In polo’s “green horse circles,” there is a tradition that if you fall off without your horse going down, you owe everyone a case of beer. I’m not sure where this tradition started, but when it’s my turn, I make sure to pay up quickly so as not to tempt fate and risk another tumble.) The crazy thing was that in the previous chukker, when another rider had fallen, I had been the first to start joshing about what kind of beer he should buy the group. I don’t know what I was thinking—it wasn’t like me to be heckling like that—but Rum Runner taught me my lesson.
The thing about training, whatever your discipline, is that the process never really ends. Except for match time, every time I sit on a horse—he could be 3 or 23—I’m trying to improve things just a little bit more. Thus, this training continues for both horse and rider, with communications being sent back and forth, until the day one of us retires from our respective careers. The late 9-goal Hall of Famer Harold Barry said, “It takes 40 years to become a horseman—20 to realize you don’t know
This excerpt from Winning with Horses by Shelley Onderdonk, DVM, and Adam Snow is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books.
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anything, and 20 to start learning.” While I’m not sure where I am on this curve, I have learned that it’s with mallet in hand that I feel most adept at building successful partnerships with my equine teammates.
I have often felt the paradox of caring deeply for the horses I compete, and yet needing to forget about them, in some sense, in order to play my best. I believe there exists a training mindset and a competitive one, and that it is important to distinguish between the two. “Forgetting about” my horse does not mean ignoring his feel, or pretending I’m riding a motorcycle, or treating all horses alike. It means trusting a connection with your horse to the point of letting go. In other words, appreciating that I have done everything in my power to prepare that horse for the sport, physically and mentally, and freeing myself of unnecessary concerns in order to play. The development of this partnership can take years, countless rides in different settings and circumstances, hundreds of practice sessions. Or it can
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take no time at all. In some instances where I have to rely on borrowed horses to play an important match, such as international friendlies or substituting (as I did in the finals of the 2011 Joe Barry Memorial), trust is the only option.
For me, it is more challenging to leave the training mindset behind when playing a horse that we have bred and raised. Since Shelley and I have, quite literally, been training the horse since day one, the hopes and expectations that develop naturally with each homebred can complicate things. Nevertheless, the best horses I am playing today are the sons and daughters of mares I competed on at the height of my career. Not only is it a great group, but there is nothing more rewarding than getting to participate in both the training and competitive cycles of one animal. For most competitive riders, it is possible to shift between these two states.
But for many, myself included, it is difficult to leave behind the training mindset before important competitions. Our sons’ favorite soccer camp in Santa Barbara, California—ONE.soccerchools—has the slogan Always Training. I like the logic, at least when it comes to our boys juggling a soccer ball
“I have often felt the paradox of caring deeply for the horses I compete, and yet needing to forget about them, in some sense, in order to play my best.”
and working on their left foot; but, in relation to a career competing to win on horses, in my opinion, always training can be more of a liability than an asset. The “training” is the practice part of things, done back at the barn or on the schooling field. It is conscious and calculated, with decisions being made for improvement’s sake. It is a hard thing to shut off, but just as athletes should free their minds from technical, “how to” thoughts while in the moment of competition so, too, should a rider free her mind from the training mentality utilized in the schooling ring. In other words, it is time to play/compete/perform with your eyes, your breath, and the feel of the horse under you. Quieting your analytical, training mind can enhance performance for you and your horse.
INFO
Shelley Onderdonk, DVM was born and raised in San Mateo, California. She is a graduate of Yale and University of Georgia and has continued her medical education through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society and The Chi Institute. Shelley’s integrative veterinary practice, active since 1998, incorporates the best of Western medicine,
BOOKS
“It is time to play/ compete/ perform with your eyes, your breath, and the feel of the horse under you.”
acupuncture, manual therapy, equine sport science, and rehabilitation for the benefit of her patients. She is an avid environmentalist, rider, writer, and yogini.
Adam Snow played polo professionally for 34 years, achieving the highest rating of 10 goals in 2003. Career highlights include winning two U.S. Open titles, competing in the Argentine Open in 1998, and 2004, winning many Best Playing Pony prizes for his horses, and twice being named Player of the Year. He was inducted into the Polo Hall of Fame in 2014. Retired from tournament polo, he now gives back to the sport via coaching, mentoring, writing, as well as announcing polo games for television. Adam grew up in Hamilton, Massachusetts, and received a BA from Yale, where he also played ice hockey and lacrosse.
Cirque Ma’Ceo takes you back in time with a theatrical equestrian-themed circus show. A contemporary blend of acrobatics, aerial movement, dance, and equestrian arts, set to the acoustic rhythm of rich Spanish guitar, leaves audiences at the edge of their seats. The show presents an exceptional array of skill and grace, harkening back to the roots of Gypsy heritage.
Dating back to traditions of the Roman Empire, Cirque Ma’Ceo showcases magnificent acts of daredevil Cossack riding, strong, brilliantly talented acrobatics, and impressively dangerous movements that make one’s jaw drop. Originating in San Fiore, Italy, in the 1840s two equestrian families, the Zoppes and the Zamperlas, married and have continued to produce some of the most talented equestrian acrobats for
generations. Today, the four brothers who founded Cavallo Equestrian Arts continue the legacy.
Ma’Ceo’s creator and director, Olissio Zoppe, is one of the world’s best equestrian performers. He creates a phenomenal show of evolving performances of unparalleled talent. The majestic Friesians, horses, and ponies demonstrate an obvious connection and devotion between horse
and human. Olissio carries on his family’s tradition beautifully, and his 4-year-old daughter is already learning the ropes, traveling and performing with the cast. The show performs across the United States and Canada.
The ASPCA Maclay Final is one of the most cherished and prestigious classes in equestrian sport. Each year, junior riders (under age 18) compete throughout the country in hopes of qualifying for this pinnacle competition. Since its inception in 1933, the event showcases future industry champions. Winners have included top riders such as George Morris, Leslie Burr Howard, Jessica Springsteen, Stacia Madden, and Lillie Keenan.
The timeless designs of the jumps in Maclay courses impress exhibitors and spectators every year. The jump course typically includes classic and historicalstyle jumps with stunningly manicured hedges, brick walls, hogsback peaks, and roll tops. Renowned course designer Bobby Murphy announced in 2021 that he expected to retire many jumps previously used in Maclay Final competitions, and he would work with others to design new fences.
This news opened an exceptional opportunity for Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) students to be a part of the jump-design process.
Ahna Phelps, associate chair and professor of equestrian studies, teaches an upper-level class for seniors called Competition Design. Students learn horse show management and course
Maclay Final jumps.
BY SARAH LESSLERdesign including striding, measuring, and jump placement. She reached out to Bobby Murphy about him being a guest speaker for the class. However, this conversation led to much more. Much to Ahna’s surprise and pleasure, Bobby proposed having a contest where students could submit a design for the Maclay, and he would build the winning design. “It was his idea!” Ahna exclaimed.
Savannah McCants, a 2022 SCAD Equestrian Studies graduate, whose jump design was a competition finalist, said that Bobby was her favorite guest speaker during the class. He provided
students with a digital booklet of course design information filled with detailed information, from the intricacies of a horse’s vision and how they see jumps, to sneak peeks of jump designs he was working on. Savannah explained that Bobby taught them that you could find inspiration anywhere and from anything and encouraged them to explore their environments in thinking about jump designs. Savannah walked around the barn, the city, and the SCAD buildings and created sketches of anything that caught her eye. Using the templates provided, she created a rendering of her designs to submit to Bobby. The stairs at Magnolia Hall, a historic building on Whitaker Street that borders the city of Savannah’s iconic Forsyth Park, inspired one of her designs. Magnolia Hall is a three-story SCAD guest house for university visitors built in 1878. Savannah said she pictured how to construct a jump using blocks to create the look of the steps. She knew the design could be safe, lightweight, and not hurt a horse but be sturdy enough to withstand a horse clipping it.
Savannah has always loved art and being creative. She thanks her dad, a SCAD alumni and architect, for her creative side. Even in the Equestrian Studies major, SCAD incorporates art class requirements into its foundational curriculum. This practice helped
MADDY FALKOWITZ RAINE ROTH PHOTOGRAPHY SCAD Ahna Phelps Savannah McCantsSavannah be able to submit a worthy jump design.
Madison Aguilar, whose jump design won the competition, says her inspiration came from an Hermès sign at the Orlando Mall. She wanted to create a clean and simple design and thought, “What better way to showcase the class than by putting the name in place of Hermès.” Madison also expressed her appreciation for being part of the unique competition. “I never got to ride at the Maclay Finals as a junior, but I did watch it almost every year,” Madison said. “I was always amazed at the construction of the jumps and how grand they were. Being able to be a part of the final this way was just as special to me. Seeing my jump in the ring that day gave me goosebumps. It felt so surreal to know that I designed a jump that is being used at the most prestigious equitation final. That feeling
was before I knew he was going to choose my design as his favorite. When he did, I cried. I was never super creative before coming to SCAD, so Bobby picking my jump was a feeling like no other. I am honored beyond words, and I can’t thank my professor, Ahna Phelps, and Bobby Murphy enough for this opportunity. It’s an experience and feeling I will cherish forever.”
Ahna teaches that riding is an art form. “It was a unique experience to see students take everything they have learned from their foundation studies and art classes and tap into their creativity within the equestrian world,” she said. She encourages students to think outside the box within the equestrian industry when thinking about
professions. “There are so many more peripheral roles within the industry than just teacher, rider, trainer,” she said.
After graduation, Savannah landed a training job at Moss Creek Equestrian, a barn in Bluffton, South Carolina. She remarked, “SCAD has opened up ideas for different paths I can take in the future.” Beaming with pride, she said, “I can be incredibly confident in what I am teaching my students. My classes at SCAD elevated my teaching abilities.” The National Horse Show Association sent the design finalists prize bags, and Savannah now hangs her National Horse Show Reserve Champion ribbon in her living room.
Ahna’s Competition Design class is taught on alternating years with Sport Horse Judging. Ahna hopes to continue this tradition for future years of students.
SHAWN M c MILLEN
BY AMANDA PICCIOTTO FEITOSA / JUMP MEDIA
Star athletes of any sport have more than just natural talent; something inside pushes them toward greatness. A 21-yearold from San Antonio, Texas, Jack LaTorre channels that drive into dressage and fitness.
A unique personality even from a young age, Jack was homeschooled since fifth grade, the same time he first sat on a horse when his mom decided to start riding. They began at a hunter jumper facility, then transferred to a dressage barn where they became immersed. In 2018, eager to see what was possible in the dressage world, Jack participated in Lendon Gray’s Winter Intensive Training Program (WIT). He spent a season in Florida, expanding his previous notions of the sport. Thanks to WIT, Jack connected with Liz Austin, Olympic team bronze medalist Ali Brock, and his current trainer, international dressage rider Jessica Jo “JJ” Tate. He spent the summer of 2022 training in Germany, where JJ opened his eyes to another level of dressage. (See EQLiving’s visit with JJ in the January 2023 issue.)
“I thought, ‘So this is dressage!’” remembered Jack. “It’s just been a continuous progression of seeing what is possible in this sport.”
Jack had competed up to grand prix level before traveling to Europe, but his first show experience at that level almost didn’t happen. His horse, Manny, was challenging to ride and resistant to Jack’s aids. Three weeks before their grand-prix debut, Jack still had trouble getting Manny to piaffe and passage.
“If the problem is me, I can fix it,” stated Jack. “I’m really competitive, but the win is about maximizing what I can do. I think to myself, ‘How far can I take this?’ Whatever I need to do in me to change the trajectory, that’s the goal.”
From there, Jack did a deeper dive to develop a program that could universally improve riders’ bodies, and EquiBody Fitness was born.
EquiBody Fitness currently serves about 120 people at a time, with participants ranging from 18 to 71 years old. The process begins with a detailed on-boarding call conducted by Jack, followed by participants’ introduction to the workout app. There, they can upload photos and video progress to be personally reviewed by Jack and his team to guide individuals at their own rate.
“Riding is hard enough, and it’s a lot harder if your body hurts,” said Jack. “If your body could not hurt, let’s fix that.”
A serendipitous encounter in Aachen, Germany, made Jack go from social media fitness celebrity to the latest star of Horse & Country’s (H&C) Masterclasses. There, Jack crossed paths with Jonathan Rippon, director of content at H&C.
H&C, the leading international equestrian sports network, features livestreaming competitions, on-demand video, training and advice programs, and entertaining shows and documentaries. Having shared numerous short, snappy clips on social media, Jack was excited to give the H&C audience a more in-depth look at some of the EquiBody Fitness principles.
Determined to find a way to connect with Manny, Jack went to work on his own body stiffness. The gym was a familiar place for Jack since his mom was a fitness instructor, and his dad frequented the gym too. Jack also had previously downloaded and studied online workout programs and exercised regularly, so he knew where to start on his quest for flexibility and mobility. With the intensive effort to target his hip flexors and hamstrings through further online education, mentorship, and professional studies, Jack was able to lengthen his stirrups by three holes and more effectively communicate with Manny. For more information and to watch Jack’s Masterclass, visit horseandcountry.tv.
“It’s weird, but rewarding, to go from a phone, doing some stretches in your backyard, to a camera crew, you’re mic-ed up, and you have a script,” admitted Jack.
The Masterclass is a three-part series emphasizing core, lower body, and upper body gym exercises. In each episode, Jack translates the work in the gym into a riding session with JJ on his horse Sakari, an 11-year-old mare. The Masterclass also highlights the importance of the rider being at their best to bring out the best in their horse.
Mountain & Molehill’s made-to-order Raining Cats and Dogs
Lampshade with collaged Victorian illustrations.
Design
$79.87.
The Arc’teryx Beta LT Jacket Gore-tex Shell in velvet sand is available at REI. $450.
The San Francisco Umbrella Company’s Welsh Corgi Stick Umbrella in tan and navy. $37.
BOGS Sweetpea Rain Boot in sage. $90.
Rainy Day Samsung Galaxy Phone Case designed and sold by Leah Biernacki on Redbubble. $25.75.
Etsy shop PepLaCostume’s Dog Raincoat. $28.49.
The Cross Chill Jacket RepelShell by Lululemon. $198.
Gift ideas for FATHER’S DAY abound, from practical to uniquely sublime.
Martha Brook, Personalized A5 Leather Effect Embossed Notebook. $33.17.
Bash Silver Beverage Tub in silver from Crate and Barrel. $99.95.
Archipelago’s Botanico de Havana Reed Diffuser . $52.
Apple Watch Ultra with 49mm titanium case and orange alpine loop. $799.
Que Shebley’s Givario Single Monk Patina Shoes $565.
BBQ Tool Set from Idyll Home. $60.30.
Annabel James tweed and leather Men’s Gardening Gloves . $22.09.
Satara Australia’s Lorne Picnic Blanket $33.39.
Wooden Bowling Skittles Game from Yellow Octopus. $60.09.
Curated by the editors of EQLiving: SIGNED and ORIGINAL hunt art.
This high-quality print on heavy paper stock of a painting by legendary equestrian artist SAM SAVITT (1917-2000) shows the final moments of a fox hunt when the huntsman is calling in the hounds. This limited-edition was signed by the artist 45 years ago, yet remains in perfect condition. This particular print was featured in the catalog that accompanied a Sam Savitt exhibition in Virginia last year. 24” x 20”.
SIGNED LITHOGRAPH, “GOING HOME ”
Vermont artist
LISA CURRY MAIR’S painting depicts the grace, dignity, and free abandon guiding three ladies over the countryside. They are at ease and confident, trusting their mounts and their tenacity to carry them forward on their quest. Mair has been featured in magazines such as Yankee, Early American Life, Old House Journal, Early Homes, Equestrian Living and on TV on This Old House. 48” x 36” acrylic on plaster on canvas over foam core.
ORIGINAL PAINTING, “GODDESSES OF THE CHASE”
$189 including shipping.
Available at eqliving.com/savitt
$10,000 plus shipping $250, or pick up in Sag Harbor, N.Y.
Available at eqliving.com/mair
The GAY POLO LEAGUE (GPL) held its most spectacular event yet at the National Polo Center.
BY REBECCA BALDRIDGE PHOTOS: ALDEN CORRIGAN
The 2023 Lexus International Gay Polo Tournament Presented by Douglas Elliman proved to be the most spectacular Gay Polo League event yet. A new location on the National Polo Center’s Isla Carroll field allowed for a vastly expanded tailgate competition, with elaborate installations lining both sides. What2WearWhere sponsored the contest, with judges including Karen Klopp, Ron Neal, and Anthony Corey making the tough choices. The Best in Show award went to an extravagantly pink Barbie-themed display by Tim Minerd, while Emerald Elite Senior Care took the prize for best corporate tailgate. Cheer Miami won best theme, and
William Vertucci’s display was named best dressed.
Team Greenberg Traurig (Jesse Lee Eller, Peter Secor, Ryan Cronin, and Juan Diego Rizo Patron) and McKenney Media (Eva Marquad, Aurelian Crochon, David Bouclier, and Constant Jacquot) ended four hotly contested chukkers tied at 5-5, with Greenberg Traurig taking home the Senator’s Cup following a shoot-out.
Woodford Reserve (Augustin Arellano, Gus Larossa, Adrian Pia, and Joaquin de la Piedra) took down Cherry Knoll Farm (Tony Natale, Tyler Thompson, Don Bramer, and Lala Laplacette) to take second place in the tournament and win the Founder’s Cup.
Olympic gold medalists meet in WELLINGTON.
The Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) has a long history of being the base for the world’s best in equestrian sport. Ahead of the 2023 $500,000 Rolex CSI5* Grand Prix, the eight
Olympic gold medalists who spent their evening onsite at Wellington International or competing themselves were honored in a ceremony as a prelude to Saturday Night Lights.
RODRIGO PESSOA: 2004 Olympic Champion from Athens, who rode the legendary Baloubet du Rouet, Brazilian, Olympic, world and threetime FEI World Cup Champion.
McLAIN WARD: Two-time Olympic team gold medalist for the U.S. and 2018 FEI World Cup Champion.
BEN MAHER: Reigning Olympic champion from Tokyo, who also rode the ever-impressive Explosion to team gold in London for Great Britain.
ULLRICH KIRCHHOFF: The only living rider to win team and individual gold at the same games with Jus d’Pomme at Atlanta in 1996 for Germany.
LESLIE BURR-HOWARD: Los Angeles Olympic team gold medalist and 1986 FEI World Cup Champion.
LAURA KRAUT: 2008 team gold in Beijing with the fabulous Cedric and member of the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games gold medal team for the U.S.
BEEZIE MADDEN: Double team gold medalist in 2004 in Athens and 2008 in Hong Kong from her four appearances in the Olympics for Team U.S.A.
During the 2023 season, WEF has also seen WILL SIMPSON, CHRIS KAPPLER, JOE FARGIS and JEROEN DUBBELDAM, totalling 18 Olympic gold medals represented in Wellington.
NICK SKELTON: 2016 Olympic champion from Rio de Janeiro and team gold on home turf in London with Big Star. CONTACT INFO | PAGE 94
MAVIS SPENCER IS EARNING HER SUCCESS IN THE HORSE WORLD.
I WOULD BE LYING if I said I didn’t spend an excessive amount of time scrolling through social media admiring the world’s most impressive horses and riders. I watch in awe, sometimes in envy, and other times as an eager student. It was different when equestrian Mavis Spencer popped up on my Instagram page.
PHOTOS: GEORGE KAMPER
Iremember thinking, she seems so real, so honest, and refreshingly animated. I quickly became enamored with her openness and willingness to share not only her successes and most exciting moments, but also her challenges. I was drawn to her posts that conveyed an unshakable commitment to horsemanship and selfless expressions of gratitude toward everyone in this industry. It was refreshing. Never would I have imagined that my time scrolling through Mavis’s posts would turn out to be such a worthwhile endeavor.
In an editorial brainstorming session, the magazine asked who I thought would be a compelling rider to feature. Mavis immediately came to mind. Fueled by my enthusiasm, I quickly arranged an interview and photoshoot with Mavis. Before I knew it, I headed to Wellington, Florida, with the EQLiving crew to meet her. The experience exceeded my expectations. In person, Mavis was as beautiful as she was kind, humble, and transparent. Even after a busy three weeks of competition at Wellington International, she arrived relaxed and eager to share.
Known and admired for her hard work and dedication, Mavis earned her way through the sport. In her early years of riding with Dick Carvin and Susie Schroer at Meadow Grove Farm in California, her passion for riding and developing her skills was unwavering. Always encouraged to work her hardest by her parents, actress Alfre Woodard and screenwriter and producer Roderick Spencer, Mavis spent countless hours at the barn riding, doing barn
chores, horse care, and absorbing everything she could. Mavis reminisced about one of her “heart horses,” Winia. At 13 years old, Mavis imported the 6-year-old Belgian Warmblood, who had never shown before. Mavis worked and partnered tirelessly with Winia, who ultimately took Mavis through her junior-jumper career and up through Grand Prix and Prix de States levels. “She was one of the best horses I have ever ridden,” Mavis remarked.
Determined to learn from the best in a quest for excellence, 16-year-old Mavis packed her bags and flew to Europe for the summer to intern with renowned horse and rider developer Neil Jones. Guided by her parents’ mantra, “If you work hard, it creates opportunity. And the harder you work, the luckier you get,” Mavis continued her mission to succeed with pinpoint vision.
The emotional support of her family held firm even with choosing the equestrian industry over the Ivy League university track. Still, she had to make it work financially on her own. She began as a working student with world-class show jumper Kent Farrington. Focused on returning to Europe, she recognized that grooming might be the best way to get her there. For two years she worked for Darragh Kenny and later accepted a position grooming for Neil Jones. Mavis typically mucked stalls, tacked up horses, and held horses at in-gates of grand-prix rings, always with a smile on her face. Mavis admits, “I was very happy grooming. Honestly, I really enjoyed it.” All these opportunities helped Mavis get to where she is today, but not without grit and perseverance. She asserts that aspiring riders must work their way up in the industry
DETERMINED TO LEARN FROM THE BEST, 16-YEAR-OLD MAVIS PACKED HER BAGS AND FLEW TO EUROPE.
Mavis riding her pony at age 5.
and be open to a variety of opportunities. “Loyalty is rewarded in this sport,” Mavis notes. “It is rarer than people appreciate.”
While grooming and managing Italian show jumper Lorenzo de Luca’s horses, his unfortunate injury led to an unexpected shift in Mavis’s career. He handed her the reins of multiple top grandprix horses to ride and show. It was the push Mavis didn’t even realize she needed to get back in the saddle. Originally, her success was measured by getting horses sold rather than producing results in the ring. “At first, I told Neil that I never wanted to jump above a 1.40 meter, and he sort of laughed at me,” she says. Within a short period, Mavis found herself jumping at top international and FEllevel grand-prix events. Currently, Mavis rides for Georgy Maskrey-Segesman of Whitethorne LLC out of Somis, California. Together they develop a top string of grand-prix and sales horses.
In a recent string of successes, Mavis has earned top placings at many of the major shows in the world aboard Georgy Maskrey-Segesman’s Con
Calle and Carissimo 25. In April of 2022, at the Galway Downs FEI Grand Prix in California, Mavis secured a first-place finish on Carissimo 25 and rode to a third-place finish on Con Calle. Continuing her streak of successes, Mavis captured a second-place finish in the Devon Speed Derby in June 2022. At the Andalucia Sunshine Tour in Spain in October of 2022, Mavis placed third in the CSIO3* Grand Prix on Carissimo 25, first in the 1.45-meter Grand Prix on Carayuno and debuted on her first U.S. Nations Cup jumping team, helping her team earn second place. Off to a great start in 2023, Mavis has finished in the top five in many 3* grandprix events on the West Coast, was chosen to represent the United States in the CSIO4* Wellington Nations Cup, and captured a top-ten finish in the Lugano Diamond
5* Grand Prix at Wellington International on Carissimo 25.
Mavis admits she doesn’t jump much to keep her horses in peak shape for high-level competition while home with Georgy Maskrey-Segesman at Whitethorne Ranch. “Jumping is an extension of your flat work, fundamentals ingrained in me as a junior rider,” she adds. Instead, Mavis uses ground
FOCUSED ON RETURNING TO EUROPE, MAVIS RECOGNIZED THAT GROOMING MIGHT BE THE BEST WAY TO GET HER THERE.
Laura Kraut stopped by directly from competing and visited with Mavis Spencer and Equestrian Living magazine. They chatted about helping upand-coming riders and life in the equestrian world.
“Mavis has done so much behind the scenes that most people are probably unaware of,” Laura remarks. “Now she is getting to be in front of the scenes and in the limelight.” While discussing the goals of mentoring a new and upand-coming generation of riders like Mavis, Laura says, “We want to see the United States continue the tradition that began decades ago of being a powerhouse. I think it’s important that we help the generation that’s coming along.” Mavis, who worked for Laura in the past, notes, “It is a bit scary, as someone
who is now moving up to this level of the sport, to feel comfortable reaching out and asking for that kind of help and support. It seems daunting, but at the end of the day, everyone is trying to move together.”
Laura and Mavis are exemplary in showing that times have shifted in the industry, and collaboration is much more common. “There was a time when people kept their circles smaller and more closed, and you would feel like you were imposing on people if you asked for help,” adds Laura.
Mavis and Laura both said that in Europe, there is more collaboration in the industry, but it is finally moving in that direction in the U.S.
“It is not always easy for me, but you have to have the confidence to ask for help when you need it, and that is a skill you have to learn,” Mavis admits. “It’s hard for me too, at times, because you don’t want to feel like you’re annoying someone in the moment, like if you’re in the course and they’re walking and maybe concentrating on what they’re doing. There’s a time and a place to do that
sort of thing, but I think you need to get past that and have the confidence. I think it’s a skill that you have to learn.
“I was just having a conversation with McLain, and he was saying how it’s not enough just be be a talented rider. You have to be able to have conversations with people. You have to be able to talk to the owner,” Mavis says. “There are so many different facets of this sport that you can’t just be back at the barn working all the time. And then, up at the ring, you have to be in the VIP area a little bit, talking to people. That’s something I’ve
innately known, but I’ve also been the type of person who was just more comfortable being back at the barn. It’s something I’ve been working on, but it’s a continued work in progress.
“Finding ways to create safe spaces for those people that wouldn’t feel comfortable coming up and asking is good. That’s the nice thing about social media.”
See the video at eqliving.com/mavis-laura
poles and Cavaletti exercises to work on her horses’ stride, adjustability, and rideability. She likes to keep things interesting for the horses, not wanting them to get literally and figuratively dizzy in the ring. She rides her horses in the field and around the track, and they even swim in the farm’s in-ground aqua tread. “Spice is life,” Mavis says.
When in California, Mavis regularly works with a personal trainer to keep herself in top condition and gets weekly massages. “The horses aren’t the only ones who need to be in top shape,” she smiles. When traveling at horse shows, her mornings always start with stretching and core exercises.
Along with developing her current show horses, Con Calle and Carissimo 25, a large part of Mavis’s role is picking horses to import from Europe as part of Georgy’s sales program. When looking at prospects, she looks for brave horses, above all else, that are slightly overqualified for their intended job. Reflecting on Carissimo 25, “Curly,” Mavis knew his intended job wasn’t the right fit for him. She recognized there was more potential, more power, and more skill that they could harness. With Georgy, Mavis is taking the time to produce Curly and channel his abilities. Over the past year, the pair was chosen for two U.S. Nations Cup jumping teams.
Mavis has certainly captured the spotlight in the equestrian arena, and other riders, trainers, and industry leaders widely respect her. Her genuine love for the horse and authentic understanding of what it takes to be a successful rider shine through on her social media platforms. She will honestly post about the nerves and excitement that build up before competitions. She explains that social media has provided her a place to talk about her feelings. “It wasn’t a conscious choice, but it felt good to be able to have a conversation with others who maybe feel the same,” muses Mavis. “In speaking about my pre-competition nerves and how I deal with them, maybe something someone else says can help me.” Mavis says to help her manage pre-show jitters,
“IT’S EASY TO GET KNOCKED DOWN IN THIS SPORT, AND EVERY RIDER KNOWS HOW HUMBLING RIDING CAN BE.”
“I sit and watch videos of previous rounds that I thought were really good so I can harness that feeling and remember what worked, so I can get myself in touch with the horse I’m riding. I find that it really settles me.” Being incredibly prepared also helps Mavis to stay relaxed. She laughs at herself and says her show ring bag is big and organized. “If you are at the ring and need something, I have it!” she exclaims.
Mavis can reflect on challenges that come up in the sport. “It’s easy to get knocked down in this sport, and every rider knows how humbling riding can be,” Mavis admits, “Everyone has bad days, but when those days come on big days, it can be particularly disappointing. My dad always said, ‘If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not learning.’”
Horse life can be allconsuming, and juggling life outside of riding and competing is no easy task. Mavis recalls a time when she thought she would have to miss the Christmas holiday with her family, and her mom told her, “If you can’t take four days off for Christmas, there is something systematically wrong.” Mavis says that Georgy makes work/family balance a priority as well.
Becoming a professional show jumper is no easy feat, and Mavis reminds us we all started somewhere. To reach her level of accomplishment, Mavis has numerous trainers and horses to credit. “As a professional, it is difficult to donate time to help bring a young rider along, and I am so thankful for the amazing people who have helped me get where I am today,” Mavis notes. Andre Dignelli, Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut, and Mary Elisabeth are just a few in a lengthy list of renowned equestrians she’s worked with during her rise through the ranks.
In a spontaneous conversation with Laura Kraut (who stopped by during the photoshoot), the two discussed their years-long working relationship. (See page 52.)
“Honestly, I just want to take it day by day. But I think any big rider’s goal is to continue being on championship teams,” Mavis says. “Riding is typically such an individual sport, but being on a team changes the dynamic, bringing you to a whole new element of passion for the sport.”
She has proven that dedication and hard work pay off, and she continues to share and spread the love and passion for the bedrock of this industry—the horse. “We all ride horses because we love them,” Mavis notes, “And it’s easy to lose sight of that and compare yourself to everyone else in this sport.”
MAVIS’S MOTHER SAID, “IF YOU CAN’T TAKE FOUR DAYS OFF FOR CHRISTMAS, THERE IS SOMETHING SYSTEMATICALLY WRONG.”
Fashion has a reputation for being fickle and subject to pivoting in seismic shifts or subtle increments and, with equestrian fashion trends, even more so. Bling is in; bling is out. Wool is in; wool is out. In a refreshing reset, the bevy of choices offers options for the fashionadventurous to those entrenched in timeless classics and everyone in between.
In this year’s feature, we take a pre-launch peek at a brand joining the fray with bold-patterned graphics handsomely accented with vivid colors and highlight new and long-standing brand favorites turning out sartorial-worthy cuts in soothing palettes of pinks and celadons.
Whether in search of premier technical fabrics, bespoke tailoring, or chic styling that functions at the barn or on the town, a bounty of options awaits your discovery.
Established in the Dominican Republic and soon to be released in the U.S., Ètalon Equestre has brilliantly blended its long-standing commitment to equestrian sport and passion for design. Alive with vivid color and elegant flourishes, the foremost priority of each piece is to maximize comfort and performance. Combining classic equestrian fashion with a contemporary edge gives each piece a fashionable, on-trend sensibility, offering easy transitions from the barn to day-today activities.
Ètalon Equestre is the first equestrian apparel brand designed and launched in the Dominican Republic. The brand, founded by Paola Rojas Valverde, an experienced designer and long-time equestrian, has been welcomed with enthusiasm since its launch in 2021. Having also launched La Estriberia, the only tack store in the country, Paola gained an astute perspective of what today’s equestrians are looking for in equestrian apparel, in the competition ring, or training at the barn. Empowerment!
The long-sleeved, quick-drying Katrina Shirt with vibrant, contrasting tones infuses a sense of optimism. Paired with the yellow Ona Sport Breech with full-seat grip. Prices upon request.
The Spring Montevideo Show Coat, in a lightweight unlined knitted fabric, has a soft fit yet solid design with hidden zip and button closures. Shown in dusty blue. $795.
The Spring Molveno Highwaisted Breech with logo in dusty blue. $395.
The Formia Jacket, with zipper closure, non-removable hood, and mesh inserts, enhances fit and breathability. Vestrum logo on the shoulder. Made in Italy. $495.
The GP Riding Jacket detail displays the Alcantara lapel collar, contrasting piping, and logo embroidered on the shoulder. $515.
The sartorial-inspired GP Competition Jacket, in a bi-stretch fabric, features a dart motif emphasizing the waist and a single-breasted closure with buttons. $540.
The nylon Ripstop Quilted Hooded Puffer Vest is ideal for mid-season or cool days. Light and practical, the slim fit is perfect for outdoor sports or a casual-chic accent. $340.
The Jersey and Poplin Competition Shirt blends equestrian heritage with modern details incorporating front and back semi-sheer lace panels, a concealed placket, and CT embroidered on the collar. $170.
In what capacity have horses been part of your life?
I started riding when I was 8 years old. My parents had nothing to do with horses. I just caught the horse bug. I rode through high school and college but then took a five-year break, which was painful. I always knew that when I could afford to ride again, I would.
You have worked for Samshield and owned an equestrian boutique. Did you always think your work would be in the equestrian space? Was fashion always a passion of yours?
I was a journalism major at the University of Arizona but realized that was not what I wanted to do with my career. After owning my equestrian boutique, I worked for Samshield for four years and got a lot of equestrian apparel experience when they launched their clothing line. I never thought I would be in fashion, but I love shopping. I always knew that as a sport and hobby, riding would make its way back into my life.
What were the driving forces behind the start of Euphoric Equestrian? How did it come to life?
I live in Los Angeles, and most people dress impressively here. I wanted to wear something that crossed over from the barn to lunch and shopping with my friends. I struggled to find apparel that made me feel chic. I love riding in leggings and was determined to find a fashion-forward equestrian legging that mimicked workout pants and combine that with classic equestrian style. Even though I am terrible at drawing, I went home and began sketching what I had in my mind. I basically drew the current “classic legging” that I sell. I loved the contrasting knee patch because it looked like classic equestrian style, like Ralph Lauren. I love the feeling of high-quality workout pants; I wanted that fabric, but needed them to function for riding. I was designing with the working amateur rider in mind who may have children and a high-powered job and ride.
After a Saturday morning lesson, I was walking my horse out and I felt complete euphoria. That was going to be the name of my company, Euphoric Equestrian. I had no idea how to get started, but I was very lucky, and I got connected by a friend with a manufacturer who makes highend athletic brand clothing. They had never done anything equestrian before, but they agreed to take me on. I wanted everything to be made in the United States because I wanted
to be in control of how my products would be made.
What were some of the most challenging aspects of starting a clothing line, and how did you overcome them?
The hardest part to overcome was how to get my vision started. I am so lucky to work with a team of people who help me find the best fabric and fit. I tell them I need an incredibly durable but also luxurious fabric, and they steer me in the right direction. I have learned that I will not put a piece out unless I am incredibly excited about it. Trial and error are part of the process, and I personally take pieces to the barn to ride in and wash them several times before putting them out to customers. I do struggle with comparing myself and my brand with others. Lately, I have been putting blinders on to better focus on myself and embrace each piece I put out. It is so rewarding when I see people wearing my clothes.
What does your day-to-day work life look like?
First and foremost, my day starts at the barn. Then I typically head to the warehouse where I try on samples, work on fabrics, and then come home to pack and ship orders. Recently, I have been working on increasing my content for Instagram and the website. I feel that when owning a brand, having strong content draws people to your clothing.
What are your future goals for Euphoric Equestrian?
I have always wanted to see my collection items in more grand-scale stores like Kentucky Horse Park and Wellington International. I achieved this goal when my clothes were sold at Wellington International 2023. For any equestrian, you think of WEF as the premier place to see your products because there is such a high caliber of riders there. I want to create brand-loyal customers who keep shopping my collections.
What is your favorite part of running Euphoric Equestrian?
I love my brand and the people that it has connected me with. From customers to content creators who are in my court, I have loved seeing my brand come to life and bringing happiness to other riders. If you look good, you ride better.
What differentiates Euphoric Equestrian from other equestrian apparel brands?
I am a one-woman shop. It is me behind every piece of clothing and every shipment. I personally pack every order. It connects me to my customers, and no matter how big the company may get, I hope to always do that. I love being involved and truly enjoy writing personalized notes for every order. For repeat customers, I feel like I am writing letters to a friend.
The Calabasas Crewneck in a stretchy technical fabric is a perfect tuckable length. Shown in Palomino. $69.
At right: The Soleil Mesh Longsleeved Top with reverse mesh on the sleeve. Midilength neck collar and UPF 50+ technical fabric offer sun protection. $112. Shown with Classic Legging. $150.
The white Coul Competition Shirt features a classic silhouette in UPF 50+ fabric with perforation on the chest, back, and sleeve. Detailed with silverbutton closures. $150.
The Sport Legging II in ultra-luxe Italian sport fabric with a contrasting pop of fabric. Includes a natural rise waist, rear-zip pocket, and gray microsuede knee patches. $90.
GOLD HORSE MEDIA ANASOFIA VAZQUEZ PHOTOGRAPHY
GIANA TERRANOVA PHOTOGRAPHY
ASHLEIGH MAGNUS PHOTOGRAPHY
The Arizona Jacket in desert sand captures the ‘70s heritage style with a dose of contemporary flair. Fitted silhouette with fully lined twill. $498.
The ivory Nuage Sweater is hand-knit from thick organic cotton with an alternating cable, faux-leather buttons, and ribbed collar, hem, and cuffs. $498.
Ralph Lauren's small Stirrup Watch with red leather band (in select Ralph
stores). Bands available in a variety
Made from strong, lightweight materials and polarized lenses,
Sunglasses combine style and
Speranza Show Coat. * $699.95. Luxe Show Shirt, long sleeve. $109.95. Speranza Knee Patch Breech, * $299.95. Ravello Tall Boot. $800. *Speranza Show Coat and Breeches available at ariat.com only.
Galatea Bellatrix Show Coat. $369.95. Luxe Show Shirt short sleeve. $99.95.
Tri Factor Grip Knee
Patch Breech. $159.95. Kinsley Dress Boot. $449.95.
BY JILL
JILL NOVOTNY
An early peek at the REID CREEK GUEST LODGE, offers a slow-paced, authentic experience on a 300,000-acre working ranch.
I’ll meet you by the buffalo wearing pajamas,” the text message read. The plane was still taxiing down the small runway, and my phone pinged repeatedly. I wondered if it was an auto-correction or what it might mean, but I didn’t spend much time on it as the next message popped up. It was from Mitch, the head of hospitality for Wagonhound, who had helped me arrange the trip. He had recently sent some rather intimidating driving directions that had conjured up images of long empty roads without signs, tumbleweeds, and vultures circling. “Don’t worry about those directions,” Mitch said. “The CEO of Wagonhound was on your flight, so you can just follow her.”
I was nervous and had no idea how I would recognize her, even on such a small flight from Denver to Casper. We walked into the tiny airport past a big statue of a buffalo wearing pajamas. Ok, well, that settled that. And there was my traveling companion, my stepmom Betsy, in for this journey from her farm in Vermont. We hugged and walked over
to the one and only baggage claim belt. As I waited for the rental car, checking anxiously around for someone that looked like a CEO, I looked back over to baggage claim, and there was Betsy, chatting with Andrea Nicholas Purdue. I knew even before I noticed her crisp Wagonhound-branded jacket; she radiated energy, poise, and authority, lighting up the dim, low-ceilinged room as she talked with my stepmom like old friends.
Andrea’s family history stretches back to the ranches of the 1800s, with relatives on her father’s side working as the last generation to use all horsepower. “It’s amazing to talk to them about that. We have a bunch of old photos of them on the farm,” she told us excitedly. Her father was raised on a cattle ranch in Nebraska, where his dad was the general manager. “His big focus was soil health,” she continued. “He grew up during the Dust Bowl and really saw what happens if you don’t have soil health. He was a soil scientist and focused on the health of the land. That really sunk in with my dad and became one of the core values
Some of the herd gallop up to the fence to greet us. A campsite picnic augments a horseback ride.
here at Wagonhound: caring for the land; partnering with it.”
After moving to San Diego with the Navy, Andrea’s father started an investment firm there, and when he could, he returned to ranching, first in Montana and then by building Wagonhound in the late 1990s. It was initially a reassembly of several small historic ranches in the area that had broken up over time. The Wagonhound Holdings now sit on about 300,000 acres as a commercial ranching operation. “We raise Red Angus and have a farming operation as well,” explained Andrea. “We grow alfalfa hay that we use internally and have a feedlot and the horse operation. The genesis of the horse operation was to raise a great ranch horse for the cowboys to use. They’re extremely athletic in the performance arena too. We have cutting and reining lines and are well-known for our success in Western competition.
“I came on board a couple of years ago; my career up until that had always
been in finance,” explained Andrea. “But ranching was obviously a big part of our lifestyle growing up. And when I came in, it was a good time to look at the business and decide where to move forward and where to pull back. The lodge wasn’t used much in the summer, and I thought that was a great opportunity to invite guests. I feel very strongly about the connection between humanity and nature. It’s really powerful. The lodge was a way to touch more people, to invite families, friends, or business colleagues in to experience what it’s like to be in the middle of nowhere and connect to the land around you. It’s a butterfly effect, even if it just makes you breathe for a second, to feel joy in being outside. And then, you know, maybe you treat the gate agent at the airport just a little kinder or have a little more patience. That can really spread.”
As we walked around Reid Creek Lodge, the drama of the sky with high clouds catching the rainbow and red
sunset felt like a performance scheduled for our arrival. The silence was incredible. Even the gravel underfoot made a sound so distinct in the quiet that my ears picked it up in detail I’d never experienced. No cars, lights, people, or signs of population in any direction; it was easy to imagine looking out over these quiet lands hundreds of years ago.
The 8,000-square-foot lodge was an existing ranch building, recently renovated to accommodate guests. Unlike a hotel, the lodge’s open floor plan is cozy and familial, centered around the large fireplace and long dining table. Guests share the house and eat together, so they are typically a group, such as a large family looking for space for everyone to stay together, a business team on a retreat, or friends seeking an adventure. Rates start at $15,000 a night, which includes a private chef and a wide range of activities in
a customized itinerary.
We stepped inside, greeted by Mitch McElwain, the head of hospitality for the lodge. He introduced us to our private chef (who soon became like a friend on the trip) and showed us around the lodge and to our room. Mitch glowed with enthusiasm for the property and his job. He grew up on and around Wagonhound. His brother now runs the ranch’s outfitting operation. Fascinated by history, anthropology, and archaeology, as well as passionate about people, camping, hiking, and being outdoors, it seems Mitch found his calling.
We sat with Mitch, Andrea, and some fellow travelers, discussing our itinerary as our family-style dinner was served. What did we want to see and do? Mitch had drawn up an itinerary before we arrived based on our conversations about our interests, but he emphasized how flexible it was. We decided we wanted to meet the baby horses, explore and hike, and, of course, ride. Otherwise, we
were open to trying anything. E-biking? Fishing? Archery? Betsy and I looked at each other and laughed.
As it turned out, fishing was one of my favorite parts of the trip. We caught and released fish and then took out paddle boards for a brisk paddle, hoping not to fall into the slightly-too-cold water.
We took a drive in the afternoon, looking for a place to hike. Though Mitch knows the area and many of the details of the landscape, there is always more to discover. “There aren’t really any hiking trails; we just make our own. That’s what’s so great about this place,” Mitch intimated. So, instead of a carefully planned hike, we just drove off in one of the Wagonhound-branded white trucks until we saw an inviting-looking boulder, pulled over, and went for it. Sometimes the path up wasn’t clear; sometimes, it was tricky, and we had to find another way. Like a maze of our own making, we wound our way through
Andrea Nicholas Purdue.
The barn aisles attach to the arena.
narrow passages, pulled up to steep ledges, and wandered between flowers and shed horns to whatever overlook or vista we decided to explore.
Over the course of the trip, I became enamored with bouldering. I love the open-ended nature of the exploration, the child-like freedom of climbing without (much) fear, and the way the obstacles pushed us into a gentle competition to see who could get up the highest or find the most interesting route. After our hike, Mitch spotted an overhanging rock and smoothed the sand below it. Almost immediately, he pulled up a nearly perfect carved arrowhead. I looked at him quizzically, “Did you plant that here? Is it real?” He handed it to me with a grin, “I just saw the spot and thought, it looks like a place someone might have sat on a rainy day and made something. Once you know where to look, you can find amazing things. This place just has so much history.” As I shook my head and I stared at it, he explained other findings made in the area, including a wooly mammoth uncovered nearby. Looking around the wide landscape of rock outcroppings, low trees, and grasses, I imagined the animals and people that had inhabited, known, and crossed these lands. It was truly humbling and almost unreal—so unlike my day-to-day urban lifestyle.
On one of our trail rides, we followed our guide, a cowboy named Cougar, over hills, through herds of cattle, and across rocky streams. Reserved and quiet, he was just how I pictured a quintessential Wyoming ranch hand. I felt silly; he surely judged us for our strait-laced English riding gear and eager questions. Halfway through our ride, we stopped atop an especially lovely hill crest, and he took a deep, smiling breath and finally spoke, “Isn’t it the most beautiful view?”
Later, we spent time with Cougar and his wife, Heather, who manages the ranch’s horses. We rode the horses in the arena, practicing some reining skills and learning about the horse operation, which has seen great success. Wagonhound Land and Livestock was the 2018 recipient of the Zoetis AQHA Best Ramada Award, which honors the contributions of ranch horses to the heritage of the American Quarter Horse. Heather and Cougar had their 3-year-old daughter and new baby with us, crawling and playing in the dirt, riding the horses, and tagging along on the chores.
“The cowboy lifestyle is really your whole life,” said Andrea. “Caring for animals isn’t a nine-to-five thing, so you need to love it. Your spouse and kids need to love it. It’s a whole family affair.” Andrea told us that Cougar and Heather had actually met while working on the ranch and married there as well.
On our final day, we enjoyed a long
This spread: Headquarters, a two-story building filled with a rich collection of art, western craftsmanship, historical artifacts, and more from the family collection, is a 45-minute drive from the lodge on the other side of the property. The building’s sculptures, both indoors and out, range from tabletop to life-sized. In
addition to a wide variety of modern hand-crafted Western items such as saddles, braided rawhide, and clothing, there is also a stunning collection of rare, carefully preserved, Native American artifacts on display. The building is also home to a mechanical bull, arcade, carriage collection, two bars, multiple sitting areas, and dining rooms.
RANCHLAND: Wagonhound is a stunning and rare-perspective large-format art book by renowned French photographer Anouk Krantz. Born and raised in France, Krantz moved to New York City in the late 1990s and following college worked at Cartier’s North American headquarters. Anouk later studied at the International Center of Photography in NYC and has since developed several notable bodies of work, including Wild Horses of Cumberland Island (2017), West: The American Cowboy (2019), and American Cowboys (2021). Her work has been praised internationally and has appeared in prominent galleries and museums. She is renowned for her large-scale contemporary photography and use of space that defines her elegant, minimalistic style.
Awarded Best Photography Book of 2023 by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Krantz’s
latest work takes a close look at Wagonhound, a 300,000-acre ranch in Douglas, Wyoming. (See page 70.) Her stunning photographs provide an outsider’s perspective into the spirit of the American West and its enduring strength. The book includes a powerful foreword by celebrated American travel writer and poet Gretel Ehrlich and other heartfelt contributions by historians Jeremy M. Johnston and Don Reeves, as well as a new poem written by legendary Russell “Red” Steagall, along with many others.
Anouk’s exquisite fine art photography offers a rare window into the cowboy ranching culture and land stewardship of this historic ranch and the breathtaking American West. The pages reveal the daily and seasonal rhythms of the ranch and the lives of the men and women cowboys, whose long, hard days start and finish in the dark.
PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS:
–214+ Acres
–7 Barns with 82 Stalls
–Outdoor Ring – 150’ x 240’
–Indoor Ring – 80’ x 180’
–Abuts 76 Acre Guard Hill Preserve in the heart of Bedford Village
Bedford’s iconic horse farm, Sunnyfield Farm, represents the heart and soul of the town’s equestrian community, known for generations as a premier equestrian destination. Unrivalled in its scope, beauty, and prime caliber, this landmark property sweeps across 214+ acres of pastoral rolling countryside, cloaked in verdant pastures and woodlands amid two scenic ponds fed by meandering streams, nestled right by the charming hamlet of Bedford Village with its historic Village Green. $39,000,000.
KRISSY BLAKE Senior Global Real Estate Advisor203.536.2743
krissy.blake@sothebys.realty krissyblake.com
Greenwich, CT 06830
With the nicest barn in Wellington, La Victoria Farm, a 7.3 acre equestrian property has it all! Located only a short hack to the show grounds this 28 stall equestrian property with main residence is designed for the ultimate equestrian lifestyle. Access to the stables and 3,600 sf. main residence is through two separate gated entrances. This property is custom built with no expense spared using the finest materials. The stables have two 16’ wide center aisles each with 14 stalls. Each private aisle is complimented with separate tack rooms, lounges, laundry, feed, bathrooms, six wash racks, and grooming stalls. The four bedroom main residence is a private and quiet refuge with spectacular pool and lanai.
Grand Prix Village | Offered at $11,975,000
Location, Location, Location! Located in the prestigious Grand Prix Village community next to the horse show this 3.66 acre 20 stall equestrian compound has it all. Near the new South Gate and expansion of the Wellington International - WEF show grounds. The stables have two 10 stall wings with two large tack rooms, feed rooms, vet stalls, wash stalls, laundry, kitchen/bar area, 210’x120’ riding arena, seven paddocks plus much more! A Must See property!
A 20 acre equestrian compound located in Loxahatchee Groves. Only a short drive to all equestrian venues in Wellington. This 37 stall property features 16 irrigated paddocks, 72’ round pen, 3 acre Bermuda grass jump field, perimeter exercise track, entertainment pavilion, 150’x260’ riding arena, 6 horse walker, 4 RV hookups, 4 bedroom main home, 3 car garage, and much more!
Skara
21 acre equestrian compound located in the heart of Wellington. Not to be rivaled, this estate offers a 14 stall center aisle barn, large tack room, commercial laundry room, luxurious owners quarters with exceptional detail, a tennis pavilion, 6 acre irrigated Bermuda grass jump field and a new 180’ X 300’ riding arena adjacent to the jump field.
This is a must see 5 acre farm with new 136’ X 270’ arena with GGT footing, 23 stalls, 9 new irrigated paddocks and 65’ round pen. There are two tack-rooms, laundry, a large feed room, separate storage for hay and shavings, and an RV hookup. Additionally adjacent to the barn, there is a separate three bedroom staff quarters with patio!
trail ride through the hills, forests, and plains, followed by a fishing excursion to a pond filled with jumping fish, complete with a pair of bald eagles circling overhead. We enjoyed a picnic lunch at the campsite prepared for us by the chef and then settled back to “shoot the breeze,” cowboy-style. Just then, Mitch checked his watch. We had about 20 minutes left before we needed to head back to pack up to catch our flight. Mitch looked at me and up to the boulder towering over the campsite. “What do you think, Jill? Could you make it up and back in time? It’s your last chance.” I felt my inner child leap at the challenge, and I jumped up. My legs, weak from all the riding, climbing, biking, and paddle boarding, propelled me to the base of the rock, and I scurried up as fast as I could. Breathless, with twigs in my hair and scrapes on the knees of my jeans, I snapped a wide-smile selfie from the top exactly 10 minutes later.
Overall, our visit to Wyoming was
Summer 2023 will be REID CREEK GUEST LODGE’S first season.
not your average “luxury” trip. There is no out-of-place opulence, no swanky boutique hotel sitting like an island of sleek, modern luxury in the middle of nowhere. Instead, we experienced true hospitality—everything we could have needed or wanted, all in the context of the place. Every detail brought us closer to the authentic experience of life on the ranch. Steeped in a rich history and a connection to nature that is no longer available to most people, life on the ranch consists of relying on and coexisting with the land, the livestock, and the small but tight community of people— not just understanding, but feeling the cycles of nature, the changing seasons, the needs of the cattle, the health of the horses.
Summer 2023 will be Reid Creek Lodge’s first commercial season, and I am certain visitors will find the experience eye-opening and recharging. Andrea, in a note left by the bedside in my guest room, said, “In this modern world, as conveniences seduce us with their promise of instant gratification and efficiency, it is all too easy to lose the innate connection we all have to the land on which we live. No matter how deep it is buried, it is a part of our soul. This connection to the land feeds us figuratively and literally. It is easy to forget that this bond is as old as humankind itself. The peace, the space, the dirt, the air, they all become harder and harder to find as we move faster and faster. Wagonhound is dedicated to preserving that connection; preserving and perpetuating a way of life that necessitates a reverence for our natural environment, a continuous respect and harmony with living and non-living elements in a shared existence.”
FAVORITES
Page 16
My Best Shot
Erin Gilmore eringilmorephotos.com
Page 38
Father’s Day
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ESSENTIALS
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We’ve Got You Covered
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BOOK
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Winning with Horses
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FASHION 2023
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FASHION
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ARTS
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PEOPLE
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STYLE
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THE LUXURY OF HOSPITALITY
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Reid Creek Lodge Douglas, Wyoming wagonhound.com/ reidcreeklodge
GALLERY
Page 80
Anouk Masson Krantz Ranchland: Wagonhound Images Publishing Dist Ac November 2022
Available at amazon.com
BARN DOGS
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Flying Fur Animal Rescue flyingfur.org
Horses bring joy to millions of people, but each year, tens of thousands of horses are victims of abuse and neglect and shipped across our borders for slaughter.
NO HORSE should be subjected to this inhumane fate. There are solutions for horses that need a lifeline within our reach.
Pilot PAUL STEKLENSKI, with his aircraft and bus, has helped save over 2,500 animals.
Our readers met Paul Steklenski back in the March 2017 issue, where he explained, “I started flying lessons in the spring of 2013. I drove by an airport on the way to work every morning. I decided to go for a flying lesson, and I just kept going back. It took me about a year and a half to finish. It’s expensive to get your license, so I just took my time.
“Not long after that, I started using my plane to move rescue dogs from kill shelters in the South and bring them up to no-kill shelters in the North. When I first started, my Facebook page was called ‘Just a guy who flies rescue.’”
A lot has changed since then. Paul is both a licensed pilot and animal lover and saw the need for an organization that could transport animals to safety quickly and efficiently. He began by transporting animals in his own plane and soon
realized there was a much greater need for this service than he had originally anticipated.
Today Flying Fur Animal Rescue is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of animals in need by transporting them to safe and loving homes across the United States. The organization Paul founded has grown rapidly and now operates in multiple states with a team of dedicated volunteers and supporters. Annually, Paul spends over $10,000 a year out of his own pocket to help save more lives. “We have no administrative overhead, salaries, or extra costs,” he adds. The organization uses a variety of methods to transport animals, including private planes, ground transport, and even commercial airlines. They work closely with animal shelters and rescue organizations nationwide to identify animals in danger
of being euthanized or that need to be relocated to find a forever home.
Flying Fur Animal Rescue has a dedicated team of volunteers who work tirelessly to coordinate and execute animal transports. The volunteers help with everything from organizing logistics to coordinating with shelters and rescues and caring for animals during transport.
Flying Fur has been recognized for its outstanding work in animal rescue, receiving numerous awards. In 2018, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce named it Nonprofit of the Year.
In addition to saving the lives of animals, Flying Fur Animal Rescue also educates the public about the importance of animal rescue and the benefits of adopting pets from shelters and rescues. The organization also provides resources for those interested in getting involved with animal rescue.
GENE SMIRNOV
