January 19, 2016

Up & Coming Riders: Coco Fath

Photo Courtesy of Coco Fath.

Coco Fath placed 9^th at the 2014 Pessoa Medal Finals and was Champion in the 2015 Small Junior Hunters at Devon. However, she is more than just her riding accomplishments. When asked, Coco said her friends would probably describe her as “entertaining.”

Coco, 15, has been riding for 9 years.

“I began riding because my sisters were riding and I had always been in love with ponies,” she said. “My great grandmother fox hunted which got the rest of my family (my grandmother then my mother) into it.”

She currently owns 7 horses and trains with Molly Ashe. She also has her own LLC, Hillside Farm, which she hopes to make into a real barn one day.

Currently, Coco’s goals include earning ribbons at Equitation Finals and “mak[ing] sure all of [her] horses are happy and healthy.”

This winter, she will be competing at WEF, which she said is one of her favorite shows. She has found that every time she returns home from WEF, her riding is much better.

“Every time I come home to Connecticut after WEF, my position is always 10x better,” she said.

Coco said her biggest strengths as a rider are being able to seeing distances from far away. She also has another strength which has been super important and helpful to her, especially when she is competing at bigger finals: she has the ability not to choke under pressure.

However, Coco said she does “occasionally” get nervous at big finals. But, to deal with this, she channels the nerves into “focusing on [the] course and [her] position.”

Coco did say that competing in the Big Eq Finals is “a little scary.”

Photo Courtesty of Coco Fath.

“…but once you get over the big crowd and difficult jumps it’s really fun. The time of year, however, is very stressful with school and prepping the horses,” she said.

Speaking of school, how does Coco balance school and her rigorous riding/competition schedule?

“It can be really difficult at times, but I’ve been lucky enough to work with tons of tutors … you just have to manage time really well. I also stay down during WEF and use a tutoring service in the winter,” she explained.

This year, Coco plans on working on her position and also moving up in the jumpers. Long-term, she would like to compete in more hunter derbies.

As an avid equestrian, Coco is obviously up on the latest in equestrian brands. She said her favorites are: Equiline, Charles Ancona, Ariat, Parlanti, Tailored Sportsman, and Hermes.

Coco isn’t always riding, and when she does have time to relax and unwind, she does so by hanging out with friends, playing tennis, or doing homework.

Coco has obviously had a lot of success in the show ring. She had this advice for young equestrians who want to follow in her footsteps.

“[R]ide as much and as many different horses as you can and … remember to always have fun with it,” she said.

Coco said if she could ride any “famous” horse, it would be Brunello because of his jump. Brunello also just won USEF Horse of the Year. Additionally, if she could clinic with anyone, it would be George Morris, who has a new book coming out this year and wrote one of the most well-known books about hunter seat equitation.

Photo Courtesy of Coco Fath.

Finally, we asked Coco what her plans are in terms of whether she would like to become a professional rider. She had a very smart answer.

“It would be amazing to go professional, but I plan on going to college and cannot predict the future so I am not sure,” she said. “I would spend some time as an amateur, for sure.”

Much like other equestrians, such as Lillie Keenan, it seems as if Coco values education just as much as she values her riding – something we certainly cannot disagree with.

If you’d like to keep up with Coco and her adventures riding, she can be found on Instagram.

January 16, 2016

Meet Rileigh Tibbott: A young Grand Prix rider with Olympic dreams

Photo Courtesy of Rileigh Tibbott.

Over the summer, I got the pleasure of meeting Rileigh Tibbott at the Sussex County Horse Show. She recognized me from my blog, and little did I know that she was competing in her first Grand Prix that week. Coincidentally, she had also ridden Luther quite a few times as she used to train with the individual that leased/sold me Luther.

Rileigh just recently made the decision to put off college in order to compete at WEF this winter, and she also just recently purchased a 1.60m horse in order to compete in the Grand Prix classes at WEF.

Rileigh describes herself as “the most sarcastic person ever” who “always tr[ies] to make people laugh.” When asked to describe herself, she also said that “when it comes to the show ring, there’s no stress just smiles.”

Rileigh, 18, grew up on a farm her whole life. Her family owned over 30 draft horses which she said she would try to jump and “epically” failed at doing so. When she was younger, she did 4H and local shows.

She didn’t compete at her first rated show until she was 14 years old. When she was 15, she purchased a Thoroughbred that got her started in the low children’s jumpers. When she was 16, she purchased a low junior jumper named Axel. She competed in her first 1.20m class when she was 16.

Although Rileigh loves the jumper ring, she does dabble in other disciplines.

“The fun and adrenaline rush of doing the jumpers is what made me fall in love with it, however I still do the equitation and hunters on occasion,” she said.

Photo Courtesy of Rileigh Tibbott.

At the Sussex County Grand Prix, Rileigh competed on her horse Kahlua 7, a 9 year old German Sport Horse by King Kolibri. Kahlua was just imported in August and had a successful record over in Germany in the 1.45m classes.

“We bought her because she is so easy to ride and very forgiving. What most people don’t realize is that up until the past summer I was only jumping 1.20m,” Rileigh said. “She took me from 1.20m to 1.50m in just a month.”

However, since Rileigh purchased a new horse, Kahlua is now for sale.

Rileigh’s new horse, Cento per Cento CG is a former Pan American games competitor. He has also been to several World Cups.

“A friend of mine in Wellington had him and that is how I found him,” she said of the 1.60m jumper. “What made me chose him is his incredible scope and hind end.”

As stated before, Rileigh made the tough decision of not returning to college this semester in order to stay down in WEF and compete.

“I decided to stay in WEF and take a break from college when we decided to purchase my new 1.60m horse,” Rileigh said. “I know that it will take a lot [of] training and time to be able to accomplish my goals so staying here was in my best interest. The decision was hard for me simply because I will miss all of my friends back home.”

Prior to that, Rileigh was attending college and continuing to compete with her horse Kahlua. Prior to that, Rileigh also had to learn how to balance school with riding and competing – something that many young equestrians have to deal with.

“Balancing school and riding was incredible hard,” Rileigh said. “I would miss all the days I was allowed to [in] high school to compete. Luckily, I had an amazing principal who worked with my riding schedule.”

Rileigh & Kailua in the Sussex County Grand Prix. Photo Courtesy of Rileigh Tibbott.

Rileigh & Kahlua in the Sussex County Grand Prix. Photo Courtesy of Rileigh Tibbott.

Rileigh competed in her first Grand Prix last August at the Sussex County Horse Show. She was in good company with riders like Andy Kocher, Michael Hughes, and Michael Desiderio. However, she held her own and finished with just four faults – impressive for her first Grand Prix ever.

“My first Grand Prix was probably the most nervous I have ever been. It was the highest the horse and I have ever jumped and I had only had her for about a month,” she said. “There were so many people and it was under the lights and a BIG grand prix course.”

How did Rileigh prepare for the Grand Prix? By going for a light hack in the morning and listening to music.

“That is how I mentally prepare myself to get ready,” she said. “My go to song is ‘All I do is Win’.”

Before actually competing in Grand Prix classes, Rileigh was an avid Grand Prix spectator.

“I have been a spectator at Grand Prixs for as long as I remember. However, I never could’ve imagined doing one before the last 2 years,” she said. “My first 2 horses that were able to jump the bigger jumps taught me so much and made that dream a reality.”

Although Rileigh has her eye on the Grand Prix classes at WEF, she’s got bigger dreams in mind, such as competing in the Olympics one day and becoming a Professional as soon as she is ready.

Rileigh said she looks up to Reed Kessler and if she could ride any horse, it would be Cortes C.

“I saw her [Reed] compete when I was 14 and always loved the way she rode. She also has a strong connection with her horses which means the world to me,” Rileigh said.

As for favorite equestrian brands? Rileigh loves Equine Couture, JOTT, and Animo.

“I’m ALL about sparkles and the color blue!” Rileigh said.

When she is not riding, Rileigh loves to unwind by watching Netflix and hanging out with her friends. However, she can’t stay away from horses for long.

“[M]y most favorite thing is to just sit in the barn and play with the horses. I feel like that creates a special bond with them outside of the ring,” she said.

In addition to riding, Rileigh is also a model, which she started doing her senior year of high school and absolutely loves.

Photo Courtesy of Rileigh Tibbott.

Rileigh said her biggest accomplishment thus far as an equestrian has been competing in the International Ring at WEF with Kahlua. She said that had always been a dream of hers.

Rileigh’s goals for 2016 include competing in a 1.60m Grand Prix with her new horse and to do the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Grand Prix.

“Obviously it will take time to bond with the new stallion but we’ve already had a clean round in the 1.30m and we are excited to move up,” she said.

Rileigh had this to say to young equestrians with big goals like her own.

“…[F]ollow your dreams,” she said. “My dream seemed so far out of reach but hard work and dedication DOES pay off. No matter what critical people might say you CAN do it.”

And what did she have to say about navigating a Grand Prix course?

“The most important thing is to keep cool,” she said. “The second you tense up, so will the horse. Take deep breaths in the corners and act like nobody is watching.”

She also said that it helps to have a forgiving horse because if the rider gets tense or nervous, “they’re able to save you.”

We are looking forward to seeing Rileigh’s progress at WEF this winter and for what this whole year has in store for her!

If you’d like to keep up with Rileigh, she can be found on Twitter and Instagramk.

April 14, 2015

An interview with Carly Nasznic: An up and coming young, talented equine photographer

Photo Credit to Carly Nasznic. Do not use without permission.

If you are keyed at all into the equestrian world, especially on social media, there is no way you haven’t seen photographs by the talented Carly Nasznic. Her photos capture amazing moments in equestrian riding, and I adore them. In fact, I would love to be photographed by her one day (when my eq is perfect and when I am in showing in major classes – not the beginner hunters for the first time). Carly is super talented, and I have to say she is one of my favorite equine photographers thus far. I check her Instagram account often, and I am pretty sure I’ve liked every photo she has ever posted.

I always ask everyone I interview for a fun fact about themselves, but Carly’s fact is also a bit of a shocker.

“Everyone thinks that I’m older than what I really am only because I take “such clear and focused photos”, but actually I am only 16,” she said.

Yup. Carly is only 16 and taking these amazing photos. Imagine her photography skills years from now.

Carly has been riding for about seven years and trains with Ashley McDonald out of Dapper Dan Farm in Rhode Island. She rides between 4 and 6 days a week, and she shows at least twice a month. Her love of horses began in 5^th grade.

“My best friend had boxes of ribbons and trophies and at the time I was very jealous therefore my parents started by putting me into riding lessons. As of now, it’s not about the ribbons and trophies and more about the relationship with my horse, trainer and other riders around me,” Carly said.

Many individuals think that buying a fancy camera makes them a photographer. And, photography has actually been quite popular since I was in high school (a long time ago –hides face-) So what got Carly into photography?

“About three years ago I started to compete and as of last year I really started to get serious. After seeing everyone posting on social media the photos that they bought from the shows they went to, I got the feeling that those photos would keep the memories that will last a lifetime,” she said. “I have always taken photos of horses and anything relating to horses. I haven’t really gone outside of that.”

Carly’s photo skills are self-taught, which is super impressive given the quality of her photographs and the moments she captures. Carly has actually never even taken a photography class before – though she hopes to change that.

“This upcoming summer, I hope to take a class or two on what I need to improve with my photography,” she said.

Carly began posting her photographs on Instagram and taking what she terms “ok” photos of people she knew and giving them the photos for free. However, she soon found that everytime someone would regram her photo and tag her, more and more people would become interested in her photographing services.

Photo Credit to Carly Nasznic. Do not use without permission.

Although this was happening, it took about a year before Carly really became noticed as an equine photography.

“I am now at the point where people will see me walking around at a horse show taking photos and will come up to me and say ‘hey are you Carly Nasznic? I think I follow you on Instagram!’ I’ll then laugh and say yes I am,” Carly explained. “I always love when I meet new people who interested in my photography, it makes me feel like I have a purpose.”

Carly Is 100 percent self-employed; however, she hopes to have her own photography business someday. She also does have a website – which she said is always under construction – that helps get her name out there. Carly, right now, is not selling any photos.

Carly photographed quite often at WEF this past year.

“I was in Wellington at the Winter Equestrian Festival for weeks 3, 6, and 7. I missed as little school as possible as this is my junior year in high school and is very important academically. I ended up missing about five days total because weeks 6 & 7 were my February vacation weeks!” She said. “Before I left, I went to every one of my teachers who for the most part were understanding and would give me the homework assignments that would be due when I got back.”

For those of you wanting to use Carly’s photography services, she specializes in all types of equine photos. Carly uses a Canon 70d with Canon lenses, including a:

70 – 200mm;
55 – 250mm;
70 – 300mm

To edit her photos, Carly uses Afterlight or Lightroom.

Although Carly does engage in editing photos, she prefers to keep them as natural as possible.

“I tend to leave the photos I take more natural and not edit them so much,” she said. “When I first started I would always use a lot of contrast, which I see most on social media, but I believe it lessens the value of your picture and its quality.”

Breaking into equine photography is hard, especially because anyone can buy a camera and start taking photos. Carly had the following advice for those who are serious about it.

“For anyone wanting to get into equine photography, I recommend that they just have fun with it. It shouldn’t be stressful or cause you issues. I’ve always had the motto ‘It is what it is,’ referring to if people like my work then I’m happy and if they don’t that’s okay I’ll keep trying to improve on what needs improvement.”

According to Carly, the top three qualities an equine photographer should have are:

Patience;
Respect;
Responsibility it takes to deal with people, horses, and the time needed to put into one’s work

Though she is super talented, Carly said she never expected to become this well-known for her photos. She didn’t think so many people would be this interested in her photography, and she is “so grateful” that people have taken the interest they have because it says she is right for the job.

Although photography is one of Carly’s passions, Carly does intend on going to college for something other than photo. She has thought about majoring in business marketing. However, when she graduates, she wants to pursue a career in the equestrian industry.

Carly has taken tons of photos, so we asked her what her favorite photo she has taken has been.

“I’d say my favorite photo ever would be of rider Hannah Patten. It was a photo I wasn’t expecting to take and wasn’t ready for but as soon as I saw the moment of her hugging her horse while on her way out of the ring, I knew I just had to get it,” she said.

Hannah Patten hugging her horse. Photo Credit to Carly Nasznic. Do not use without permission.

Carly has also made some super awesome connections through her photography. She has met riders Tori Colvin and Jessica Springsteen – both of whom have been extremely complimentary about her photography.

Carly does have other hobbies besides riding and taking photos. She also loves surfing, competing in triathlons, and dancing. She also said she doesn’t really have an artistic background and can’t “draw, paint, build, or really anything relating to” art excdpt for taking photos. Her photo skill is something she developed on her own.

She believes that anyone who sets their mind to it can become a good photographer.

“You need to have the will, and in my opinion, a certain eye for it,” she said.

Dedication is also hugely important considering Carly spends about 2 – 4 hours a day on photos. During the week, Carly is constantly on Instagram and answering emails. She said that she does find the photograph requests to be overwhelming at times, but the outcomes makes it all worth it. During the weekend, she edits photos for hours.

Currently, Carly interns for The Plaid Horse Magazine. Her internship requires taking photos for the magazines social media accounts and posting them. She also spreads the name of the magazine.

Carly said the most difficult thing about photography is striving for perfection.

“Sometimes its more about the moment rather then are the horses ears forward? Are his knees even? Does the rider have good eq?” She said. “I will sometimes be picky and get mad at myself for not getting the perfect photo but then I will stare at it really closely for as long as it takes to realize it doesn’t need to be perfect since it has its own special meaning.”

When Carly first started, she dreamed of taking photos of Tori Colvin and having Tori enjoy her photos.

“That dream came true when this time at WEF I was able to actually meet and talk to her,” Carly said. “She was so sweet and said numerous compliments to me about my photos. She has also used them on social media and was kind enough to take a photo with me. I wish that more equestrians were more humble and appreciative like her.”

Photo Credit to Carly Nasznic. Do not use without permission.

Carly also took the time to address the controversial topic of stealing professional photos.

I use to be one of those people who would post the show proofs on social media and then comment ‘don’t worry I’m buying this,’ but in the end its still stealing,” Carly said. “I think it’s not right, and you should just wait until you actually buy the photo or get permission to post.”

Carly went on: “I have seen people blur out the watermarks on the show proofs and try and make it look okay. Over time people might think this will hurt the industry but there are the people who will still purchase because that is the right thing to do. To help this issue maybe a stronger watermark or even a way that on their website you can’t save it to your camera roll.”

Carly is certainly a force to be reckoned with when it comes to taking superb, artsy, amazing equine photos that capture “real” equestrian moments – not just what is pretty. To keep up with Carly on social media, she can be found on Instagram, Facebook, and at her website. She is also available for photoshoots in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or Vermont. She stated she will travel “anywhere in the New England area.”

Photo Credit to Carly Nasznic. Do not use without permission.

All photos provided by Carly Nasznic. Do not use without permission.

February 25, 2015

Anna Easton: Taking everything in stride

Anna Easton is a rider that believes someone with “enough talent, determination, and hard work” can make it in the horse world, according to her blog Big Eqspectations. Her horse journey is that of trail riding, pony jumpers, and the Big Eq. She had high hopes of qualifying for the Maclay Finals. Although she did not achieve that dream, she has taken it in stride, remained graceful, and had a great sense of positivity regarding her riding journey.

Anna said she knew her dream of qualifying for Medal or Maclay Finals was a “farfetched goal.” This was for a variety of reasons.

“I didn’t (and still don’t) have the finances, I was green in the show ring, and I didn’t have much time left. Nerves were always a big problem for me and when I got nervous, I couldn’t pick a distance to save my life,” she said.

However, despite not reaching her goal, she said she could write a book about everything she learned during her junior career.

“The equitation courses really taught me to slow down and think. It’s a lot easier to make decisions when you aren’t rushing through the course, which is what I try to do when I’m flustered. I also learned, through experiencing the benefits, why the equitation classes were created. It’s a lot easier to be clean and efficient in the jumper ring when you know how to ride the perfect track on a bending line, make balanced inside turns, and have the position to keep you secure while executing these things,” she said. “But, one of the most important things I learned was patience. Horses require a lot of patience, and people require more.”

Anna, now 18, has been riding she since was 5 years old. However, she also loves listening to music and is a self-described folk, blues, and classic rock fan. She also enjoys writing – from poetry to blog posts and anything in between. She also said her helmet is two sizes bigger than her head to accommodate her “big, curly mess” of hair with a “mind of its own.” She also responds to the nickname ‘Fuzz,’ which her sister dubbed her with when they were kids.

When Anna began riding, it was because her father wanted her to have a hobby that she could enjoy. Although she did local shows when she was 7 years old, she did not start showing on the rated circuits until she was 14.

“This was somewhat due to financial reasons, but mostly because my father had different goals for me when I started riding,” she said. “He mostly wanted me to have a hobby I could enjoy. But, when I showed interest in making my debut on the rated circuit, he completely supported and facilitated me.”

Photo Credit to Erica Rosinski Photography.

Now that she has aged out, she hopes to make it as a professional. She began her professional life as a working student for Don Stewart making the long drive from her home in Atlanta to his farm in Ocala.

“My job with Don is an opportunity that I am very excited about!” Anna said. “I’m mainly going to be hacking horses, showing horses to potential buyers, doing horse-related laundry, and cleaning tack at the end of the day I’m also hoping to show some as horses are available. A lot goes into running an operation of that size and I would love to learn about all aspects, from the care of the horses, to the business side of things.”

While she does plan to attend college, she also plans to make riding her career and says she has been designing her dream barn since she was 8 years old. Her ultimate career goal is to be a successful Grand Prix rider, as she considers herself to be more of a jumper rider.

Anna loves the jumper ring because of the teamwork.

“The hunter ring showcases the horse and the equitation ring showcases the rider. But, the jumper ring showcases the team,” she said. “A good jumper has the same goals as its rider; Get over the jumps clean and fast. They’re on at all times, and they’re powerful and agile. Nothing beats riding a horse like that. But, another thing I love about the jumper ring is the fact that it is completely objective. No politics and no worrying about who’s at the gate.”

However, Anna said that her favorite thing about equitation is its purpose. She feels that eq classes create more solid and effective riders, and it helps them transition into higher levels in the sport as well as into professionals if that is what they choose.

Anna also rode in the hunters for about 6 months when she was 12 or 13. She thought it was “fun, but slow.” Although she does appreciate the hunters much more now and loves the hunter derbies, she said hunters “will never steal [her] heart like the jumper ring has.”

Anna’s love for the jumpers also comes from the fact that she started there. Being blunt, Anna said she wasn’t “politically correct” enough for the horse world with her dad as her trainer and her lack of finances. Her perfectionism attracted her to the equitation, which she used to better herself as a rider.

Photo Credit to David Bell.

After aging out, Anna has decided she will leave equitation behind aside from her goal for qualifying for the Talent Search Finals.

Although Anna rode with her dad growing up, she also got a chance to ride with Rob Gage, a well-known USEF judge. She met him through Judge My Ride, a website where riders can post photos and videos of themselves riding and get feedback from USEF rated judges, like Rob.

“He was the main person who commented on my pictures and was very encouraging as I tried to improve my position. He came to my town for a clinic in May of 2012. I was terrified when I met him, which is really funny in hindsight Rob is hysterical, blunt, and always supportive,” she said. “He tells you, loudly, when you screw up because he wants you to fix it so you can succeed. I almost always ride my best when I’m around Rob because his confidence in me makes me confident in myself.”

Right now, Anna has 6 horses, most of which are leased out. She has the ponies she rode in the pony jumpers that taught her to jump. She also has her equitation horse that is leased out in Massachusetts. Additionally, she has two jumpers, Charlie and Prize. Charlies is an older Thoroughbred who is doing 1.20m courses, and Prize is a rescue mare that jumps 1.30m.

Anna didn’t experience the dreaded “aging out syndrome” like some riders do when their junior career ends.

“I’ve always viewed my junior career as the start of a long-term career in the horse world. Riding as a junior is not the end, it’s the beginning. Even though I didn’t earn any big titles during my junior years, I’m thrilled with what I learned and the experiences I had,” Anna said. “This sport is a constant education. If you don’t succeed in your junior years, you have the rest of your amateur or professional years to try again. I’m excited to see what my future as a non-junior holds.”

Although Anna is riding with Don Stewart, she plans on continuing to rider with her father as well. Anna has several trainers, and she enjoys getting to work with a number of different professionals as it gives her different ways to think about things.

“It’s nice to gather all the information I can, try each method, and then decide what works best for me, my style, and my horses,” she said.

Although Anna did not get to meet her goals as a junior, she has discovered one thing: time is a friend when it comes to riding.

“Tomorrow always provides us with the opportunity to do better and to try harder. Time provides us with knowledge and experience, which is invaluable and never plentiful enough in the horse world. You also have to enjoy each step of the journey,” she said. “If you don’t like the path you take to get to your goal, was the goal really worth it? I may not have qualified for the Maclay, but I have nothing but fond memories of every day I spent working towards that dream.”

We asked Anna her advice for riders that want to qualify for the Big Eq Finals. She said be realistic.

“If you are 17 years old, just moving up to the 3′, and have only shown on the local circuit, it’s not going to happen. Now, there is nothing wrong with being 17, moving up to 3′, and only showing on the local circuit. It’s just not the recipe that gets you to a Big Eq Final. There are reasons I didn’t qualify. I didn’t have enough time, money, or experience,” she said. “You need to have the right horse, enough money to show a couple times per month, and enough time to really get the experience you need over the equitation courses.”

She also suggested that someone show as often as possible because a show is a completely different atmosphere than riding at home.

“There is a lot of self-inflicted pressure in the ring and experience is the only cure.” Anna said, “In addition to that, the more courses you see and ride, the better.”

Photo Credit to Holly Ridge Photorgraphy.

Like myself, Anna suffers from a case of the nerves, and she said it tends to affect her eye. However, she found that time, experience, and developing confidence in herself have helped her. She also said that coming to the realization that she can’t always be perfect was another big thing that helped.

As usual, we asked Anna who she looks up to in the horse world, and she of course said Beezie Madden.

“She’s phenomenal. She’s gutsy, intelligent, and unbelievably solid. It has always bothered me that so many upper level riders let their position go out the window. People make excuses constantly, like ‘it’s more important to be effective than pretty.’ I get it. It is hard to ‘equitate’ over bigger jumps on horses who jump with so much power, but both Beezie and McLain Ward prove it’s possible to be effective and have an effective, attractive position. I really admire that.”

Anna’s favorite brands include:

Antares
Devoucoux
Tailored Sportsman
EIS
Essex Classics
Parlantis
Horseware Ireland

She also loves to buy on eBay and high-end used tack Facebook groups.

Anna said she believes that one never knows where this sport is going to take them.

“…[M]y mother has said to me a lot ‘Everything that has happened has led to this.’ It doesn’t matter which incident she’s talking about, it always holds true … I started showing with Don last year for the sole purpose of qualifying for the Maclay. Instead of that, I got a job with him, which is much better, in my opinion. Since we can’t tell what path we’re on, it makes no sense to panic when things are going wrong. There is always a silver lining, though it may be hard to find, and you can always turn bad into good. This advice has kept my eyes open and provided me with a lot of opportunities I never thought I would be fortunate enough to receive.”

If you would like to keep up with Anna, she has her own blog. She also has a Facebook page, Instagram, YouTube, and is always available by email.

June 6, 2014

Up & Coming Rider Dani Schneider

We have a brand new Up & Coming Rider today! Some of you may know Dani from Twitter as @perfEqtionn (and her Twitter handle isn’t far from the truth!) She is also a My Barn Child ambassador, an EcoLicious Equestrian ambassador, and runs her own blog!

Dani & her horse, Celebrity.

To start, we asked Dani to tell us a little about herself, and here is what she had to say:

“I’m not really good about telling people about myself, so bare with me! I ride horses (no duh) and I live in Southern California! I’ve lived in California my whole life (17 years). I am an avid concertgoer, I’ve seen over 100 people live! I am also an adrenaline junkie; I love cliff-jumping, roller coaster, anything crazy. I want to go skydiving when I turn 18. I love going to the beach in my free time, it’s my favorite place in the world (besides the barn). I hope one day to travel the world! I really want to go to Greece, Italy, and Antigua! I am a junior in high school (cries). I also drive a Jetta! I’m a very sarcastic person, but I can be very serious when I want to be. My favorite color is purple, my favorite flower is a tiger lily, and I have too many favorite songs to narrow it down to one.”

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, how did Dani get into riding?

“My mom works at the wedding venue that is located on the property of the barn I ride at,” she said. “She always brought me to work with her. I would run away and go watch lessons. My trainer, Michelle, talked to my mom about getting me started, but my mom said I had to wait until I turned 5.”

Like any horse girl, Dani was itching to get riding, so she managed to get herself on a pony name Patches when she was 4. She’s been riding ever since.

While Dani does a lot of jumper competition right now on her horse Celebrity, she is versatile and can go in all three rings. However, she does love the jumpers more than equitation and hunters.

“I love that you get to go fast and take tight turns, but you can’t go too crazy! I think each discipline is tough in their own way but jumpers challenges me more. I have to think about each track very carefully, looking for places to save time, but also keeping my horse in mind. I have to know both Celebrity’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as my own. For instance, Celebrity has a sticky right turn so if there’s one in my course, I have to find a track that will help me execute my turn. I can make up for lost time with his humongous step though. But jumpers is by far my favorite,” she said.

Celebrity.

Celebrity, who was bred for the jumpers, is a 9 year old bay warmblood. Celebrity’s sire is Sandstone Conway, and his dam was the youngest horse to ever be in the Olympics (at age 7)! Her name is Sandstone Dorina.

According to Dani, Celebrity is a bit quirky, and he is a complete difference from the horse Dani was riding when she first began riding Celebrity.

“When I first started riding him in 2013 I was riding my mare, Summer, as well. Summer was a project horse of mine that I trained to be a push button horse for someone looking to do hunters, jumpers, and eq up to 3’3,” Dani said. “Towards the end of riding Summer I was told to just sit there and let her do the work, making her think for her self, easy for me.. until I had to lesson Celebrity in the next lesson.”

Dani describes Summer and Celebrity as polar opposites. The challenge helped her mature as a rider, and she is super in tune with Celebrity’s needs when they are working as a team. For example, Celebrity is scared of other horses in the ring, so Dani has to be hyperaware of her surroundings when she is in a lesson.

“I’m always on the lookout for him. I am his protector,” she said. “He has a huge heart and loves to jump.”

Dani has only been with Celebrity for about 13 months, but she says they have taught each other a lot, including trust, patience, teamwork, focus, grace, and unconditional love – to name a few.

“I couldn’t ask for a better horse to ride,” she said.

Dani & Celebrity.

This year, Dani hopes to continue showing in the 1.10m Children’s jumpers. She especially hopes to qualify for the USHJA Children’s Jumper Finals (which we have NO doubt she will).

Nowadays, a lot of riders are working with equestrian or horse-related companies whether as brand or social media ambassadors or as sponsored riders. Dani is lucky enough to be an ambassador for both My Barn Child and EcoLicious Equestrian (two companies everyone should check out if you haven’t already!)

Being a brand ambassador is a huge thing on every serious rider’s list. Dani gave some advice to those who are itching to become the next EcoLicious or Ogilvy ambassador:

“Research the company before you apply to be an ambassador, just know what you’re agreeing to,” she said. “Also, be yourself! Don’t lie just so you get the ambassadorship. Be genuine and truly love the products you are supporting.”

So what are Dani’s must have equestrian items? Lucky for you, we got a list!

When asked if she looks up to any other riders, Dani has a few, including one she used to ride with when she was younger, Kilian McGrath.

Kilian McGrath. Photo Courtesy of ProEquest.com.

“She is an amazing rider and proves to everyone that hard work pays off! She works her butt off everyday to get to where she is today. She proved to everyone that talent and hard work surpasses how far money can get you. Kilian won gold at Young Riders in 2012!”

Dani also looks up to her trainer’s daughter, Beezie Madden, and Ashley Bond.

Dani experiences anxiety about showing just like many of us, but to combat it, she says affirmations and thinks positively. She also has a lot of trust in her trainer, who she believes would not have moved her up if she wasn’t able to be successful in that particular class.

Manny – er Dani – says her biggest weakness is her shoulders.

“My trainer calls me “Manny” instead of “Dani” my shoulders are so bad! It’s been an on going problem of mine! My trainer always says I have man shoulders! Sometimes I just forget to work on them and put them back because I’m so busy focusing on Celebrity!”

Like many other riders who have a presence on social media, Dani has experienced social media hate. It’s unfortunately a HUGE part of being a big social media presence on the internet nowadays. To deal with negativity, Dani did a few things:

“I responded to it at first, but soon realized that resounding was pointless. I let them send me hate and I just wouldn’t respond, why add fuel to the fire? I changed my ask settings so people can’t ask me questions anonymously, the hate stopped immediately!” She said. “People like to make themselves feel better by bashing others. I see a lot of people, Georgie, Kendra, and other big name riders, getting hate, it’s horrible and a lot is untrue! I just keep in mind that if I wasn’t able to ride successfully in the classes I am in, my trainer wouldn’t put me in them! So forget the haters!”

With all of the riding and showing, how does Dani have time to do anything else?

“It’s a hard task balancing horses and school but I have learned to manage my time. I have a study hall in my schedule at school that I use to work on homework. I also use all the free time in class to finish my work. My teachers know how dedicated I am to horses, so when I do show, I talk to them and we work out a schedule for the work I am going to miss,” she said. “I do bring my schoolwork to shows and I will work on it when there is time available. But between study hall, free time in class, and an hour at home before the barn, I am able to manage riding and school.”

Dani & her team for the costume class. They won first place!

Dani & her team in a Flintridge costume class. They won first place!

And, when she isn’t riding, studying, or at school, she LOVES going to the beach, which isn’t too far from her home in California.

As a junior, Dani is starting to prepare for college. Some riders we’ve spoken to don’t want to pursue riding as a profession after they age out, and others hope to become professional big names in this sport. So what does Dani have in mind?

“I really want to ride in college! I am currently working with Michelle Morris, who rode on University of Georgia’s equestrian team, putting together my video to send to schools! I am hoping to ride on a NCAA team but some of the schools I really want to go to are IHSA!” She said. “I would love to ride professionally but we will see where I end up! As for now, I am just focusing on my current show year and getting into college!”

Ultimately, Dani hopes to be a successful rider that takes the typical riding stereotype (a ton of money with the nicest of everything) and turns it upside down.

“You could say I’m the underdog in this sport. My family isn’t rich, I don’t have the nicest clothes, cars, houses, horses, etc. I don’t get to show that often either,” she said. “I make do with what I have, and I work hard everyday so I can one day prove that I belong in this sport. My goal is to be the rider that little girls and boys look up to. I want them to know that you CAN be SUCCESSFUL and GREAT without having a ton of money.”

Overall, Dani wants riding to be about working hard, having fun, and being herself.

“I work hard everyday and without hard work I wouldn’t be where I am today. I remember to have fun because riding horses shouldn’t be a grueling job, just have fun and do your thing!”

Want to see more of Dani & Celebrity?

Dani & Celebrity showing off their blue ribbon.

Find her on her social media accounts!

She also will be updating her blog more frequently once school is out for the summer. Her blog is on our favorite links to the right of this post and linked above!

Know an up & coming rider that you think should be featured on our blog? Let me know in the comments below, find me on Twitter, or shoot me an email (jess@thelegalequestrian.com)!